Counselling with Julianne

Culturally sensitive & neuroaffirming 

I use a humanistic, culturally sensitive and neuro-affirming approach to therapy. What this means, in practice, is that I will show up as a fellow human being in our sessions, not an 'expert' claiming to know how you should live. Since a young age, I've been fascinated by the human mind and the ways that culture, family, history and genetics shape each of us... And frankly, I have been (and continue to be) perplexed by the inner workings of my own mind!

As a deeply curious person, I really believe that being curious about ourselves can enrich our lives. Especially if you think (or know) that you are neurodivergent, a bit quirky or just wired in a particular way, it can be good to understand yourself better. Sometimes, it can really help you move through life with a bit more ease and peace.

Either way, self-discovery can, I think, be rewarding and clarifying for people of all ages, neurotypes, genders and backgrounds. Self-discovery can make life itself more bearable and, at best, more meaningful. I feel deeply privileged to get to be a therapist and help people connect more deeply with themselves and the world around them.

My work is also informed by Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based approach that helps you work with, rather than clash with, your emotions. I believe in this approach because I've seen it work quite well for people, especially individuals who tend to "go cognitive" (i.e. rely on their thinking, logic, intellectualising, etc.) but don't necessarily know how they feel. It can also be quite helpful if you're someone who has tried Cognitive Behavior Therapy but found it ineffective. In EFT, we work directly with your emotions (not just your thoughts) and help you make sense of your emotional experiences.

On a deeper level, EFT can help you get unstuck by showing you that your emotions are not "in the way". Rather, emotions are data points that signal to you that something important is at stake, and that you have certain needs that require your attention. I am ICCEFT Certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals (EFIT) and have completed training in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). Whether you're seeking individual or family therapy, we can work together to help you see your emotional patterns, what types of needs underlie these patterns, and what's keeping you stuck. We use this insight to help you make positive changes that will deepen your connection to others and yourself.

Other approaches I draw on

Depending on what you want to work on, I will tailor therapy to your needs. Besides EFT, I am trained in Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and may draw on these approaches in our work together. My therapy work is further enriched by principles from neuro-affirming approaches to therapy, attachment theory, neuroscience, and sociology.