‘Whole Person’ & Heart-Centred
At FindHeart Counselling, we believe in a ‘whole person’ and heart-centred approach to therapy. We strive to address all aspects of your experience — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. As such, our work incorporates not only your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours but your physical and spiritual experiences too.
At the core of our practice is the idea of being heart-centred — patient, inclusive, gentle, compassionate, and nonjudgmental. We believe that the most sustainable and long-lasting gains are made in a safe and trusting environment, where your pace and comfort are respected.
Safe & Inclusive Space
People of all genders, sexual orientations, ages, religions, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, colour, race, ethnicity, health status, and physical and mental abilities are welcomed and celebrated at FindHeart Counselling. We do our absolute best to create a space that is trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, safe, and accessible for individuals of diverse needs and life experiences — whether you identify as a person with a Developmental or Physical Disability, Mental Illness, or Sensory Sensitivity (to name a few).
Trauma-Informed Care
When a person has experienced trauma in their life, they are at risk of being re-traumatized in social service and health care settings. This is why seeking care from trauma-informed care providers is so fundamental to a person’s healing.
At FindHeart Counselling, we challenge the prevalent idea that the challenges a person faces are the result of a mere character flaw. Instead, we get curious about what happened in a person’s life to make certain behaviours and coping strategies make sense. We also consider systemic oppression and intergenerational/historic trauma.
Central to the impact of trauma is the violation of safety and trust. At every step of our service delivery, we strive to create an atmosphere of safety, trust, and transparency. Also central to the impact of trauma is a lack of power and control. To address this we use a collaborative and empowering approach that honours the choice and voice of our clients.
Therapeutic Framework
- Somatic Experiencing® (SE) — A body-oriented therapeutic model for healing trauma and other stress disorders. SE facilitates the release of fixated (‘stuck’) physiological states such as fight, flight, and freeze. The goal of SE is to release stress in the body in order to increase a person’s ability to function with resilience and ease.
- Attachment-based — Looks at the connection between an infant’s early attachment experiences with primary caregivers and the infant’s ability to develop normally and ultimately form healthy emotional and physical relationships as an adult. Attachment Therapy aims to (re)build a trusting, supportive relationship that will help prevent or treat anxiety or depression.
- Transpersonal — Draws on the assumption that our spiritual need for self-realization — connection to a higher self or source — is paramount to our wellbeing. It’s important to note that however you understand and experience this transpersonal or spiritual aspect is welcome and explored at your pace.
- Family Systems — Explores various themes of your Family of Origin such as values, losses, cultural and historical context, and emotional and behavioral patterns, to better understand how your family has shaped and influenced the person you are today.
- Rogerian — Places emphasis on the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client, and creating a safe and non-judgmental space for personal exploration and decision-making.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — Rests on the idea that our thoughts and perceptions influence our behaviour, and that distressing feelings can distort our perception of reality. CBT helps identify limiting or harmful thoughts, assess their validity, and come up with strategies to challenge them.
- Gestalt — An experiential approach that brings focus to the present, or, what’s happening in the ‘here and now’. It encourages individuals to move beyond just talking about a dilemma to experiencing and expressing their feelings in the present.
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