Psychotherapy
What is Psychotherapy?
In very broad terms, psychotherapy is a form of psychological treatment where an individual interacts with a practitioner (psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist) to address their mental health concerns. The word “psyche” is of Greek origin and was initially used to refer to the human soul. With this definition in mind, psychotherapy can also be described, as psychologist Eduardo Duran first noted, a method of healing the soul’s wounds.
Here at Healing Foundations we offer the most common form of psychotherapy, individual talk therapy. Given the vastness, complexity, and diversity of human souls, it makes sense that there are many different types of talk psychotherapy.
The psychotherapy modalities that are currently offered at Healing Foundations are as follows. All the modalities have been found to be helpful for neurodivergent folks.
- FOT is a holistic modality that involves paying close attention to the felt sense (all aspects of our mental health concerns including our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and memories)
- Insight and healing is gained organically through observing and interacting with the felt sense
- Usually is a longer-term therapy (6+ sessions), although positive changes can arise in as little as 1 session
- Useful for addressing, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, relational issues, transitions in life, and general life stress
- Promotes a greater sense of connectedness with the self, increased self-awareness, and can provide greater clarity on how your individual healing journey will be most effective.
- A typical session involves finding a topic/symptom/situation that is most pressing and noticing and exploring your felt sense of it through guided instruction and/or unstructured discussion.
- Is usually combined with other types of talk therapy modalities.
- Is based on the neurophysiology of the vagus nerve which has multiple branches (thus, the name “poly”vagal) and corresponds to different nervous system states including fight, flight and freeze.
- Insight is achieved by a greater understanding of your personal patterns of vagus nerve activation. Healing is gained through tools and strategies for caring for and soothing yourself when in these nervous system states.
- Can be a short-term therapy (as little as 2 sessions) or is more commonly combined with other therapies for a medium (6-10 sessions) to longer-term (6+ sessions) amount of time.
- Useful for addressing, anxiety, trauma, burnout, and other related issues.
- Promotes a greater awareness of how our bodies react in moments of stress which can help increase control and regulation of our emotions.
- A typical session involves discussing moments where you may have experienced fight, flight, or freeze. There’s also discussion on the causes of the distress and how to regulate your nervous system in those moments.
- Is usually combined with other types of talk therapy modalities.
- Is based on the principles of accepting your present circumstances so that you can be committed to future change that is aligned with your most important values and goals in life.
- Insight is achieved through mindfulness techniques and uncovering unhelpful thinking patterns. Healing is gained through learning and finding other, more helpful, patterns of behaviour and thought that are more in line with your values and goals.
- Can be a short or long-term therapy depending on your goals.
- Useful for addressing depression, trauma, anxiety, addictive behaviours, grief, relational issues, general life stress, feelings of directionlessness, and other related issues.
- Promotes helpful cognitive (thought-based) and behavioural changes that are aligned with your goals and values in life.
- A typical session usually involves discussing and noticing unhelpful patterns of thought and behaviour and then discussing more useful ways of looking at things that result in your desired change. Specific strategies and tools can also be taught to you in a session.
- Is usually combined with other types of talk therapy modalities.
- Is based on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
- Insight is achieved through uncovering the underlying thoughts of painful emotions that lead to unhelpful behaviours. Healing is gained through learning specific strategies and techniques that can replace unhelpful patterns.
- Is usually a shorter-term, more structured therapy, but can be medium or long-term depending on your specific concern.
- Useful for addressing depression, anxiety, addictive behaviours, general life stress, and more.
- Promotes self-awareness, increases emotion regulation abilities, and helpful patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
- A typical session involves noticing your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and practicing and/or discussing tools and strategies to manage unhelpful cycles of thought and action. Worksheets and other assignments may be given.
- Is usually combined with other types of talk therapy modalities.
- Is based on the notion that, in order to change one’s life for the better, we must first accept the reality that is in front of us. There is an emphasis on managing intense painful emotions.
- Insight is achieved through mindfulness techniques and discussion of what causes intense emotions and other painful thoughts and behaviours. Healing is gained through finding and practicing specific skills to manage intense emotion.
- Is usually a shorter-term therapy, but can be medium or long-term based on your specific concern.
- Useful for addressing, anxiety, intense emotion, feelings of overwhelm, relational issues, depression, and addictive behaviours.
- Promotes greater control over emotion, can decrease intensity of emotion, greater self-awareness, better interpersonal and relational skills.
- A typical session involves noticing discussing the origins of your distress and learning and/or discovering ways to manage the distress. Worksheets and other assignments may be given.
- Is usually combined with other types of talk therapy modalities.
What to Expect at your First Appointment
The first psychotherapy session is 60 minutes and may differ depending on the concerns you are seeking help for. In a first session with Candice (RP, Qualifying), the goal is to get to know each other and explore what brought you to therapy. Candice may ask open-ended questions like:
- “What brings you to therapy?”
- “How have you coped so far?”
- “What motivated you to seek support now?”
- “What are you hoping to gain from our time together?”
- “What would you say your strengths and weaknesses are?”
Appointment Fees & Scheduling
Afternoon and evening appointment times are available.
Appointments can be online via the Jane app or in-person at the Healing Foundations clinic.
Complimentary 15-Minute online Meet & Greets Available.
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Initial appointment (60 minutes) $130
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Follow-up appointment (60 minutes) $130