Treatment

My therapeutic approach has been influenced by many years of working with people with health challenges, as well as the personal adversities that I myself have faced. In general, I take an existential/humanistic approach. This means that, rather than trying to find a “cure” or “quick fix”, I see suffering as a natural part of the human journey. Sometimes we can work with this on our own, and at other times we need more support to navigate the stormy seas of life. I am interested in helping people make meaning and find purpose living through chronic illness and injury, and believe that ultimately we are all on a journey toward wholeness and healing. It will be my privilege to be a part of your journey.

As a registered psychologist, I use evidence-based interventions to help people like you work with both short and long-term challenges to their health. This might include individual or group psychotherapy, as well as cognitive rehabilitation (e.g., training or coping strategies for memory or attention difficulties). I provide treatment services to any adults across the lifespan, from young to older adults.  

I have training in several intervention modalities - including cognitive-behavior therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, interpersonal therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy - and I tailor my therapeutic approach according to your needs. I have a particular interest and expertise in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). For more than 10 years I have been involved in providing MBIs for individuals with neurological disorders, and it is a major focus of my research. In the past I have been the lead or co-lead researcher on major projects investigating the impact of MBIs in chronic post-concussive syndrome, subjective cognitive decline in older adulthood, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. I have also provided MBIs in clinical practice to persons with neurological illness and injury, anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic pain. In practice, I have found that MBIs are a unique method to help clients on multiple levels at the same time. The practice of mindfulness provides support to mood and thinking abilities (particularly attention), while the other elements of therapy promote acceptance, non-judgment, and loving-kindness toward oneself.  

How does treatment work, and who can benefit?

When people experience a medical illness or injury, it often changes their perception of themselves and the meaning of their life. This can cause stress, anxiety, and depression, amongst other reactions. Psychotherapy can help you to navigate to your “new normal”, accept and appreciate who you are, and consider a plan to move forward with the life you desire. People might come to see me seeking support for a variety of issues, including:

• Depression and anxiety after a brain injury or stroke

• Chronic pain (e.g., whiplash) after a car accident

• Post-traumatic stress disorder or other traumatic reactions to repeat medical procedures

• Social anxiety (e.g., fear of socializing) because of problems in thinking abilities or motor disability (e.g., Parkinson's disease)

• Grief and loss associated with chronic illness and injury

• Caregiver distress associated with caring for a loved one with cognitive difficulties, such as dementia

Several decades of research and clinical experience now indicate that people can benefit from cognitive rehabilitation after illness or injury. Sometimes this involves interventions to actually improve your thinking abilities – this is known as restitution. Other times, direct improvement is more difficult, but we can learn to adapt to difficulties – this is known as compensation. Research on neuroplasticity demonstrates that people can experience changes in the structure and function of their brain after these interventions, as well as improvements in their daily life. Emerging research - including some of my own research - indicates that these changes can happen even into older adulthood. In other words, you “can teach an old dog new tricks”! People might come to see me for cognitive rehabilitation with issues such as: 

• Problems with arousal and attention after concussion

• Difficulties with time-management, organization, and problem-solving due to ADHD or other disorders affecting executive functions

• Concerns about memory in older adulthood

I am a strong believer in a holistic approach to health and wellness, which might include any or all of psychological and social supports, good nutrition, adequate exercise, regular self-care, spiritual and cultural practices, and medications, where appropriate. The benefit of psychological interventions is that you are an active participant in the healing process. This can help you feel empowered to gain mastery in your life, rather than feeling as though you have to passively rely on only medications to help you feel better.  

The flipside, however, is that psychological interventions only have a chance to work if you put the time and effort in. This means that you have to want to participate in treatment and are willing to go out of your comfort zone. Sometimes it is the case that clients might benefit from treatment, but the timing is not right for them. Before deciding to pursue treatment, it may be useful to ask yourself if you are ready to make a change in life, if you have the right support to do it, and you are willing to do the work.