approaches

CBT

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
The goal of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is to develop ways of thinking and behaving that promote better mood, stronger self-esteem and a greater quality of life.

Unhealthy or dysfunctional cognitions can hold us back from living the life we want. CBT therapy is interested in how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact with the idea that “if you can change the way you think, you can change the way you feel.”

CBT works on the premise that for every situation you encounter, you make certain assumptions or interpretations about what’s going on. Based on your thoughts, you are likely to feel a certain way and act in a certain way. These assumptions are developed as a result of past experiences, core values, and beliefs you hold about yourself, others, and the world in general.

At new Chapter Counselling we can help you identify patterns of negative thinking that may be driving your negative emotions, such as anxiety, depression or low self-esteem. We can help you to develop more functional cognitions and identify positive lifestyle changes that will improve your quality of life.

Research has shown that CBT is an effective treatment for a wide range of issues and can be used to reduce anxiety and depression, create more confidence within various situations and achieve healthy relationships with self and others. Research also shows that people experiencing anxiety and depression are less likely to slip back into old patterns when treated with CBT they tend to get better and stay better!

If you think CBT could help you, call or e-mail Bess to book an appointment or a free consultation at 613-700-4755 or [email protected]

EMDR

What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is a safe, fast and effective therapy and has been found to be a highly effective approach to Trauma therapy. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing and is a revolutionary therapy for trauma and various other types of emotional distress.

The idea behind EMDR is that traumatic events are not processed at the time they happened but are instead “locked” into the brain. Without processing, these preserved memories can be suddenly “triggered” by sights, sounds, smells, emotions, and sensations. EMDR allows the brain to return and process these memories in a safe way using alternating eye movements, hand taps or sounds. EMDR is a complex procedure and can only be done by a highly trained practitioner.

The result is an elimination of emotional distress, typically accompanied by the gaining of powerful insights often described as epiphanies, and the spontaneous change of the client’s personal experience and behaviour for the better.

No homework is required on the part of the client with EMDR and drastic change and enormous positive shifts are often reported following each session, with the total therapy often requiring far fewer sessions than all other conventional therapies.
What is EMDR therapy used for?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Emotional Distress
Fibromyalgia
Unexplained physical symptoms
Pain relief, phantom limb pain
Unexplained headaches/migraines
Phobias
Panic Disorders
Stuck Grief
Depression and Anxiety
Addictions
Eating Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

How Does EMDR Work?

EMDR therapy follows an eight-step protocol geared towards treating the root cause of symptoms of emotional distress.

EMDR therapy is based on a foundation that the cause of emotional distress symptoms is caused by the fact that certain memories that were stored (often during childhood or during a traumatic event) under conditions of duress or during a highly emotional state were stored but not fully processed or ill-processed, causing them to remain linked with the amygdala structure in the brain (which is responsible for fear conditioning and hyperarousal), resulting in a variety of disturbing symptoms.

EMDR works by accessing and enabling correct and adaptive reprocessing of memories and triggers. This results in the total elimination or great reduction of the emotional distress symptoms.

Clients not only report the elimination of emotional distress but also that they have gained cognitive insights, greater self-knowledge and a new perspective, a greater sense of personal power, and a more peaceful life.

Psychodynamic

What Is Psychodynamic Therapy?
Psychodynamic Therapy, also known as insight-oriented therapy, focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in a person’s present behaviour. The goals of psychodynamic therapy are a client’s self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on present behaviour.

Helping individuals to unravel, experience and understand their true, deep-rooted feelings in order to resolve them. It takes the view that our unconscious holds onto painful feelings and memories, which are too difficult for the conscious mind to process. In order to ensure these memories and experiences do not surface many people will develop defences, such as denial and projections. According to psychodynamic therapy, these defences will often do more harm than good.

A therapist with a psychodynamic approach enables us to examine unresolved conflicts and symptoms that arise from past dysfunctional relationships such as past family issues, bad relationships, and toxic friendships.