Do you want to feel confident, productive, connected and in charge of your emotions & life path?
Struggling with ADHD.You know how soul crushing it can be to try to get things done well when you feel like you’re missing important details or you’re flooded by too much coming at you?
Do you still feel sad, wishing your parents had understood you? With or without a diagnosis? |
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Get to know yourself and lean into your strengths.The sensory information - sights, sounds, touches, smells - you experience every day has either helped or hindered your ability to feel safe, relate to others, nurture important relationships, pay attention and get important things done.
If your senses helped you feel safe, focused and productive, you experienced other people and life in general as safe and pleasurable and learned to see yourself as competent and capable. |
If they hindered your ability to feel safe - either because there was too much or not enough sensory input - you got stuck in cycles of avoidance, disorganization, procrastination, guilt, worry and generally feeling unproductive.
Overcome the feeling that you're not good enough.
Your parents, colleagues, friends, former bosses or spouse probably did not understand, leaving you believing you weren't “good enough”. And feeling alone
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It doesn’t have to be this way.
You may have already tried many other approaches - or perhaps you’re just beginning on your journey. Either way, I can help you find a way to make sense and meaning of your life and the world. Through a customized combination of assessment, consultation, education and direct attachment-focused, trauma-informed psychotherapy, we work through the process of getting clear on why it might take you 20 minutes to settle in to a task at work so you can do your best work! Or why cooking in a tidy kitchen nurtures and uplifts you. Or why time in nature nourishes you - deeply. Or why conflict feels so distressing and how you can create relationships that really work for you. |
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Because...
"In every adult there lurks a child - an eternal child, something that is becoming, is never completed, and calls for unceasing care, attention and education. That is the part of the human personality which wants to develop and become whole."
~ C.G. Jung
"In every adult there lurks a child - an eternal child, something that is becoming, is never completed, and calls for unceasing care, attention and education. That is the part of the human personality which wants to develop and become whole."
~ C.G. Jung
If you’re ready to see how we might work together, I offer a free 30 minute consultation to make sure we’re a good fit.
Click the link below and book an Occupational Therapy Consultation today!
QUESTIONS ADULTS ASK ABOUT THERAPY
What are the top reasons neurodiverse adults seek therapy?
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Neurodiverse adults seek therapy for many reasons. Whether or not they have a pre-existing neurodevelopmental diagnosis. Any and all of the following reasons are excellent reasons to consult with a therapist:
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What's the most important predictor of a good therapy outcome?
While there are many therapeutic approaches, the research shows unequivocally, that the best predictor of a good outcome in therapy is the quality of the client-therapist relationship.
A healthy client-therapist relationship is one in which the client:
That doesn't necessarily mean that the therapist will never challenge you or disagree with you - that may be what you need to promote healing and growth - but it will be done with curiosity, compassion and respect.
Another aspect of a healthy relationship is healthy boundaries. The therapist cares for you, but is not and cannot be your "friend". This means that the sessions are focused on you and your needs. The therapist only shares personal information if this might help you. The client-therapist relationship is one where the therapist is responsible to maintain these boundaries.
A healthy client-therapist relationship is one in which the client:
- feels safe to express their feelings, needs and perspectives
- feels seen, heard and understood by the therapist
- does not feel judged or belittled
- is treated with compassion, kindness and respect
That doesn't necessarily mean that the therapist will never challenge you or disagree with you - that may be what you need to promote healing and growth - but it will be done with curiosity, compassion and respect.
Another aspect of a healthy relationship is healthy boundaries. The therapist cares for you, but is not and cannot be your "friend". This means that the sessions are focused on you and your needs. The therapist only shares personal information if this might help you. The client-therapist relationship is one where the therapist is responsible to maintain these boundaries.
How will I know if we are a good "fit"?
Your sense of whether or not you felt seen, heard and understood during an initial consultation session with a therapist should give you the information you need to decide whether or not you would want to open up any further with a therapist. Remember that therapy is not a friendship. It is not a "two-way street" where both parties talk about their personal lives.
A therapist is there for you - to hear you, see you, understand you, help you. Is the therapist you're meeting someone you feel could do that for you?
A therapist is there for you - to hear you, see you, understand you, help you. Is the therapist you're meeting someone you feel could do that for you?
What is a typical therapy process like?
I begin with an initial (free) consultation. We'll discuss your needs and, if I don't think I have the right skill set (or if I know how you can access the support you need through the public health system), I will refer you on to a better option. If I feel I can be helpful, I will let you know what that might look like. If, in the course of our conversation, you feel comfortable enough with me to want to work with. me, I will provide you with next steps to book your initial (assessment) appointment.
As with all therapy, it begins with setting a direction. This means we need to get clear on your goals for therapy. It is important for us to both know why you want to work with a therapist and what you are hoping to achieve - what you would like to be able to do better in your life. When we are both clear on your goals, we can make the most of our sessions to help you move your life in the direction of those goals.
As part of the process of getting clear on your goals, we'll complete an assessment. This may include my getting to know more about your childhood development, earlier life experiences, family and social history, and your academic and work life. We'll also explore your sensory preferences and needs, your executive functioning (thinking and planning) skills, and your relationships and attachment patterns.
These pieces of information will inform my ability to create a flexible plan so that we are both aware of the kinds of strategies you might encounter in our therapy sessions. This can include (but not be limited to):
As our sessions progress, we will specifically discuss your goals from time to time to ensure that these goals remain important and adjust them if needs or life circumstances change, as they often do.
At each session, I am monitoring and updating my sense of where you are and how you are progressing in your healing and growth so I can adjust my approach or recommendations to support you best.
Ideally, if there is a need for therapy to terminate prematurely, it is best to have a "final session" to allow a healthy closure for the therapeutic relationship. For that reason, planning for closure is important.
As with all therapy, it begins with setting a direction. This means we need to get clear on your goals for therapy. It is important for us to both know why you want to work with a therapist and what you are hoping to achieve - what you would like to be able to do better in your life. When we are both clear on your goals, we can make the most of our sessions to help you move your life in the direction of those goals.
As part of the process of getting clear on your goals, we'll complete an assessment. This may include my getting to know more about your childhood development, earlier life experiences, family and social history, and your academic and work life. We'll also explore your sensory preferences and needs, your executive functioning (thinking and planning) skills, and your relationships and attachment patterns.
These pieces of information will inform my ability to create a flexible plan so that we are both aware of the kinds of strategies you might encounter in our therapy sessions. This can include (but not be limited to):
- Holistic Lifestyle Design interventions
- Emotionally Focused (Individual) Therapy
- Kalffian Sandplay Therapy
- PolyVagal Informed Therapy
- Compassionate Inquiry
- Sensory processing
- Executive functioning
- Psychoeducation
As our sessions progress, we will specifically discuss your goals from time to time to ensure that these goals remain important and adjust them if needs or life circumstances change, as they often do.
At each session, I am monitoring and updating my sense of where you are and how you are progressing in your healing and growth so I can adjust my approach or recommendations to support you best.
Ideally, if there is a need for therapy to terminate prematurely, it is best to have a "final session" to allow a healthy closure for the therapeutic relationship. For that reason, planning for closure is important.
How should I prepare for therapy sessions?
Prepare for therapy sessions by leaving time to arrive to your session without feeling rushed. If the session is online (virtual), then take time before the session to make yourself a cup of tea or grab a healthy snack and get comfortable at your computer or tablet. Log on a few minutes early so that you can check that your technology is working and think about (or jot down) what you might want to discuss.
If we're meeting in-person, be sure to give yourself enough travel time so you aren't rushed. Make sure you're not hungry.
If you have an important topic or concern to discuss, bring that up at the start of the session so that it doesn't become an afterthought. Your priorities come first!
If we're meeting in-person, be sure to give yourself enough travel time so you aren't rushed. Make sure you're not hungry.
If you have an important topic or concern to discuss, bring that up at the start of the session so that it doesn't become an afterthought. Your priorities come first!
Will there be therapy homework?
It depends.
"Homework" in therapy will depend largely on the type of therapy you are doing.
When I work with children and adults, the homework I assign may incude:
But, it's important to know that homework is not always necessary. Or helpful.
In the case of Sandplay Therapy or other creative, play based interventions (play is for adults too!), the work we do is deep psychological work and the mind, heart and soul will need time to rest and integrate that work without interruption, distraction or extra effort.
"Homework" in therapy will depend largely on the type of therapy you are doing.
When I work with children and adults, the homework I assign may incude:
- implementing strategies to improve some aspect of your lifestyle
- a specific relaxation or creative activity practice
- increasing your awareness about some aspect of your life
- practicing a specific skill in a specific context of your life
- reading a book or completing a mini-course to further your learning
But, it's important to know that homework is not always necessary. Or helpful.
In the case of Sandplay Therapy or other creative, play based interventions (play is for adults too!), the work we do is deep psychological work and the mind, heart and soul will need time to rest and integrate that work without interruption, distraction or extra effort.
How would we know we're ready to be done therapy?
As part of establishing a care plan, we will track your progress towards your self-selected/agreed upon goals at regular intervals. There will come a point when it not only "looks complete", but "feels" complete.
You may notice that you see improvements or decreases in functioning early on. These are not indicators of "success" or "harm" - simply of "progress". Things may get worse before they get better; and things may get rapidly better, but only temporarily. Continued engagement in the process is needed for lasting positive outcomes.
You may notice that you see improvements or decreases in functioning early on. These are not indicators of "success" or "harm" - simply of "progress". Things may get worse before they get better; and things may get rapidly better, but only temporarily. Continued engagement in the process is needed for lasting positive outcomes.
What is your background & experience in working with adults with neurodiverse needs?
- I have worked with children and adults with neurodiversity almost exclusively since 1999 in a variety of roles and contexts as an Occupational Therapist focused on addressing emotional/behavioural/mental health struggles
- I have been providing psychotherapy to neurodiverse children and families (with emotional/behavioural challenges) for over a decade in schools and in outpatient clinic settings.
What is sandplay therapy?
Kalffian Sandplay Therapy is a form of non-verbal (no talking required!) therapy that was developed by Dora Kalff. Dora was a Jungian analyst. She applied her analytic training to sand tray therapy.
Therapy begins with developing a positive therapeutic relationship between the client (child or adult) and therapist so the client has a safe space to express their drive to heal and grow through the creation of sand pictures.
Kalffian Sandplay Therapy uses a sand box, objects and toys that represent all aspects of life. Clients create sand pictures without any direction from the therapist. The client is free to talk about anything they wish while or after creating their sand picture, but this is not required.
It's important to know that clients can experience an increase in challenging symptoms as therapy begins. This happens in most forms of therapy when issues that have been boxed up and put on the shelf are brought down and opened. Things get worse before they get better.
The goal for Sandplay Therapy is beyond symptom reduction or management, but true healing and growth in the longer term.
Therapy begins with developing a positive therapeutic relationship between the client (child or adult) and therapist so the client has a safe space to express their drive to heal and grow through the creation of sand pictures.
Kalffian Sandplay Therapy uses a sand box, objects and toys that represent all aspects of life. Clients create sand pictures without any direction from the therapist. The client is free to talk about anything they wish while or after creating their sand picture, but this is not required.
It's important to know that clients can experience an increase in challenging symptoms as therapy begins. This happens in most forms of therapy when issues that have been boxed up and put on the shelf are brought down and opened. Things get worse before they get better.
The goal for Sandplay Therapy is beyond symptom reduction or management, but true healing and growth in the longer term.
