Integrative Therapy
Our Integrative Approach at Wild North Men’s Therapy
No single model can capture the complexity of being human. Every man who walks into therapy brings his own way of seeing the world – his own language, rhythm, and way of making sense of things. Some people think best through words. Others connect through movement, imagery, or sound. Some want practical tools; others want to explore deeper meaning. Each model works as another tool in a psychotherapists toolbelt.
At Wild North, I use an integrative approach to meet you where you are. This means drawing from different therapeutic models depending on your personality, interests, and goals. Whether we’re talking, reflecting, creating, or grounding through the body, the goal is always the same – to help you connect more deeply with yourself and live in alignment with your values.
Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s an evolving conversation between your lived experience and the tools that can support it. Beyond my primary approaches (Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative Therapy, Somatic Therapy) I also draw from the following creative, cognitive, and existential practices:
Art & Music Therapy
When words fail, creation gives us another language – one that speaks through sound, image, and rhythm.
In my practice, I’ve worked with songwriters, musicians, and visual artists who bring their work into session – sometimes a lyric, a demo, a live performance, or even a half-formed idea. Together, we can explore what’s being expressed through the art itself: the themes of longing, identity, hope, or pain that surface in creative work whether we mean for them to or not. We might dissect the emotional tone of a song, the story behind a lyric, or the energy in a performance – not as critics, but as witnesses to what the creative process is trying to communicate.
As a songwriter and recording artist myself, I understand firsthand how creation can transform emotion into meaning. Some of my most honest moments have come not from talking about how I feel, but from writing it down, turning it into sound, and realizing what it was trying to say. Art and music can alchemize anxiety, shame, and grief into something beautiful, hopeful, or at the very least meaningful.
Creativity isn’t an escape – it’s a mirror. It helps us see ourselves more clearly. In therapy, creative work becomes a bridge between your inner and outer worlds, giving form to what you can’t yet name. Whether you’re a musician, a painter, a writer, or simply someone curious about expression, these sessions invite you to explore emotion through sharing your creations – to see your art not only as output, but as a conversation with yourself.
Respect-Focused Therapy
The word respect comes from the Latin respectus – meaning “to look again.”
That’s the foundation of Respect-Focused Therapy. It’s not just about being polite or kind; it’s about revisiting. Looking again at the stories we tell ourselves. Looking again at the emotions that surface in conflict. Looking again at that conversation you had with your partner this morning – and noticing how, if you were to reflect on it tomorrow, you’d likely see it differently.
Respect-Focused Therapy invites that kind of curiosity. It’s about giving yourself permission to pause and re-examine your inner world, your relationships, and your assumptions with fresh eyes. Instead of locking into a single interpretation of what happened, we explore how perception shifts over time. You begin to see that no feeling, story, or belief is final – they all evolve as you do.
At its core, this approach respects change itself. It recognizes that who you are is not a fixed identity, but a living process that unfolds moment by moment. In practice, that means inviting you to revisit your perceptions until they open up – until the charge softens and new understanding emerges.
When you learn to “look again,” you begin to see yourself and others with more compassion and flexibility. You stop relating to life as something static or already decided, and start engaging with it as something that’s still alive – something that can be re-seen, re-understood, and re-created.
Existential Therapy
Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning that even in the most devastating circumstances, human beings are driven by a deep need for purpose. We can endure incredible suffering if we understand why we’re enduring it. But when that meaning slips away – when life starts to feel directionless or hollow – we lose our sense of connection to ourselves and the world around us.
Existential Therapy begins with that question of meaning. It helps you explore what gives your life a sense of purpose, direction, and belonging. Beneath the daily routines, responsibilities, and distractions, there’s often a quieter longing – to know that your life matters, that you have a space carved out in this world, that you were meant for something.
This work isn’t about finding the “right” answer, but about learning to ask better questions. Some questions of existential therapy sound simple but carry tremendous depth:
What do I value?
What am I avoiding, and what is it costing me?
Where am I heading, and is that where I want to go?
What does it mean to live — and to live well?
Existential Therapy helps you take a step back and look at your life from a bird’s-eye view – to see where you are, what you already have, and where you’re being called next.
When you begin to live with awareness of your values and purpose, even the hard moments start to feel different. Life may not become easier, but it becomes more meaningful – and that meaning becomes its own kind of strength.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
DBT, or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, is built on a simple but powerful idea: two opposing truths can both be valid at the same time.
For example:
“I’m doing my best and I want to do better.”
“I accept myself and I want to change.”
“I’m angry and I still care.”
That small shift – from but to and – opens space for growth. Instead of getting pulled between extremes, DBT helps you find the truth that lives in the middle.
It teaches you how to recognize when you’re in Emotion Mind (impulsive and reactive), Reasonable Mind (logical and detached), and how to access your Wise Mind – the grounded space where emotion and reason can work together.
What makes DBT stand out is its practicality. It gives you real, usable tools to navigate everyday life – especially in relationships. You learn how to express yourself clearly, listen with empathy, and manage conflict without losing your sense of integrity.
Whether it’s with a partner, a friend, or a coworker, DBT helps you stay balanced and connected when conversations get hard. It’s about learning how to stay present and communicate with honesty, respect, and calm.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, is one of the most widely used and well-researched approaches in modern psychology. At its core, it’s about understanding how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are all connected – and learning how to shift that cycle in a healthier direction.
While some therapies work from the inside out, CBT often starts from the outside in. It helps you notice your automatic thoughts (often called NATs – negative automatic thoughts), recognize the emotions they trigger, and observe how those emotions lead to certain actions or patterns. By slowing that process down, you begin to see where small changes in thinking or behaviour can have a big impact on how you feel day to day.
CBT is structured, practical, and action-oriented. It often includes exercises or “homework” between sessions – like tracking your thoughts in a log, testing unhelpful beliefs, or using behavioural activation to re-engage with activities that bring meaning or energy back into your life.
For many practically minded clients, CBT offers a clear roadmap. It doesn’t ask you to change everything overnight, but to experiment with new ways of responding – one thought, one moment, one choice at a time. Over time, those small shifts can start to rewire old habits of the mind and create space for a steadier, more balanced outlook.
Attachment-Focused Therapy
Attachment theory explores how our earliest relationships shape the way we connect, trust, and love as adults. From the beginning, we learn what closeness feels like, how safety is built, and how to get our needs met. Those early lessons form patterns that continue to influence how we show up in relationships today – how we express emotion, handle conflict, and seek comfort.
Attachment-focused therapy helps you notice these patterns in real time and understand what they’re trying to protect. It supports you in creating relationships that feel safe, mutual, and grounded in respect.
A key part of this process is learning healthy boundaries. Boundaries help define where you end and another person begins – they make closeness sustainable. This work invites you to stay open while staying rooted in your own needs and values.
As your sense of security deepens, connection begins to feel more natural. You learn that intimacy and independence can coexist, that caring for others and caring for yourself are part of the same process. Over time, this builds what’s known as secure attachment – a steady foundation for love, friendship, and belonging.
Integrative Therapy Can Help With:
Inner conflict and self-criticism
Anxiety and overthinking
Depression and emotional numbness
Relationship struggles and communication
Trauma and unresolved experiences
Addictive or avoidant coping patterns
Inclusive Practice
My practice is LGBTQ+ affirming, sex-positive, and welcoming of women, non-traditional relationships, and gender-diverse identities. I’m also a friend and ally to the BIPOC community, and I have experience working with clients from diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. I strive to create a therapy space where you can explore your culture and experiences without fear of judgment or minimization. If you were born in the Milky Way, you are welcome here.