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HI, I'M KATHLEEN

Based in Sarnia, ON
Offers in-person, online, outdoors and e-therapy via SMS, one-on-one therapy
Offers day-time appointments

Registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario - Independent Practitioner

I help my clients release deep stress, build their resources and strengths, regulate their nervous systems, build their tolerance to processing difficult thoughts and feelings. Typically, our goal is to find a way to live the life you want, and to feel the way you want to feel.

 

My therapy style is not always typical, traditional talk therapy.

 

The direction of therapy specifically gears toward what will help you see changes and experience an impact. Often, our therapy conversations will be about practical skill building, or conducting experience processing sessions. My style is quite active; often we practice techniques or psychotherapeutic tools in-session.

 

As much as I hold the therapy space with a great deal of honour and sensitivity, I do have a light-hearted and somewhat casual approach to my communication style.

My formal training comes from studying Counselling Psychology at the University of Ottawa. From 2012 to 2018, I worked at Carleton University’s disability services, counselling services and career services helping people cope with change, and medical issues..

I like people to know that in my therapy room, they are never required to talk about anything they don’t want to.

 

I’ve heard people say that they avoid therapy because they don’t want to have to talk about a particular issue or experience. At our practice, the client is in the driver’s seat in this regard. The type of therapy I do - such as Brainspotting - does not require the client to tell their story or hash out the details of a difficult experience if they don’t want to.

I welcome people into the therapy space, whether virtual or online and offer a non-judgemental space to grow, heal and feel better. We'll work together on your goals, in the way that is best for you, with the intention of seeing the change you’d like to see.

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     EDUCATION & SPECIALTIES

  • Master’s in Education - Counselling Psychology, University of Ottawa 

  • Registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario - Independent Practitioner

  • Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management (Honours) , specialization in Human Rights

  • Member of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals

  • Revolutionizing Trauma and Addiction Treatment with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model with Jan Winhall

  • Brainspotting Level 1 & 2

  • Brainspotting: Addictions, Adoption

  • Brainspotting: Wavespotting

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed

  • Polyvagal Theory (Brain-body,  trauma-based model)

  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

  • DARe approach to trauma healing (in progress) - Dynamic Attachment Repatterning experience with Diane Poole Heller

         HOW I CAN HELP

 

  • Anxiety, low mood/depression

  • Gaining control of emotional reactions

  • Healing trauma and difficult past experiences

  • Complex medical conditions (physical, social, emotional, psychological impact)

  • Nervous system regulation
  • Creating positive self concept, feeling good about your life

  • Addiction to food, alcohol, other substances/behaviours

  • Alleviating physical pain and inflammation

  • Brainspotting to release deep stress and trauma

  • Brainspotting for performance and resourcing

  • Ruminating, racing thoughts

  • Alleviating obsessive thoughts

  • Assertiveness, boundary and confidence building

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STAYING OPTIMISTIC ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE

As a child, I battled bone cancer and lost my leg. This experience had a powerful impact on me and my family. Despite the challenges, living through illness and rehab taught me the importance of choosing healthy behaviours, positive perspective and support in healing and living a happy life. 

 

I studied Public Affairs and Policy Management and focused my learning on food policy and community health, while I worked as a food service cook and server. During this time, I had the privilege to travel through South American countries and live and work in communities in Thailand and Ethiopia.

 

I met many people who shared their positive perspectives of illness and hardship despite extreme circumstances. These experiences enhanced my enthusiasm to take a problem-solving approach and reinforced my belief in the ability to shape our life circumstances. This led to my interest in counselling and psychotherapy.

 

I bring a wide range of real-life experience: having lived and worked overseas, had a pre-therapy career and having done a great deal of problem solving throughout my adolescence and adulthood.

 

I work with everyday issues; as well as those at odds with the typical, no matter how unique.

Kathleen' bio

"It’s important to me that my clients truly feel optimistic about the possibility of healing, developing as a person in the way they want and feeling good, no matter what they’ve experienced."

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