‘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).
We are proud to be a part of the Queer Care Collective, a group of counsellors, therapists, coaches, and body-workers committed to creating a space where all are welcome. All of our practitioners hold a vision of community as a space where we might be seen in the fullest expression of ourselves, where we can heal and grow together. All of our practitioners are inclusive and skilled in working with folks of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
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.
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) — A type of mindful psychotherapy that stems from cognitive behavioural therapy. ACT focuses on the present moment and encourages the acceptance of thoughts and feelings (rather than avoiding, denying, or struggling against them). Central to ACT is the idea of taking committed steps towards one’s values — living a life that is meaningful, regardless of one’s struggles.
- 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.
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) — An adapted cognitive behavioural therapy that teaches people to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others.
- Family Systems Therapy — Explores various themes of one’s Family of Origin (values, losses, cultural and historical context, emotional and behavioural patterns) and how they have shaped and influenced the person they are today.
- Attachment-based Therapy — Early attachment experiences with our primary caregivers shape the adults that we become. The goal of attachment-based therapy is to address the limiting effects of negative early attachment experiences and strengthen the capacity for secure relationships.
- Mindfulness — The awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings. Mindfulness can help people avoid destructive or automatic habits and responses by learning to observe their thoughts, emotions, and other present-moment experiences without judging or reacting to them.
- Transpersonal Therapy — 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 a client understands and experiences this transpersonal or spiritual aspect is welcome.
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