Desiree has a collaborative approach to therapy. Desiree remains open to initiating a connection with clients based on the area of life a client is most ready for reflection, and together Desiree and clients consider each other's perspectives to inform the therapeutic process.

When working with clients with challenges associated with one or more traumatic events, clients may share persistent thoughts and dreams about the event and discomfort with people, places, and objects associated with the event. They may find avoidance helpful such as distractions or reducing connection with associations. However, avoidance may be limited, and the persistent recurrence of discomfort may disrupt functioning at work, in relationships with others and thoughts about the self. Together, we identify experiences where there is a lack of safety, such as in emotions, thoughts and/or the physical environment.

We validate the experience, share reflections, engage in thought challenges and practice managing symptoms in a session, sometimes using our five senses to self-soothe, breathing exercises, or visualization. Between sessions, clients continue practicing awareness and techniques learned in the session. They may also do self reflection through daily check-ins, develop tolerance for distress, regulate emotions and/or mindfulness. Consequently, there may be decreased safety before deeper processing of the traumatic event(s) and reconnecting with the world adaptively.

Clients connecting with Desiree about a loss in their lives may not identify their loss as grief. Many clients think of grief as experiencing the loss of a deceased loved one. However, grief can be the loss of a relationship, a job, health, fertility, socioeconomic status, life stage, neighbourhood or a pet. Grief can look like difficulty making decisions, changes in appetite, chest pain, forgetfulness, low motivation, anticipating negative outcomes, nausea, tearfulness, sadness, guilt, anger, yearning, fear, and relief. There may be many conflicting emotions and experiences. Sometimes sessions with Desiree may start with identifying symptoms most distressing, then reducing vulnerability to these symptoms that interrupt functioning through emotion-focused work or grounding. Further, we work towards understanding the value of the loss, acknowledging and processing discomfort with life after the loss.