My general approach is to safely and gently work together towards your emotional and mental wellbeing.
Just as each of us is unique, so too is your therapy. As a result, the specific approach we adopt will depend on your requirements. Often, a few different techniques are used to explore your situation as therapy unfolds.
The therapeutic techniques used in Brave Therapy™ have emerged from 21st Century science and concentrate on the integration between body, brain, mind and soul.
The Conversational Model
The Conversational Model is a relational psychodynamic therapy, which simply means that the way the therapist and the client interact is vital. The CM incorporates concepts from other schools, including Self Psychology, Intersubjectivity Theory, Trauma Theory, Attachment Theory, Contemporary Neuroscience and Memory Systems Theory. Three years of training in this method included twice weekly sessions with clients that were recorded and assessed, enabling me to develop an in-depth and reflective practice. The model was developed for the treatment of complex developmental trauma and borderline personality disorder.
EMDR
EMDR is one of the most researched psycho-therapeutic approaches for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since 1989 over 24 controlled studies have found EMDR Therapy effectively decreases or eliminates the symptoms of PTSD. EMDR Therapy is also used for a variety of clinical problems which may have resulted from disturbing life events, like anxiety disorders, depression etc.
Somatic Experiencing®
SE does not focus on talking about or re-living trauma. SE works at the physiological level where traumatic activation is held in the body. Often, clients have had therapy to deal with their traumas and still have symptoms, physically, emotionally, and relationally. Or perhaps they have symptoms and don’t know why. Dr. Peter Levine found that by processing the body and guiding the discharge of stored energy in the body then homeostasis of the nervous system occurred and symptoms resolved. This seems to be the missing piece in trauma resolution, no matter how severe.
Brainspotting®
Brainspotting® is one of the latest technique emerged for treating trauma, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. During trauma, the brain’s processing capacity can become overwhelmed, leaving behind traces of the trauma, frozen in an unprocessed state. Brainspotting® uses your field of vision to find where you are holding pieces of the trauma in your brain so that they can then be processed. Your eyes can actually scan inside your brain as well as outside!
The Daring Way™
The Daring Way™ is a highly experiential methodology based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. The method was developed to help men, women, and adolescents learn how to show up, be seen, and live braver lives.
The primary focus is on developing shame resilience skills and developing a courage practice that transforms the way we live, love, parent,and lead. It can be facilitated in clinical, educational, and professional settings and is suitable for work with individuals, couples, families, work teams, and organizational leaders.
I became the first Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator in Australia.
I utilize Brené Brown’s work in my psychotherapy and counselling, and integrate The Daring Way™methodology into my work with trauma, depression, anxiety eating disorders, and addictions of all kinds.
Learn more about my Daring Way™ work.
Mindfulness based interventions
Mindfulness means developing a moment-by-moment awareness of our feelings, thoughts, bodily sensations, and our environment. Mindfulness involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judgement. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist meditation and the practice of mindfulness has entered into mainstream in recent years. Thousands of studies have documented the physical and mental health benefits of mindfulness. I incorporate mindfulness into my practice and into my daily life as I practice daily mindfulness meditation.
MATES™ Resourcing Program
The MATES™ Program provides you with a set of 5 simple & easy skills, which you can immediately begin to practice to discover how to effectively bring yourself to your calm mind and body. The MATES Program also explains in very simple terms why you get triggered by people, places and things and how to stop the drama cycle from repeating itself endlessly.
Other methods
I have been extensively trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT, Art and Play Therapy, Pia Melody’s Codependency Model and Mindfulness based interventions. Learn more about other methods.
