Methods

Through a deeper understanding of my clients and their needs, I utilise a wide range of therapy techniques, including cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, Social Thinking and expressive therapies to develop an individualised treatment plan to meet the specific needs of each child and their families.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and severe mental illness. It focuses on exploring the relationship between what we think (cognitions), how we feel (emotions) and what we do (behaviour). CBT places an emphasis on helping individuals learn to be their own therapists. Through exercises in the session as well as “homework” exercises outside of sessions, clients learn to develop coping skills, whereby they can learn to change their own thinking, emotions, and behaviour.

Social Thinking
Social Thinking helps children to better observe the social world and to explore how they can solve problems within their own situation. Social Thinking takes children on a journey from learning about their own and others’ social thoughts to then learning to self-regulate their own behaviour to meet their personal social goals (e.g. to be included, accepted, etc.).

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that emphasizes acceptance as a way to deal with negative thoughts, feelings, symptoms, or circumstances. It also encourages increased commitment to healthy, constructive activities that uphold your values or goals. The goal of ACT is not to reduce the frequency or severity of unpleasant internal experiences like upsetting cognitive distortions, emotions, or urges. Rather, the goal is to reduce your struggle to control or eliminate these experiences while simultaneously increasing your involvement in meaningful life activities

Expressive therapies
Expressive therapy uses forms of creative expression such as art and writing to help people explore and transform difficult emotional and medical conditions. Psychologists and therapists use this type of therapy in a variety of settings. It's often used in combination with more traditional psychotherapy techniques.