Counselling for Children and Adults in Drayton Valley

Brenda Petrie is trained in several therapeutic modalities that enable her to tailor treatment to each individual's unique circumstances and needs. Treatment approaches include but are not limited to, person-centered therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution- Focused Therapy (SFT), and EMDR.

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Person-centered therapy operates on the humanistic belief that the client is inherently driven toward and has the capacity for growth and self-actualization. It relies on unconditional positive regard, empathetic understanding, and congruence. Brenda believes that each person has the capacity and the desire for personal growth and change.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy encompasses a range of techniques that help clients understand the link between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Through CBT, faulty thoughts are identified, challenged, and replaced with more objective, realistic thoughts to alter emotional responses and behaviours.

 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy addresses destructive or disturbing thoughts and behaviors while incorporating treatment strategies such as emotional regulation and mindfulness.

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of mental health therapy that focuses on helping you develop a healthier relationship with your thoughts and emotions. Instead of trying to change or control how you feel, ACT encourages you to acknowledge and understand your emotions. Through this process, you'll learn to reframe your values and adjust your behaviors in ways that align more closely with what truly matters to you, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

 

For brief therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy may be used. Techniques include coping questions, miracle questions, and/or scaling questions. Solution-focused therapy is goal-orientated and seeks to identify and target the desired outcome of therapy.

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. Using detailed protocols and procedures, this treatment activates a client's natural healing processes through bilateral movement of the eyes or other stimulation techniques.