Prioritizing ourselves and our mental health can be exciting, yet it can also be uncomfortable. It may require us to search for clarity within ourselves or to look for ways to cope with a current stressor in our lives. Sometimes, we may not even know why we are feeling what we are feeling, and we simply just want to know why we feel like this in the first place. And so, learning about ourselves and the different aspects of who we are that we may not have known about before may be intimidating at times; it may lead us to talk about parts of our lives that may make us feel uncomfortable. At the same time, It can open the door to new possibilities and exciting new ways to navigate our lives with a new perspective. As we understand where these feelings are coming from, we can begin to learn and appreciate how they shape our lives. Understanding ourselves and how we navigate difficult situations or stressors can often require us to understand why we feel the way we are. It is often how we begin to feel true to ourselves and feel authentic. It is that authenticity and non-judgement that I invite and promote in therapy. For me, authenticity means we are in a space where we can feel safe to think, feel, do & explore whatever aligns with who we truly are. No matter how uncomfortable talking about it may be, it is what we are feeling within us, and being in a space where we know we can say or talk about it is often how we can begin to find our authenticity. I emphasize creating a safe atmosphere so we can bring our authentic selves to therapy to explore difficult topics while feeling safe with our vulnerability.

I am very passionate in my work with clients who are wanting with various presenting concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, communication, family or marital concerns, emotional regulation, and self-exploration. These are areas of concern that are very normal. I find it my passion to work with clients who share these concerns because we have likely all experienced them at some point in our lives; it is what makes us human.  As we learn more about ourselves, we often understand how many of these concerns came to be. I work with clients to help them have an understanding and appreciation for how they have managed to cope with the many stressors of life. From there, we can begin to work towards the goals that they set based on the outcome that they desire. This may mean learning new ways to cope, understanding our past experiences and how it has affected the present, or working towards creating a future that promotes and encourages a life that aligns with who we are authentically.

I use modalities including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Solution-focused Brief Therapy, play therapy, narrative therapy, attachment-based theories, psychodynamic approaches, & EMDR to help allow you to structure and determine your goals for therapy. Using these modalities can help us find an approach to therapy where we can introduce structure and direction into sessions that feel right for you while having a plan to get you to where you want to be. Often, my approaches can help provide a framework for understanding ourselves and how we came to be. However, I also believe that while having a framework is important, it is also important to see how that framework can help bring the desired changes you wish to see in your life. So, while using a certain type of therapy can help us gain clarity about ourselves, we can also ask ourselves how using this type of therapy will translate to the desired changes in our lives. I work with these modalities with the intention of helping us translate a way of thinking into a way of doing. Regardless of how we come to understand who we are using any of these frameworks, I want to work together with you to help you become more of who you want to be.

 – Abhishek Bardoloi, MC
Registered Provisional Psychologist