Psychotherapy
What it is and how you can benefit from it
WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Psychotherapy offers support to explore and resolve life’s struggles.
The conversations you will have during your psychotherapy sessions will help you gain new insights and perspectives on what is troubling you. You can also expect to develop more effective coping mechanisms to manage your emotions.
Ultimately, psychotherapy will help you overcome life’s obstacles and support your personal growth.
WHO USES PSYCHOTHERAPY?
People of all walks of life have worked with Manon. She works from the premise that everyone has the potential to develop insight and self-awareness and transform their life. Her experience is that psychotherapy leaves the person stronger and more resilient.
When one chooses to ignore the impact of disruptive and hurtful events in their life, it often finds a way of surfacing at unexpected moments causing us to experience emotional and/or physical distress. Psychotherapy/counselling is a process by which one uncovers the source of their distress and heals it.
Individuals who are struggling with past or present life situations such as depression, anxiety, stress in the workplace, a health crisis, childhood abuse/ neglect, separation/divorce, domestic violence, conflict, grief, difficulties managing emotions (sadness, fear, anger, shame, resentment, etc) would benefit from consulting a psychotherapist.
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY
People seek out individual psychotherapy for a variety of reasons. Whether it is to overcome a childhood trauma or a more recent distressing event, the goals of psychotherapy are to re-establish one’s sense of hope and personal empowerment and improve one’s quality of life.
Life is full of ups and downs and usually, we can cope with the challenges that come our way. Sometimes, however, a challenge — either new or long-standing — is too much for us and we can feel overwhelmed by it. If left unaddressed, unresolved issues can preoccupy our thoughts, impact our outlook on life, alter our choices and behaviours, and spoil our sense of peace and happiness. It may even lead to damaged relationships, low self-esteem, and depression. If you find yourself struggling with an issue that won’t go away, it’s time to get help.
Types of issues you might address in individual psychotherapy:
- Grief due to the loss of a loved one
- Relationship challenges — affairs, intimacy, conflict, domestic violence
- Transitions during separation and/or divorce
- Managing depression and anxiety
- Workplace conflict and stress
- Low self-esteem and self-confidence
- Childhood trauma
- Stress/burnout
COUPLE THERAPY
Our intimate relationship with our life partner is a significant component of our well-being. It has the power to heal us from past hurts or to re-ignite them. Usually, relationship difficulties can be resolved together, but sometimes they can’t. A serious breach of trust, for example, can devastate a relationship, but so too can a creeping malaise that can quietly carry you to a point of no return.
Unfortunately, couples don’t always realize how they trigger each other. When a couple engages in the process of couple psychotherapy they rediscover how to cherish and value each other, they learn how to empathize, and communicate effectively. They learn to tolerate conflict and resolve it constructively. Whatever the challenge, it is always best to address it promptly.
Couple psychotherapy aims to help you reconnect and reclaim love.
Relational Life Therapy
When working with couples, Manon uses the Relational Life Therapy model created by Terry Real.
Relational life therapy is a highly effective approach that emphasizes the importance of respect and cherishing to maintain a sense of connection.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY FIRST SESSION?
If you’re feeling nervous because you don’t know what to expect, you’re like most people attending psychotherapy/counselling for the first time. Research suggests that a positive therapeutic relationship a client has with their psychotherapist contributes to the client’s satisfaction and progress. Therefore, it is important to ensure you feel comfortable in the presence of your psychotherapist. You should feel that your psychotherapist cares, actively listens, and demonstrates an understanding of your situation.