theory.

anti-oppressive

Anti-oppressive theory is central to social work. It asks us to explore power and oppression across the human experience. Many other critical social work theories fall under this lens (feminism, anti-racism, anti-colonialism, indigenous, among others).

Power and oppression exist on the inter-relational level, across communities and across systems.

What does this look like in our work together?

As a critically minded social worker, I often reflect on the role I hold and the power it has in our dynamic. This includes my professional role as well as my identity as a white, cis-gendered, straight female descendent of colonizers. What you can expect from me is an intentional and notable effort to minimize this power dynamic. We will explore your story together and you will be positioned as the expert on this. We will engage in compassionate curiousity towards what may come up for you. You can also expect that I will share theories I may be developing about your experience and the impact it is having, the rationale for my formulation, my suggested intervention and why I believe this is the best approach for you. We can then make an informed choice together about whether to pursue this.

We will also bring systemic power and oppression into our conversations and explorations where it serves you. All too often, we internalize systemic oppression as our own failure or fault. By naming this, we can begin the work of externalizing this and not carrying the guilt, shame or blame of it.

Finally, I will always welcome and routinely ask for feedback on how you feel the therapeutic process is going and what I can do differently or better to support you. If I feel that there has been a rupture in our therapeutic relationship or process, I will bring this forward for discussion and repair.

trauma-informed

A trauma-informed approached is based in the recognition that every individual has the potential to have a traumatic history. With this recognition the priority becomes creating a socially, psychologically and physically safe therapeutic environment.

It shifts the line of inquiry from what’s wrong with me/you to what happened to me/you.

What does this look like in our work together?

First, and foremost, I will always come to our relationship with the belief that you are doing the best you can with what you know and that the coping skills you have are a result of protecting yourself from adverse experiences.

I will always apply a harm-reduction lens to coping skills (we can’t eliminate mal-adaptive coping skills until we build up more adaptive skills and healing is never linear).

I will also always view you through a lens of unconditional positive regard. This means that I will not let the worst thing you have done define who I see you as. We are all complex humans with complex inner and outer lives in a VERY complex world.

Finally, I am educated and trained in recognizing symptoms that are indicative of trauma (episodic and/or complex) and am cognizant that when trauma does exist, talk therapy is not the most effective intervention. In this event, we will discuss options and come up with a treatment plan that addresses this part of your experience in an evidence-informed and therapeutic way.

humanistic

This is a theory that is based in a more positive outlook on the human condition. It was developed in contrast to theories of human development that focused on the dysfunction that arises when negative experiences occur. This theory looks at the individual as a whole being and specifically, the interactions between free will, belief in one’s self and the pursuit of self-actualization.

What does this look like in our work together?

While we will absolutely discuss and explore dysfunction and difficult experiences, behaviours and emotions, we will also honour what IS working. We will work towards knowing and trusting yourself deeply, in a way that is not dependent on external influences.

relational-cultural

This theory focuses on the importance of relationships for emotional well-being. It highlights the impact that emotional turbulence, stressors and power differentials in past relationships impact our self-concept and ability to form positive relationships in the present. It also acknowledges the importance of the culture we live in in forming how we relate to others.

What does this look like in our work together?

As humans we want to feel at ease with who we are and how we share ourselves in relationships. However, we may find ourselves acting out patterns that do not feel authentic and cause distress. We will explore these patterns together both in the present and where they have shown up in the past to better understand the disconnect to move toward more positive relational experiences.

We will also explore the contexts in which you grew up and live in now to better understand how this may inform how you show up currently with the people in your life.