Therapy Services for Anxiety, Trauma, Grief & Life Transitions
PSYCHOTHERAPY + COUNSELLING
At Whole Sum Wellness we specialize in supporting:
Children (aged 7-11) and Parents/ Guardians
A social worker/psychotherapist is a person who works with thoughts and feelings. They are kind and friendly adults who will spend time with you, listen to you, and find ways to help you feel better and more confident. When you visit Whole Sum Wellness, you will talk, read books, play games, and make art with a social worker/psychotherapist to help express feelings, understand your thoughts, and solve problems. You can ask your social worker/psychotherapist questions at any time; they are there to help you feel safe and supported.
For the intake session, you as well as your parent(s)/guardian(s) will be invited into the office to discuss different aspects of your life (e.g., school, home, family/close others, sleeping habits, main concerns, goals, etc.). For follow-up sessions, you can attend the sessions alone or with a parent/guardian depending on your comfort level. Parents/guardians are often invited into the office for the last 10-15 minutes of the session to debrief and practice skills learned in session. The social worker/psychotherapist may also contact your parent(s)/guardian(s) to arrange separate meetings to discuss concerns, inquiries, treatment planning, observations, progress and/or possible referrals.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES
Based on your needs and goals we have access to some of the best resources in our tool kit to support you.
"Change is about noticing what's no longer working and stepping out of the familiar." - Edith Eger
NARRATIVE THERAPY
you are more than your struggles
Narrative therapy may be useful for those experiencing mood disruptions or challenges with anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, or attachment/interpersonal relationships. Narrative therapy is collaborative, non-pathologizing, and assumes you are the expert of your experiences. Therapists who use a narrative approach will work with you to identify common themes that shape your perspective on the challenges in your life. Together, you and your therapist will also discover alternative narratives that center your hopes, values, desires, and skills to “re-author” your life.
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION + REPROCESSING (EMDR)
you are enough, just as you are
EMDR is a well-researched and evidence-based form of therapy used to reduce the intensity of various thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. Research shows EMDR can help people with anxiety, depression, grief, pain, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When you participate in EMDR therapy, you do not need to discuss your concerns or distressing issue(s) in detail, or do homework in between sessions. By using bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, buzzers, or alternating sounds), you and your social worker/psychotherapist are encouraging your brain to process information naturally.
EMDR sessions last between 50-80 minutes. EMDR can be used in combination with talk therapy or on its own. If you and your social worker/psychotherapist agree EMDR is a good fit, you will begin thinking about what you want to address and develop skills to manage your symptoms. You’ll also identify a negative image, belief, emotion, and body sensation related to your concern, then select a positive belief that would imply the issue was resolved. This will be followed by a series of bilateral stimulations, brief check-ins, and a calming technique.
SAFE + SOUND PROTOCOL (SSP)
a space to show up as you are
Grounded in Polyvagal Theory, SSP is an evidence-based therapy that uses filtered music to regulate the nervous system. This therapy helps your body to come out of a fight/flight/freeze mode and move into a state of safety and balance, helping you to effectively use your internal resources to support healing. SSP has been shown to help people with anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms. SSP can be integrated into your treatment plan, as it has been shown to enhance the impact of other therapies, like EMDR and Parts Work.
All SSP playlists are intentionally sequenced. You will be encouraged to listen to at least 5 hour long playlists. SSP sessions can take place in-person or virtually and they are scheduled for 80-minutes to give time for checking-in, listening to the music, and then debriefing.
EMOTIONALLY FOCUSED THERAPY (EFT)
let's learn how to honour your needs
EFT is an evidence-based therapy that draws from Attachment Theory and the belief that emotions are central to our experiences and relationships. This therapeutic approach can be helpful for people with low mood, anxiety, trauma, and interpersonal challenges. EFT can help to facilitate the development of secure connection(s) with one’s self and others as well as repair strained relationships. Alongside your social worker/psychotherapist, you can expect to build more emotional intelligence, establish a greater understanding of your emotions, become increasingly aware of your interaction patterns, and develop effective ways to express your emotional needs.
EGO STATE/PARTS WORK
you are deserving of kindness + compassion
Ego State and Parts Work therapy can be used to support individuals with challenges related to mood, anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, dissociation, and attachment/interpersonal relationships. Therapists who use these therapeutic approaches believe individuals contain different “parts”, often associated with specific developmental stages or chapters of their lives, which influence their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. In Ego State/Parts Work therapy you can expect to identify and connect with different “parts” to help ease internal conflict, decrease emotional activation and overwhelm, and increase internal harmony. Ego State and Parts Works can be used in conjunction with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
GRIEF COUNSELLING
there's strength in vulerabilty
Grief is a natural reaction to loss that can affect physical, mental, emotional, behavioural, social, and spiritual aspects of our lives. Grief can be anticipatory, complex, disenfranchised, prolonged, and/or suffocated. At Whole Sum Wellness, we believe grief is a non-linear and ever-evolving process that is unique to each individual. The goal of grief counselling is to normalize and validate your experience, support the unfolding of your emotions, collaborate to develop adaptive ways to process your thoughts and feelings, as well as practice self-regulation/positive resourcing skills. This may include talk therapy, art- and music-based activities, movement, reflective journaling, or something else – it’ll look different for everyone! The important thing is that your social worker/psychotherapist will work with you to develop a plan that feels right to you.
DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (DBT)
supporting you through the hard things in life
DBT is a more structured approach that takes components of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and adds practical tools to support adaptive thought processing, behaviours, and social interactions. These tools incorporate Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation, and Interpersonal Skills. DBT may be helpful for people who experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and trauma. DBT has been found to reduce emotional stress, improve emotional regulation, increase distress tolerance, and build more self-acceptance and self-compassion.
ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT (ACT)
supporting you through the good, the bad, and everything in between
ACT is empirically-based and action-oriented therapy that derives from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This therapeutic approach is based on the idea that if people learn to accept the thoughts and feelings that arise during hardship and commit to changing their behaviour, they can become more psychologically flexible and capable of moving through their challenges. During sessions, you will learn to listen to the language you use to describe your thoughts, feelings, body sensations, behaviours, and the challenges you face. You’ll also learn to identify your values, identify ways to change your response to stressors, learn acceptance, practice being present, and develop tangible ways to implement change. ACT can be helpful for people experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, and chronic pain/illness.
MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING (MI)
you're worth healing and taking care of
MI is a style of communication and therapeutic approach that your social worker/psychotherapist may use to explore your desire for change, personal motivation, and commitment to your goal(s). This approach is collaborative, goal-oriented, and designed to empower you to make changes in our life based on your values and readiness. MI can be helpful for individuals experiencing anxiety, addictions, PTSD, life transitions, and chronic illness. In MI, you can expect to address the denial, ambivalence, resistance, or other elements getting in the way of change. MI has been found to increase confidence, treatment adherence, and other pro-health behaviours in addition to decreasing the likelihood of relapse.
CONSULTATION
building your confidence in being human and everything that comes with it
Thank you for showing an interest in working with Whole Sum Wellness in Consultation. If you’re another health or mental health provider and you’d like to discuss areas of our practice and professional experience, please visit the Contact Page to send us a message.
Emily Davison is not currently taking any Consultees or Supervisees to support their professional growth and practice. Please check back again in the future!
