Malinda Dunfield Therapy
Malinda Dunfield Therapy
Relational Psychotherapy & Counselling Services for Individuals and Couples
Virtual Therapy Sessions for Individuals and Couples
RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING
Every couple is unique, and I do not practice couple's therapy from a one size fits all approach. I listen carefully to the goals of the couple, in order to facilitate a helpful environment to meet their needs. This might involve improving communication, working through a conflict, or exploring the future. Tending to a relationship can be difficult to do alone, when stuck in patterns of disconnection.
As human's our most basic instinct is that of attachment. We are wired to connect with other humans for our very survival. The ways in which we learn to connect to our caregiver's when we are very young has an impact on the ways in which we connect to our romantic partners later in life. It's not often conscious, but when we explore the past, we often find patterns repeating themselves. Understanding the why behind our (and our partner's) patterns is an important part of couple's therapy. Once we can understand why we are reacting a certain way, it creates space for empathy and the potential for change.
We start all sessions by working with present day issues and we drawn on the past, only to understand how it informs the present. I strive to provide a safe and inclusive space for couples of all gender identities and sexual orientation.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
There are many reasons you might come to therapy. Maybe you are overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation, grief, shame, anger or fear. Or maybe you are struggling with a difficult situation, dealing with loss, addiction, a ruptured relationship, challenges at work or trouble at home. Or maybe you don't know why you feel off, but you have a sense of longing and the desire for something new.
As a relational therapist, I believe that the things that cause us distress are not the result of something that is wrong, or lacking, deep within ourselves. Instead, the way we feel on the inside is rooted in our experience of being in, or out, of connection with ourselves and with others.
Together we will work to find a way back to yourself. This might involve looking at the past, as well as confronting the realities of the present. Often our physical well being is an indicator of our emotional well being, so we will take special care in examining the stresses in your life and how they might be impacting your physical health. I work from a trauma-informed lens drawing on polyvagal theory and somatic based approaches to address life's challenges, including relational trauma. I draw on attachment theory, using methodologies including parts work, ACT, IFS and mindfulness based practices.