Types of Therapy

The following descriptions are presented in decreasing order of frequency as practiced by Susan in working with her clients.

Relational Therapy
Connection to self and to others is both the goal and process of relational psychotherapy. Through her own interactions with the client, Susan looks at and experiences what the client's existing relationships must look and feel like. Over time and through the work of the therapy, clients gains a different and healthier experience of relationship, which helps them perceive themselves as deserving of more connected, authentic relationships. Relational therapy strengthens and transforms a client's sense of self, allowing him / her to feel more confident and empowered in the world. For more information, visit www.tirp.ca.

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Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
This structured, short-term approach to couples therapy (typically lasting between eight and 20 sessions) was developed in the early 1980s by Drs. Sue Johnson and Les Greenberg. The treatment approach is suited to addressing marital distress (arising from such disorders as depression, post traumatic stress disorders and chronic illness) but can also be used with families. Through EFT, Susan aims to expand and re-organize each partner's key emotional responses, shift each partner's interactional position and initiate new cycles of interaction, thereby fostering a secure bond between partners. For more information, visit www.eft.ca/whatis.htm.

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
This structured information-processing psychotherapy was developed to resolve symptoms from stressful and unresolved life experiences, traumas or depression. It works to 'unlock' the way the client's mind processes the feelings and sensations from the stressful circumstance, and enable the client to create new connections with others and foster more positive and realistic information, perspectives or memories. For more information, visit www.emdrcanada.org.

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Family Systems Therapy
Family systems therapy emphasizes family relationships as an important factor in psychological health, It fosters understanding of the organizational complexity of families, and the interactive patterns that guide family interactions, viewing change in terms of the systems of interaction between family members. This technique can be used to address the full range of relationship and psychological dilemmas, always seeking to nurture change and development. In practicing family systems therapy, Susan has the family re-enact the problem, intensifying it in the therapy sessions, and finally reframing it with the family's participation.

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Sensorimotor psychotherapy
This technique uses the body (rather than emotions or thoughts) as a means of processing trauma; it directly treats the effects of trauma on the body, which in turn changes the way the client thinks and feels. Often in combination with other forms of therapy, Susan follows a phased approach (focusing first on stabilization and symptom reduction) that uses simple body-centred interventions, and tracks, names and safely explores trauma-related symptoms in the body. As a result, the client gains new abilities and experiences a sense of well-being. For more information see www.sensorimotorpsychotherapy.org.

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Collaborative family practice: Some general principles

• The courts are not the best place to resolve interpersonal disputes.
• People make better decisions for themselves in the absence of conflict.
• Under the right conditions, the two parties can feel secure and confident to make their real needs known.
• Open and frank discussions, managed in a controlled setting, benefit the parties by giving them insight into the wishes, interests and feelings of the other party.
• If they do not fear retaliation, parties will act in their own best interest, rather than seek to hurt the other party.
• A voluntary agreement, made by autonomous participants, is more likely to survive than a settlement imposed by a third party.

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