CHRISTIAN MONKS, MA, RCC • REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR • CERTIFIED AEDP THERAPIST
ABOUT CHRISTIAN MONKS
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Hi. My name is Christian.
Why am I a counsellor? Because, I delight in growth—in your growth. To be effective in therapy, I am well trained in Mindfulness; EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitzaion and Reprocessing); AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) and Art Therapy. My therapeutic approach is informed by neuroscience. I have extensive experience working with all populations including adults, parents, youth and children. I am both a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a Registered Art Therapist. Using one or a combinations of therapies, I can help you to get back to a place of greater calm and greater connectedness to yourself and others. |
When people work with me they safely experience emotions that they otherwise avoid and, as a result, they gain greater insight into themselves. As infants, before we can walk and talk in the world, we feel and express ourselves through emotions. Doesn't every infant come into the world with tears? Emotions are essential to our growth and our ability to connect with others. And yet, while our caregivers loved us, they did not always validate our feelings and so we learned to necessarily shut our feelings down in order to avoid feeling disconnected from them. And, if we need to shut down one emotion we end up shutting them all down. But the good news is that when you and I awaken one emotion (anger, sadness, pride, joy, excitement, disgust, fear and love) we awaken them all.
How do I work? First, it is important to identify what you want to see different in your life. Perhaps you notice you are perfectionistic or critical of yourself and others. Or perhaps you have struggled with panic attacks. Perhaps you want to manage your emotions better--finding yourself over-reacting with loved ones. Or maybe you want to feel less alone even if you are surrounded by friends and family. Or perhaps, you lack motivation. Pick one. And from there, it always takes us to where we need to go.
Second, I have a honed intuitive sense of knowing when to slow down so that we can better understand important places. I always check to see if it is okay for us to slow down. It is essential that you feel in control in the work we do together.
AEDP is a brilliant and precise therapy that effectively undoes feelings of shame and guilt and undoes feelings of aloneness. Mindfulness is an important therapeutic intervention because, anxiety is about living in the future and depression is about living in the past; thus, the antidote, is to learn how to live in the present. EMDR is an effective intervention to deal with PTSD, trauma, phobias, drug and alcohol dependency or any other difficult to access places. And, with respect to art therapy, healing and insight is always linked to the creative.
Why am I drawn to my profession? Where does my intuition draw itself from? I experienced domestic violence growing up and I am a child of an alcoholic. I give now precisely because I know what it is to experience absence. I share this because I can relate to your suffering. Moreover, I know directly that healing can happen from these experiences.
Now. I am in private practice full-time. In the past, I worked as a clinical coordinator at a non-profit in the lower mainland and supervised other counsellors. I receive ongoing supervision in my clinical work. I have 2 children and I have been in a loving relationship for over 20 years. I am committed to my own growth through meditation and on-going training and self-reflection. I love excercise (although, with 2 young children, struggle to find the time). I am passionate about gardening, space, and design. I love learning through my children about the scientific method. I long to return to reading good fiction.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me follow the link below or go to the Contact Page.
I look forward to meeting with you.
Christian
How do I work? First, it is important to identify what you want to see different in your life. Perhaps you notice you are perfectionistic or critical of yourself and others. Or perhaps you have struggled with panic attacks. Perhaps you want to manage your emotions better--finding yourself over-reacting with loved ones. Or maybe you want to feel less alone even if you are surrounded by friends and family. Or perhaps, you lack motivation. Pick one. And from there, it always takes us to where we need to go.
Second, I have a honed intuitive sense of knowing when to slow down so that we can better understand important places. I always check to see if it is okay for us to slow down. It is essential that you feel in control in the work we do together.
AEDP is a brilliant and precise therapy that effectively undoes feelings of shame and guilt and undoes feelings of aloneness. Mindfulness is an important therapeutic intervention because, anxiety is about living in the future and depression is about living in the past; thus, the antidote, is to learn how to live in the present. EMDR is an effective intervention to deal with PTSD, trauma, phobias, drug and alcohol dependency or any other difficult to access places. And, with respect to art therapy, healing and insight is always linked to the creative.
Why am I drawn to my profession? Where does my intuition draw itself from? I experienced domestic violence growing up and I am a child of an alcoholic. I give now precisely because I know what it is to experience absence. I share this because I can relate to your suffering. Moreover, I know directly that healing can happen from these experiences.
Now. I am in private practice full-time. In the past, I worked as a clinical coordinator at a non-profit in the lower mainland and supervised other counsellors. I receive ongoing supervision in my clinical work. I have 2 children and I have been in a loving relationship for over 20 years. I am committed to my own growth through meditation and on-going training and self-reflection. I love excercise (although, with 2 young children, struggle to find the time). I am passionate about gardening, space, and design. I love learning through my children about the scientific method. I long to return to reading good fiction.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me follow the link below or go to the Contact Page.
I look forward to meeting with you.
Christian
