Our Counselling Services - Help & Support Is Here
At Green Leaf Psychological in Halifax, Nova Scotia, our Psychologists and Counsellors provide evidence-based, supportive therapy (in-person and online counselling) for a wide variety of personal issues and concerns.
We offer 1:1 in-clinic and virtual adult and adolescent treatment for depression, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self-esteem, work and school-related problems, stress-management, panic, social anxiety, motivation & procrastination, breakups and divorce, sexuality, phobias, family issues, and most mental health-related concerns.
We offer 1:1 in-clinic and virtual adult and adolescent treatment for depression, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self-esteem, work and school-related problems, stress-management, panic, social anxiety, motivation & procrastination, breakups and divorce, sexuality, phobias, family issues, and most mental health-related concerns.
The Importance of a Good Match
What makes therapy effective?
Is it the skill, education, experience, and specific interventions of the Psychologist? Is it the motivation, insight, and commitment of the client?
While all of these factors are important, we believe that successful counselling starts with, and is usually only possible, if there is a good match between client and therapist.
So, when you contact us to book an appointment for in-person counselling, virtual therapy, or any of the other services we offer, our first goal is to make sure we have a good match for your specific concerns and that the style and personality of the Psychologist or Counsellor is likely to be a good fit with your request and goals.
Luckily, we have close to 30 staff members at our Halifax clinic and as such, this usually gives us lots of options for matching you with a therapist who is a good fit for you and your goals for counselling.
Of course, if you ever wish to change therapists, we can accommodate this with an in-clinic transfer.
Is it the skill, education, experience, and specific interventions of the Psychologist? Is it the motivation, insight, and commitment of the client?
While all of these factors are important, we believe that successful counselling starts with, and is usually only possible, if there is a good match between client and therapist.
So, when you contact us to book an appointment for in-person counselling, virtual therapy, or any of the other services we offer, our first goal is to make sure we have a good match for your specific concerns and that the style and personality of the Psychologist or Counsellor is likely to be a good fit with your request and goals.
Luckily, we have close to 30 staff members at our Halifax clinic and as such, this usually gives us lots of options for matching you with a therapist who is a good fit for you and your goals for counselling.
Of course, if you ever wish to change therapists, we can accommodate this with an in-clinic transfer.
Our Approach in Therapy
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We believe that your counselling experience should be warm, friendly, non-judgmental, and of course, effective.
Our focus is on personal growth, learning new practical skills, helping you identify solutions to the problems you face, and the development of your overall mental wellness, not on labelling, pathologizing, and over-analysis. You are our client, not our "patient" will always be treated with respect. We will help you identify and overcome the obstacles that may be preventing you from being happier, less stressed, and more satisfied with your life, your relationships, your work or school, and your personal goals. |
Our Forms of Therapy / Intervention
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a common form of talk therapy that will help you understand how your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and actions are interconnected. It's designed to help you develop new patterns of thinking and behaviour that can lead to a happier, healthier life.
CBT is a well-established, science-based, structured form of treatment for individuals who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, stress, social anxiety, phobias, and other mental health conditions.
Many clients find CBT is a very effective way work through personal challenges, understand themselves better, and develop healthy coping mechanisms that can help them live happier and more fulfilling lives.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a common form of talk therapy that will help you understand how your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and actions are interconnected. It's designed to help you develop new patterns of thinking and behaviour that can lead to a happier, healthier life.
CBT is a well-established, science-based, structured form of treatment for individuals who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, stress, social anxiety, phobias, and other mental health conditions.
Many clients find CBT is a very effective way work through personal challenges, understand themselves better, and develop healthy coping mechanisms that can help them live happier and more fulfilling lives.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
One of the central ideas of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is that psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, poor self-image, stress, and relationship issues, result from a conflict between your core values and your thoughts, feelings, and actions. As such, ACT is a modern extension of CBT which allows therapy to be tailored to your unique personality characteristics and life goals.
ACT uses a wide variety of techniques (including mindfulness and problem-solving), which can help you become more flexible in your responses to thoughts and emotions, and more focused in your pursuit of personal goals. ACT will help you explore your values, identify what matters most to you, and then commit to living in accordance with those values.
It will also teach acceptance skills, which helps you become more flexible in your responses / actions, and to accept certain unhelpful thoughts and feelings without judgment.
One of the central ideas of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is that psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, poor self-image, stress, and relationship issues, result from a conflict between your core values and your thoughts, feelings, and actions. As such, ACT is a modern extension of CBT which allows therapy to be tailored to your unique personality characteristics and life goals.
ACT uses a wide variety of techniques (including mindfulness and problem-solving), which can help you become more flexible in your responses to thoughts and emotions, and more focused in your pursuit of personal goals. ACT will help you explore your values, identify what matters most to you, and then commit to living in accordance with those values.
It will also teach acceptance skills, which helps you become more flexible in your responses / actions, and to accept certain unhelpful thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Client-Centered Therapy
Client-Centered Therapy (CCT) is an approach to psychotherapy developed by psychologist Carl Rogers. It emphasizes the uniqueness of the individual and their capacity for growth and positive change. It also sees the therapeutic relationship as key to the healing process, and emphasizes the importance of empathy, acceptance, and emotional honesty.
Person-Centered Therapy encourages the client to express their genuine feelings and experiences, and to explore them in a non-judgmental and accepting environment. The goal is to encourage personal growth and development, while also supporting the client's innate capacities for resilience and healing.
CCT is generally seen as suitable for a wide range of clients and problems. It is especially helpful for clients who are looking for holistic and long-term therapy (rather than acute or short-term interventions), clients with underlying feelings of low self-worth, shame, or insecurities, and those looking for an accepting, non-judgmental, and collaborative approach to therapy.
Client-Centered Therapy (CCT) is an approach to psychotherapy developed by psychologist Carl Rogers. It emphasizes the uniqueness of the individual and their capacity for growth and positive change. It also sees the therapeutic relationship as key to the healing process, and emphasizes the importance of empathy, acceptance, and emotional honesty.
Person-Centered Therapy encourages the client to express their genuine feelings and experiences, and to explore them in a non-judgmental and accepting environment. The goal is to encourage personal growth and development, while also supporting the client's innate capacities for resilience and healing.
CCT is generally seen as suitable for a wide range of clients and problems. It is especially helpful for clients who are looking for holistic and long-term therapy (rather than acute or short-term interventions), clients with underlying feelings of low self-worth, shame, or insecurities, and those looking for an accepting, non-judgmental, and collaborative approach to therapy.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is based on the idea that our experiences are only truly in the moment, and that being preoccupied with the past or future creates psychological suffering. By practicing mindfulness techniques, counselling can help you become more present and aware of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the moment, and how to respond in a healthy way to your thoughts. This helps to break cyclical patterns of negative or destructive thinking, and can lead to improvements in mental wellbeing as well as your overall satisfaction with life.
Mindfulness is effective for a wide range of individuals and problems. However, it is especially helpful for people who are struggling to regulate their emotions (e.g., anger, fear, anxiety), excessive stress, people who experience low self-worth or insecurities (mindfulness can help you develop self-compassion and self-acceptance), and people with a tendency to overthink or to experience rumination and repetitive thoughts.
Mindfulness is based on the idea that our experiences are only truly in the moment, and that being preoccupied with the past or future creates psychological suffering. By practicing mindfulness techniques, counselling can help you become more present and aware of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the moment, and how to respond in a healthy way to your thoughts. This helps to break cyclical patterns of negative or destructive thinking, and can lead to improvements in mental wellbeing as well as your overall satisfaction with life.
Mindfulness is effective for a wide range of individuals and problems. However, it is especially helpful for people who are struggling to regulate their emotions (e.g., anger, fear, anxiety), excessive stress, people who experience low self-worth or insecurities (mindfulness can help you develop self-compassion and self-acceptance), and people with a tendency to overthink or to experience rumination and repetitive thoughts.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) is a technique that is (not surprisingly), more concerned with the solutions to personal struggles or situations, than on a historical exploration of the problem. It is based on the idea that we all possess resilience, inner strength, and resources that we can draw upon when faced with difficult situations.
SFT encourages an optimist and action-oriented approach to life, and emphasizes the importance of active steps to improve one's circumstances.
Our psychologists would work with you to strengthen positive characteristics and resources, and to enhance personal responsibility and autonomy. The goal is to assist you in seeing a future that is less stressful, more hopeful, and more fulfilling, to create realistic pathways to positive change…and then to take concrete actions to address your difficulties.
SFT is particularly well-suited for people who are stuck in negative patterns or experiences, and who feel like they don't have the ability or resources to address whatever is impeding them from leading the life they want.
Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) is a technique that is (not surprisingly), more concerned with the solutions to personal struggles or situations, than on a historical exploration of the problem. It is based on the idea that we all possess resilience, inner strength, and resources that we can draw upon when faced with difficult situations.
SFT encourages an optimist and action-oriented approach to life, and emphasizes the importance of active steps to improve one's circumstances.
Our psychologists would work with you to strengthen positive characteristics and resources, and to enhance personal responsibility and autonomy. The goal is to assist you in seeing a future that is less stressful, more hopeful, and more fulfilling, to create realistic pathways to positive change…and then to take concrete actions to address your difficulties.
SFT is particularly well-suited for people who are stuck in negative patterns or experiences, and who feel like they don't have the ability or resources to address whatever is impeding them from leading the life they want.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is a treatment approach that emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between acceptance and change. DBT is based on the notion that we contain within ourselves both positive and negative elements, and that the goal of DBT is a dialectic between accepting and changing these elements, in order to bring about a sense of greater fulfillment and balance.
DBT is largely skill-based and teaches clients to use mindfulness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal skills to identify and manage their behaviours and emotions in a more balanced and realistic way.
DBT is particularly effective for individuals who have a tendency to become overwhelmed by their emotions, and who struggle with emotional regulation and impulsivity. It is especially helpful for people who have intense emotional reactions, and who may also struggle with negative thoughts and feelings of inadequacy.
It can offer you tools and skills to manage emotions and behaviours, while also promoting a sense of self-acceptance and self-compassion.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is a treatment approach that emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between acceptance and change. DBT is based on the notion that we contain within ourselves both positive and negative elements, and that the goal of DBT is a dialectic between accepting and changing these elements, in order to bring about a sense of greater fulfillment and balance.
DBT is largely skill-based and teaches clients to use mindfulness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal skills to identify and manage their behaviours and emotions in a more balanced and realistic way.
DBT is particularly effective for individuals who have a tendency to become overwhelmed by their emotions, and who struggle with emotional regulation and impulsivity. It is especially helpful for people who have intense emotional reactions, and who may also struggle with negative thoughts and feelings of inadequacy.
It can offer you tools and skills to manage emotions and behaviours, while also promoting a sense of self-acceptance and self-compassion.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy is an approach which emphasizes the story-telling nature of human existence. It draws on the notion that we create meaning out of our lives through the stories we tell ourselves and the chapters we live. It works with your story, the meanings you have constructed, and the narratives you use to make sense of your life.
The goal is to help you to identify and reframe some of these narratives in a healthy way, and to support the creation of a more coherent, realistic, and positive story for your life.
A narrative approach is especially suited for people who are struggling with difficult life experiences and the meaning attached to them. It can also be helpful for people who have experienced trauma, grief, and have underlying feelings of shame or inadequacies in relation to their life experiences.
People who have difficulty making sense of their lives and their experiences may also benefit from narrative therapy, as it can help them to re-framing these experiences in a more constructive and realistic light.
Narrative Therapy is an approach which emphasizes the story-telling nature of human existence. It draws on the notion that we create meaning out of our lives through the stories we tell ourselves and the chapters we live. It works with your story, the meanings you have constructed, and the narratives you use to make sense of your life.
The goal is to help you to identify and reframe some of these narratives in a healthy way, and to support the creation of a more coherent, realistic, and positive story for your life.
A narrative approach is especially suited for people who are struggling with difficult life experiences and the meaning attached to them. It can also be helpful for people who have experienced trauma, grief, and have underlying feelings of shame or inadequacies in relation to their life experiences.
People who have difficulty making sense of their lives and their experiences may also benefit from narrative therapy, as it can help them to re-framing these experiences in a more constructive and realistic light.
Let's Get Started.
We are conveniently located in Halifax, Nova Scotia and have many clients from the areas of Bedford, Clayton Park, and Dartmouth. We provide in-person and online therapy to all of Nova Scotia and can also offer virtual services to clients in New Brunswick.
If you are seeking individual therapy, couples counselling, adolescent therapy or child therapy, please contact us so that we can discuss your concerns and match you with the best psychologist or therapist for your particular goals.
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Therapy in Nova Scotia for depression, anxiety, interpersonal issues, self-esteem, panic, relationship problems, and much more.
Adolescent therapy for depression, anxiety, self-esteem, behavioural issues, family conflict, school problems, etc.
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Couples therapy in Nova Scotia for relationship issues, parenting, arguing, family concerns, and communication issues.
Child therapy for behavioural problems, family issues, school concerns, emotional issues, and much more.
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Green Leaf Psychological Services, Inc.