What to Expect in Therapy

Our first meeting is used to gather as much information as possible about your history, problems and strengths, as well as things that are important to you. You are likely going to be given some tests or monitoring sheets to complete before the next appointment. This is necessary for us to better understand the mechanisms that maintain your difficulties and to create a working model of what is happening in your life. Obviously, each person is different, with different life philosophies and aspirations. Yet many of us get stuck in self-reinforcing cycles of triggers, thoughts, emotions, actions and outcomes that all add up to create our lived reality. Therapy is about ensuring that your mind works for you and not against you.

Many prospective clients seek therapy to address challenges such as depression, anxiety, chronic stress, or difficulties stemming from their family of origin that impact their ability to live lives that they desire. Below, you will find links to a series of articles that provide insights into each of these concerns and describe how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)—the approach that I specialize in—can help manage and overcome these difficulties.

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Concepts and Clichés

Welcome to Concepts and Clichés, a blog dedicated to exploring the real-world application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in everyday life. Written by an experienced CBT therapist, this space offers practical insights, expert advice, and thought-provoking reflections tailored for both prospective and current clients who are interested in personal growth and emotional wellness.

Here, you’ll find accessible explanations of CBT principles, common misconceptions (“clichés”), and how these concepts can be used to navigate life’s challenges.

Emotional Wisdom: Navigating Life with Feeling and Pragmatic Action

This post is a companion piece to " Chronic Stress: How Mental Patterns Shape Our Struggles. " The other post rightly emphasized the primacy of rational action in the face of crisis. When a child is drowning, we do not examine our emotions but jump into the lake to save them. Our survival, our livelihoods, our very commitments sometimes demand immediate, decisive action, regardless of the emotional maelstrom within. However, the emphasis on responding effectively is not a dis

12 min read

Chronic Stress: How Mental Patterns Shape Our Struggles.

Life is a continuous negotiation, often presenting demands that stretch our capacities to their absolute limits. When these pressures mount, and the prospect of falling short feels like an existential threat. Our brains, usually marvels of processing, can descend into a cognitive fog: concentration falters, memory malfunctions, and even minor decisions feel insurmountable. Our bodies bear the brunt: chronic fatigue, muscles locked in tension, digestive turmoil, and a comprom

8 min read

The Night Shift: Why Your Brain Might Be Waking You Up In a Panic

You're deep in the peaceful oblivion of sleep. Next, you're bolt upright, heart hammering, lungs seizing, gripped by an inexplicable terror. There's no fire, no intruder, no actual threat – just the raw, visceral sensation of pure panic. It's a nocturnal panic attack . For those who experience them, these episodes are uniquely unsettling. They hijack your body's alarm system when you're supposed to be most secure, leaving you shaken, exhausted, and sometimes, dreading the nex

7 min read

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