Meet Rachelle, RP, CCC

Welcome! I am Rachelle (Ra-shell). I am a NARM-trained therapist. I am a Registered Psychotherapist with The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC).

.

Who I work with:
.

I work with adults 18+ who struggle with feeling stuck in old patterns, despite awareness of where these patterns originate.

.

-If you relate to having complex trauma/relational trauma.

.

-If you have a strong need for external validation resulting in feelings of anxiety, isolation and emotional reactivity.

.

-If you disconnect from yourself or others to feel safe.

.

-If you have persistent feelings of shame and low self-worth.

.

-If you frequently encounter interpersonal challenges.

.

-If you struggle with emotional and nervous system regulation.

.

-If you have a pattern of needing to control others, yourself and your experience.

.

-If you experience chronic stress and anxiety.

.

-If you have an insecure attachment pattern, either fearful or dismissive avoidance or preoccupied/anxious, which makes being in your relationships (romantic or platonic) feel imbalanced, burdensome or anxiety-provoking, or causes you challenges in forming deeper connections.

.

I would be honoured to help you gain a sense of agency, self-acceptance and peace of being in your mind and body.

.

My Background

.

 I became a Psychotherapist after having a career as a yoga teacher and yoga teacher trainer and working as a clinician in the holistic health field.
.

After all of my studies and practices of a wide range of traditions, meditations and yogic studies and approaches, there is something that cannot be deeply moved by yoga, meditation or spiritual practices alone, and that is relational trauma. My experience has been that you cannot meditate or spiritually connect your way out of deep wounds that were created through disconnection, chronic misattunement, and chronic environmental failures. Relational trauma needs repair in relationship — through presence, attunement, and the slow rebuilding of relational trust and safety in your own system. Yoga and mediation can be a supportive addition to this work, however, it doesn't replace it.
.

My Therapeutic Philosophy

.

I believe that every person has an inherent internal capacity to heal and grow and that internal resources are available under the right conditions. Therapy is a place where we create the right conditions and little by little shifts in self-perception, internal resources and insights are integrated and brought outside of therapy sessions into day-to-day life. When these internal resources are strengthened, they support connection and regulation and lead toward mind-body health.

.

What approaches will we use in sessions?

.

I am trained in NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), which is a somatically informed clinical model for resolving complex trauma and supporting relational health. This model is my preferred way of working and receiving therapy. Yes, I go to therapy too!

.

NARM is a depth-oriented approach which invites you to remain in the here and now, as that is where reshaping occurs. NARM focuses on shifting underlying patterns that are driving symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

.

In addition, I am Internal Family Systems (IFS informed), Polyvagal Theory informed and use Brainspotting and DBR as a somatic-oriented approaches.

.

We will work experientially in sessions and combine bottom-up (body, emotions and unconscious processing) and top-down (cognitions, ideas, concept approaches.

.

Therapy is a space where we can develop self-insight, self-growth and a renewed relationship with ourselves. I aim to help you embody the present with new skills and perspectives that make life more easeful and enjoyable.

.

I intend to create a safe, non-judgmental space, where you explore your life-long patterns and experience new ways of being with more agency and aliveness.