We provide psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults. 

 

Our Philosophy

 

Our therapy services are based on empirically-supported techniques that are supported by modern scientific evidence. We incorporate a variety of therapeutic styles into our work but our primary therapeutic orientation is best described as cognitive-behavioural (CBT).

 

At Psychology West, we work collaboratively with patients to determine and meet their needs on an individual basis tailored to their clinical symptoms. 

 

Generally, we work with people who are experiencing difficulties coping with emotions (e.g., low mood, anxiety, etc.), have negative feelings towards themselves, are experiencing interpersonal struggles, or who simply want to contribute to their overall health, psychological wellness, and optimize their functioning. Sometimes people are seeking an unbiased professional to use as a sounding board. 

 

The Process

 

The initial sessions of psychotherapy are directed at orienting you to therapy, understanding your rights to confidentiality and its limits, establishing a thorough history, compiling background information and relevant history, formulating goals, completing questionnaires to establish baseline levels of functioning, and establishing a treatment plan. You are encouraged to ask many questions as therapy is a collaborative process. 

 

Therapy is best achieved with a good fit between the clinician and the client and various clinicians adapt different styles. We encourage you to speak openly with your clinician about various issues, even if you feel they are odd, minor, or irrelevant. If it matters to you, it matters to us. We will respond to you in a non-judgmental way in order to provide you with a safe space to explore your internal struggles. The overarching goal is to assist you to develop adaptive thinking styles, behaviours and lifestyles, coping strategies, and healthy emotional responses that can move you closer to your goals. Overall, a greater sense of self-awareness and self-compassion can be achieved through this experience, and can be benefited with openness for the process. 

 

Our eventual goal is to provide you with the strategies required to further perpetuate your own psychological health. We strive to provide you with strategies of self-insight and empirically-based techniques that are grounded in sound scientific results that will enable you to continue your own personal growth after therapy has ended. Some individuals prefer to check in with us and visit us for “booster sessions” in order to maintain their skills. We will work with you at a level you are comfortable with.