Aly Giesbrecht Counselling
cpc; MA Counselling Psychology
Who
Therapy can be beneficial for people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds. There are thought to be two experts in the therapeutic relationship...
What
There are some basic things you can expect from therapy, including standards of practice, basic flow of sessions, and more...
Why
People come to therapy for many reasons, and no reason too big or too small. Here are some common reasons people seek therapy ...
How
Therapy can take on a variety of forms, from individual to group therapy, online to in-person, talking to artistic expression...
My Approach
My therapeutic approach blends cognitive-behavioural therapy, attachment theory, emotion-focused therapy, somatic therapy, narrative therapy, and insights from neuroscience. I am trained in working with trauma.
I'm generally described as warm, gentle, and understanding.
a note about what therapy is not...
There are some misconceptions about therapy, so let's tackle a few of them here:
Therapy not a sign of weakness. It takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable. Contrary to popular belief, in many ways it's 'easier' and 'safer' to stay silent and struggle alone (even though the effects of struggling alone are often quite painful). But it's important to know: there is not a single person alive who does not need help at times.
Therapy is not just for those who are "really messed up". Sadly, this is another misconception that prevents people from reaping the benefits of therapy. The truth is, therapy isn't only for times of crisis. Some utilize it as a way of staying on top of their mental health and well-being too!
Therapy is not an indication that you are somehow inadequate in skills, ability, or strength. It shows that you're human and are in the process of growing and learning--and that is a life-long process.
Therapy is not only about focusing on what's going wrong in your life--it's about focusing on what's meaningful in your life. Addressing what's not going well is absolutely an important part of therapy, but as your therapist, I'm also interested in celebrating with you what's going well for you--so don't be shy about letting me know about those things too!
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
Maya Angelou