This is the process of gently challenging and reshaping the internal logic we use to make sense of our experiences. In therapy, this often means looking at the beliefs, assumptions, or thought patterns that drive how we feel and act, especially those that may be outdated, overly critical, or rooted in past trauma.
The goal is to create self-awareness and insight into understanding the root causes of patterns and core beliefs. Kiersty identifies themes and tries to connect the dots between different parts of a client’s life. Kiersty aims to point out blind spots that the client did not recognize before. This becomes the self-awareness used to create new habits and thinking patterns.
Identity is at the heart of the therapy process because it shapes how we move through the world, how we relate to others, and how we understand ourselves. Our beliefs, values, and lived experiences influence what we struggle with, how we cope, what gives us meaning, and our need for purpose.
Exploring identity can help clients uncover the stories they've been told about who we are, and gently examine whether those stories still serve us. It can be a space to ask: What parts of me have been hidden? What parts are still becoming?
Relational psychotherapy places emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as a key part of the healing process. It acknowledges that the challenges a client experiences in their day-to-day life (e.g. defensiveness, negativity, or trust issues) may also emerge within the therapy relationship itself. Rather than simply discussing these patterns from a distance, Kiersty and the client work together to notice and explore them as they arise in real time. This creates an opportunity to address these dynamics relationally, within a supportive space, allowing for deeper insight and the potential for real change.
Kiersty thoughtfully combines elements from different therapeutic modalities into a cohesive framework tailored to each client. She prioritizes flexibility and responsiveness to each client's needs.
Kiersty uses a collaborative, hands-on approach that includes creating accountability, assigning post-therapy ‘homework’ and reflective journaling to help keep up the momentum in between sessions.
Therapy Modalities Kiersty Uses in Sessions:
Psychodynamic & Psychoanalysis
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Solution-Focused and Mindset Coaching
Relational Psychotherapy
Existential (Logo) Therapy
Socratic Method
Narrative Therapy & Therapeutic Journaling
(Internal) Family Systems Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Mindfulness-Based & Somatic Therapy
Humanistic Therapy
Spiritually-Informed Psychotherapy
“Your readiness is your willingness to try.”
— KIERSTY M. XAVIER