Embodied + Relational Psychotherapy + Clinical Counselling
ABOUT ME
I'm Carly, and I love being a therapist and building deep and meaningful relationships with the most intimate and precious parts of people.
Before I was a therapist, I worked for Wyndham House in Guelph Ontario and Foundry in Vancouver BC, two youth and young adult programs addressing homelessness, complex mental health, and addictions. I've been a case manager, collaborated closely with psychiatrists, and provided trauma therapy in Vancouver's Downtown East Side.
I started working in private practice because I was burning out on the front lines and wanted to do deeper work that was led by the people I was working with. I wanted our work to be allowed to explore and uncover without limits. And I have been in awe of the transformative power of this work and the incredible strength and resilience of the people I have had the privilege to work with.
I am a mother to two glorious daughters, and my journey to them was paved with losses, illness, and many challenges. I have 2 cats, grew up dancing, and am often fighting against frizzy hair and rumpled clothes. I have my own experiences with navigating complicated relationships, recovering from painful times, and healing through connected therapy. As a therapist I am also a whole person and I bring my whole self to our work together.
I strive to be mindful of what you are comfortable with and needing and will collaborate with you through the process. I balance warmth and care with honesty and genuineness. I am honest and direct, and won't let us meander in unhelpful patterns for long, but keep us moving towards the life and wellness you want. But I am also always attending to your safety, trust, and connection in our relationship first. This is the most important part of your work.
I welcome you to connect with me to explore working together, or you can see below for some areas I focus on and my education and training.
AREAS OF FOCUS
If your childhood, family dynamics, or trauma or difficult experience left a lasting impact, the type of therapy I practice could be a fit for you. Some of my areas of focus are:
ATTACHMENT WOUNDS +
COMPLICATED FAMILY DYNAMICS
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any family dynamic, from childhood or currently, that left you feeling unseen, alone, not enough, or too much
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high conflict or authoritarian families, from anger and yelling to silence and passive aggression
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“emotionally immature” parents, or parents who were not able to understand or validate your emotions or needs
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parents with high expectations; feeling you were never good enough or scrambling to accomplish
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estrangement, whether by your choice or not
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verbal, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by a sibling, parent, or close family member or friend
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neglect or absence (eg due to parent's substance use/abuse, grief, work, lifestyle, emotional unavailability or coldness etc)
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enmeshment; parent expecting you to feel the way they do or tend to their emotional needs
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controlling parents; narcissism, gaslighting, emotional blackmail
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parents or family bring up strong feelings of guilt, anger, shame, or confusion
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a sibling with mental health challenges or other high needs
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experiences in child custody court and social services systems
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navigating boundaries with parents and family in adulthood
TRAUMA + PAINFUL EXPERIENCES
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any experience that affected your sense of self-worth or emotional wellness
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any form of abuse or violence
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sexualized violence
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trauma and burn-out from working the front lines of the opioid and homelessness crises
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bullying and peer challenges
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trauma or challenges with fertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, and loss
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challenging, disappointing, or traumatic birth or early parenthood
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loss and grief
MENTAL HEALTH + EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
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social, general, or specific anxiety; a sense of doom, overwhelming fears, or any worry that impacts your life or wellness
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depression and low mood; feeling numb, unmotivated, or constantly sad
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dissociation; a sense of being outside yourself, separate from the world, or difficulty staying present
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CPTSD; ongoing trauma, invalidation, or needs not being met in childhood; developmental trauma
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navigating the world as a highly sensitive person (HSP)
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reconnecting, or connecting for the first time, with your body
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learning to identify and feel your emotions
If you don't see your challenge listed here, please note that these are only some of the forms that trauma, mental health, self-esteem, interpersonal, and life challenges can take. If your situation, feelings, symptoms, experience, or history is challenging for you, then it is legitimate and could benefit from therapy.
EDUCATION + TRAINING
I have experience and training in a number of therapy modalities, and mostly use:
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
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Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
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Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
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Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
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Mindfulness-Based approaches and practices
However, I use an "eclectic" approach and believe therapy is an art that requires creativity. I believe there are many ways of knowing and work with each client to create the approach to therapy that balances their truths and comfort with their challenge and growth.
I have a Master's in Family Relations and Human Development - an interdisciplinary degree in psychotherapy, research, and social services - from the University of Guelph. I also have a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Toronto, where I studied Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health, and Sexual Diversity Studies.
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BCACC (since 2018) and a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the CRPO. I am "qualifying" with the CRPO because I have newly registered in Ontario, but I have been practicing independently in BC since 2018 and am an experienced trauma therapist.
Please connect for a free consult to see if we'd be a good fit.