A registered psychotherapist in the Waterloo Region, passionate about helping people heal and thrive. Alongside psychotherapy, I offer NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback to naturally support mental and physical well-being. Together with a team of dedicated professionals, we now also provide nutritional counselling, pain reprocessing therapy, reflexology, and Indian head massage.
Explore our services and discover how we can support your wellness journey.
We offer a range of services that support the emotional, physical and relational well-being needed to reach your full potential.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a treatment method for mental health issues where a trained therapist helps individuals explore and address emotional, psychological, or behavioral challenges. The goal of psychotherapy is to help people understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, develop coping strategies, improve relationships, and create positive changes in their lives.
Psychotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, relationship problems, and addiction, among others. It can be done individually, with couples, or in groups, depending on the needs of the person seeking therapy.For more information see websites for the College of Psychotherapy www.crpo.ca and the College of Social Work www.ocswssw.org.
Services provided by Catharine Voisin, MSc., RP and Melodie O’Connell, MSW, RSWCounselling Services also provided by Shannon Thompson, MSW, RSW
Pain Reprocessing Therapy was developed by Alan Gordon, a Psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of chronic pain. He is the founder of the Pain Psychology Center in California. Alan Gordon’s work is based on the works of Dr. John Sarno whose research focused on how repressed memories can manifest as chronic pain or physical ailments. This was the beginning of the Mind Body Syndrome. Dr. Howard Shubiner is another leading expert in the area of MBS, and neuroplastic pain.
Recent studies show that chronic back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, and other forms of chronic pain are often not the result of structural causes, but of psychophysiological processes that can be reversed. This is referred to as Neuroplastic Pain.
Pain is a danger signal. When we injure ourselves, the brain sends pain messages to warn us of tissue damage and we feel pain. However, sometimes the brain can make a mistake. Neuroplastic pain results from the brain misinterpreting safe messages from the body as if they were dangerous. Neuroplastic pain is referred to as a false alarm.
It is important to note that all pain is real pain. Recent research has shown that pain is often the result of learned neural pathways. As pain has been learned, it can also be unlearned.
How does PRT work?
PRT utilizes a number of cognitive reprocessing strategies that aims to rewire the neural pathways in the brain to deactivate the pain signals including:
1. Education about the brain origins and reversibility of pain and the pain-fear cycle.
2. Attending to and appraising pain sensations through a lens of safety.
In PRT, the first focus is on education, evidence gathering, and reappraising the pain sensations as non-dangerous. Other components of PRT are engaged as needed.
Recent studies suggest that chronic pain (e.g., back pain, fibromyalgia, headaches) is often caused by neuroplastic pain, where the brain misinterprets harmless signals as dangerous. This pain is not imaginary, as brain imaging shows it's real, but it can be reversed by retraining the brain. Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) helps achieve this by using five key components: 1) educating on the brain's role in pain, 2) reinforcing this with personalized evidence, 3) reframing pain as safe, 4) addressing emotional factors, and 5) focusing on positive sensations.
For more information see www.painreprocessingtherapy.com
Services Provided by Melodie O’Connell, MSW
Reflexology is a type of complementary therapy that involves applying pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, or ears, which are believed to correspond to different organs and systems in the body. The underlying idea is that these reflex points are connected to the body's energy flow and can help promote healing, balance, and relaxation.
The practice is based on the concept that stimulating these reflex zones can encourage the body to restore its natural balance, relieve stress, improve circulation, and support overall health. Reflexology is often used to alleviate symptoms of conditions like headaches, anxiety, digestive issues, and chronic pain, although scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness is still limited. Despite this, many people find it a soothing and helpful form of relaxation and pain management.
Services provided by Kim Sebben, RHN, R.BIE
Nutrition Counselling helps people make informed decisions about their eating habits and lifestyle to improve their health and well-being. The goal is to address specific dietary needs, manage chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, obesity), and promote overall wellness. Nutritional counseling typically involves assessing an individual’s current eating patterns, identifying potential nutrient deficiencies or excesses, and creating a personalized plan to achieve health goals.
For more information see www.absolutenutrition.ca
Services provided by Angela Nosalik, RHN
Nutrition Counselling helps people make informed decisions about their eating habits and lifestyle to improve their health and well-being. The goal is to address specific dietary needs, manage chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, obesity), and promote overall wellness. Nutritional counseling typically involves assessing an individual’s current eating patterns, identifying potential nutrient deficiencies or excesses, and creating a personalized plan to achieve health goals.
For more information see www.absolutenutrition.ca
Services provided by Angela Nosalik, RHN
Indian head massage, also known as Champi, is a traditional therapeutic technique rooted in Ayurvedic medicine. It involves the gentle manipulation of the scalp, neck, and shoulders, using a variety of techniques, including kneading, rubbing, and pressure point stimulation.
The practice is designed to promote relaxation, relieve tension, improve circulation, and enhance overall well-being. It often incorporates the use of oils and can be performed with the recipient seated or lying down. Indian head massage is popular for its stress-relief benefits and is commonly used as a holistic treatment for headaches, insomnia, and anxiety.
Services provided by Kim Sebben, RHN, R.BIE
Psychotherapy and neurofeedback complement each other wonderfully. Neurofeedback can work out underlying subconscious patterns that are rigid and no longer useful. Psychotherapy can help to explore and understand how the patterns developed, strategies to change the patterns and strategies to develop new effective responses and behaviors.
NeurOptimal focuses on promoting self-regulation of the brain, helping individuals become more aware of and in control of their mental and emotional states. This enhanced self-regulation can complement the work done in psychotherapy, providing clients with additional tools to manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Both psychotherapy and NeurOptimal aim to reduce stress, but they approach it from different angles. Psychotherapy may involve exploring and addressing underlying issues contributing to stress, while NeurOptimal provides a neurofeedback training that supports the brain's ability to self-regulate and reduce stress.
Psychotherapy can provide targeted interventions and insights into specific psychological issues, helping individuals understand the root causes of their challenges. NeurOptimal, on the other hand, offers a more global approach, optimizing overall brain function. Together, they can address both specific issues and contribute to overall mental well-being.
Psychotherapy often involves learning strategies for emotional regulation and coping. NeurOptimal can enhance this process by training the brain to self-regulate, potentially leading to improved emotional resilience and regulation.
In cases of trauma, psychotherapy modalities such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) or trauma-focused therapies can be complemented by NeurOptimal. The neurofeedback system's gentle approach may offer additional support for individuals working through trauma.
NeurOptimal's potential to enhance cognitive function, including attention and focus, can be particularly beneficial when combined with psychotherapy. It can support individuals in staying present and engaged during therapy sessions.
Both psychotherapy and NeurOptimal can contribute to an integrated approach to mind and body well-being. Psychotherapy often involves verbal communication and exploration of thoughts and emotions, while NeurOptimal focuses on the brain's patterns and their impact on overall well-being.
While psychotherapy may address specific issues and challenges, NeurOptimal can contribute to personal growth and optimization by promoting flexibility and resilience in the brain's functioning.
Hear what clients have to say.
Visit my office for appointments or fill out the form to contact me with questions or inquiries.