This is a good question and important to ask. Each situation is different and therefore will require a different therapy schedule. On average sessions are 50 minutes with the first intake appointment approx. 1.5 hours. This allows sufficient time to explore your reasons for attending and your goals and hope for therapy. Additionally, it is my priority for you to feel comfortable and make sure I am a good fit for the work you wish to do. The relationship we build is very important to the process and necessary for successful outcome. Some clients choose to have longer sessions or attend more frequently. It is up to you what pace you want to work at. However, the more consistent the therapy the faster the results. Jade is willing to work at whatever pace and timeframe you are comfortable with.

I am an integrative therapist. This means I am not aligned with just one approach, as I believe that therapy is not one size fits all. Your needs are the priority and therefore, I will meet them flexibly and following your lead. However, it is also good for a therapist to be grounded in a specific worldview and approach they work from. I am systemic, experiential, marriage and family and trauma informed therapist. I am formally trained in Satir family therapy, EMDR, Relationship Empowerment therapy, Motivational Interviewing and CSAT – Certified Sex Addiction.

It is hard to counsel and help a couple without both people present. However, if you partner is not ready you do not need to suffer until they are. You can get support in making decisions that are right for you, practice self-care and have assurance that no matter what happens, you are willing and have done everything to better yourself and the relationship.

Although extremely painful, many couples can heal from this relationship wound. The sooner you can get help for this, the more the likelihood of healing. Even if the relationship is unable to be saved, both individuals will be better equipped and professionally supported to deal with the outcome. Many couples who choose to commit to making the relationship work, while also being accountable for their part in the relationship rupture, claim that couples therapy is the catalyst for a deeper, more intimate connection with their partner.

Jade is extensively trained in all models of addiction and interventions. The preference is an abstinence goal for addiction recovery, given a belief that every human yearns for congruence, joy and freedom from the ties that bind to destructive behaviour. However, I also recognize there are many paths to get to this connection with self and respect every individual unique path to recovery. Jade will meet you wherever you are at in your addiction and/or recovery. You are not alone. Family members also need to be supported through a loved one’s addiction, as it affects everyone in the family – tragically at times. Jade specializes in supporting and treating families in addiction and recovery.

Trained to formally assess addiction from normal or even problematic recreational usage, Jade will help you and/or your family determine what is going on and come up with a comprehensive plan to help you navigate your way to recovery. There is a life worth living, free from any addiction!

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that incorporates elements from many different treatment approaches (EMDRIA International Association, 2017). It is best practice for treating PTSD, complex trauma, specific trauma and historical trauma. It is also effective for other conditions such as: addictions, panic Attacks, complicated grief, dissociative disorders, disturbing memories, phobias, pain disorders, performance anxiety, stress reduction, sexual abuse, physical abuse, body dysmorphic disorders, personality disorders.

The major symptoms of PTSD include anxiety, depression, and addiction. More specifically, these may include:

• Intrusive (unwanted) memories, distressing dreams, flashbacks

• Mental or physical discomfort around people or situations that remind you of the traumatic experience

• Avoidance of people or situations that remind you of the traumatic experience

• Trouble remembering parts of the experience

• Negative self-image, inappropriate blame of self and others

• Feeling down, angry, ashamed or fearful most of the time

• Decreased participation in activities in which you used to participate

• Feeling detached or estranged from people in your life

• Unable to experience positive emotions, such as happiness and love

• Frequent anger or aggression

• Recklessness

• Hypervigilance (constantly on edge or keyed up)

• Being easily startled

• Having trouble concentrating

• Sleep difficulties

Having one or many of these does not necessarily mean you are experiencing trauma responses or have PTSD. However, if it is impacting your ability to function or your relationships please have a professional help assess this. Willow Branch can help!