Kris is a Registered Psychologist. He has completed a Master’s in Education with a major in Counselling. Kris has developed a counselling model that is client-centered, and trauma informed. Kris prioritizes the counsellor-client relationship as a key means for creating a safe space that allows the client to talk about difficult and challenging issues.
Kris primarily utilizes Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness approaches. Kris listens carefully to your story, and then helps you shift yourself into the person you hope to become. The therapy goal is for you to regain control of your life. In session, Kris works collaboratively with you by helping you discover the meaning behind your thoughts, feelings, and actions. By uncovering your core beliefs with patience, empathy, and safety, Kris helps you to create the desired change.
Adults
Kris has experience working with adults and supporting them through anxiety (i.e. generalized anxiety, social anxiety, workplace anxiety/stress, perfectionism, Covid-19 anxiety…). He also specifically helps individuals dealing with imposter syndrome, depression, generalized stress, addictions, difficulties with decision making, communication breakdown issues, and complex trauma. Kris is open to dealing with many issues, and when his clients bring in something new to work on, Kris listens carefully to understand the you and the challenges you are facing. He seeks out therapy solutions that best fit the your goals, and then engages with you to create change.
Couples Counselling
Kris an experienced couples counsellor. He utilizes the gold standard, research proven Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) approach. Using EFT he enables each person to connect with, and share their feelings. As each partner in the couple become more confident in expressing their emotions, and in being heard, communication increases, along with a general sense of safety and connection. Through this approach Kris helps couples to understand and become more comfortable in sharing and ‘being with’ the feelings that can be difficult to express and hear. Over time the couple is able to move away from unhealthy, disruptive and potentially toxic interaction patterns. As each person in the couple becomes a better communicator, and feels safer in sharing their emotions, Kris helps the couple to develop new, more positive interaction patterns. In this way each person learns to empathize with their partner. Each person learns how to heal the rough spots within their self, support their partner in healing, and strengthen the relationship overall.
Addictions
A primary element of addictions is avoidance. The act of using (i.e. drugs, alcohol…) overly engaging in normally socially acceptable activities (i.e. over exercising, loosing hours on the internet, shopping beyond need…) and/or not being able to stop certain activities once started (i.e. gambling, compulsive theft, rage outbursts that get out of control…) are often a means of avoidance. The addiction ‘saves’ the person from having to deal with uncomfortable emotions, thoughts, or memories.
Kris understands how addictive behaviour is generally a symptom of a breakdown in primary attachment (i.e. parent-child), an unresolved trauma, unmet emotional need, or sense of being “not good enough” or “unloveable”. Kris utilizes his therapy skills to gently allow his client to face the what they have avoided for so long. With Kris’ support many people have been able to move from a place of fear, confusion and/or despair, into a place of acceptance. Kris’ non-judgmental approach enables self-forgiveness for the client. As the client is able to address what they have avoided for so long the addiction often disappears. Kris then helps the client make amends where they are needed, and then helps the client move more into a more productive, positive, and self-confident place within the client’s chose community.
Sport Psychology
Kris works with athletes on any problems or topics they bring into session. He is passionate about helping athletes understand their personal psychology. He helps athletes to improve their situational reasoning, overall problem-solving skills, and sharpen their focus. Kris works with athletes to manage pressure and stress. Kris offers help with concentration, mental toughness, peak performance, self-talk, and learning different ways to potentially improve their performance in their sport.
As a young athlete in a small town, Kris grew up playing a plethora of team and individual sports. Using his natural leadership skills, he was the captain of many different teams, always focusing on how he could maximize his team’s performance. Kris paid close attention to learning about how his actions and his performance affected his teammates.
Kris ended up playing university volleyball as a setter for The King’s University Eagles from 2012-2017. In 2017 Kris was named to the ACAC North All Conference Team. He was named a CCAA Academic All Canadian.
Through his time playing club and university volleyball, Kris’s was involved with several sport psychologists. He learned the value of sports psychology. Kris developed a particular interest in how sports psychology may impact individual and whole team performance.
