Therapeutic Approaches

There are over 400 approaches to psychotherapy out there!

Knowing what approach will work best for you can be difficult to know. Some approaches have been empirically tested through clinical trials. The results from these studies have shown significant changes in participants. It is important to note that none of these treatments work for every person and every problem. At FSP, our practitioners and counsellors are trained and skilled in providing a variety of psychological treatments for this reason.

Different therapeutic styles focus on different aspects of your concerns, including behaviours, cognitions, emotions, perceptions, sensations, and relationships. At FSP, we integrate top down (intellectual) and bottom up (body based) approaches to healing. Below is a brief list of some of the scientific, evidence-based psychological approaches used at FSP.

Attachment, Psychodynamic, and Mentalization Therapies

These therapies focus on how past and present relationship experiences have influenced a person’s present patterns (i.e., thinking, emotional reactions, and behaviours towards self and other). Treatment focuses on cognition, emotion, and interpersonal dimensions of your challenges. Interpersonal relationships inside and outside of therapy are explored to understand and change how one experiences self and relates to others. These approaches focus on underlying relational conflicts that impact your symptoms rather than focus on the symptoms themselves

Emotion(ally)- Focused Therapy

This psychotherapeutic approach works to support clients through accessing and expressing their complex emotional experiences. Treatment focuses on the emotional experiences of you and those you are in relationship with. Emotional reactions are explored and perceived to be the way to facilitate change. This approach believes that unprocessed secondary emotional responses may be covering up more adaptive emotional responses. Accessing your primary emotions allows us to identify our attachment needs, boundaries, and goals, all which promote secure bonds.

Somatic Approaches/ Embodiment/ Nervous System Approaches

Somatic approaches to counselling and psychotherapy pay attention to the physical reactions that accompany psychological issues or symptoms. They take into account current information about the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and how it works, and how we can use our bodies to heal from significant impairment.

Existential- Humanistic Approaches

These approaches includes client-centered, existential and gestalt therapies. These approaches strive to guide client's in an exploration of deeper meanings, working to increase self-awareness. Self-awareness is seen as the agent of growth. Treatment focuses on supporting individuals in removing blocks to unexpressed feelings, and reconnecting client's to their inner knowings.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion, and Mindfulness-Based Approaches

These approaches to psychotherapy work to help clients learn to observe their experiences, be less reactive and accept their internal reactions. ACT focuses on values of clients, and uses values to guide behaviour, rather than to get hooked with ones thoughts and feelings. Treatment of these approaches work to develop a client's capacity to observe, and adopt a non-judgmental stance toward thoughts and feelings, reduce reactivity, and use values to promote change.

Informative Videos

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