Julie Giroux, MEd, BSc(OT), RCC
Psychotherapist & Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Deep Trauma Healing & Moving Toward Wholeness
Integrative Somatic-based Therapy including Attachment-Focused EMDR, Deep Brain Reorienting, Somatic Experiencing, Mindfulness & Therapeutic Work with Non-ordinary States of Consciousness
Focusing
"Focusing is an experiential, embodied and evidence-based practice of self-reflection. During Focusing, your attention will open up to multiple layers and aspects of living. It’s called Focusing because it requires a special kind of “focus” to notice what is not yet clear, fuzzy and vague, implicit in how you interact with your situations and environment. This fuzzy dimension of experience is called the “felt sense.” Focusing on the “felt sense” allows an in-depth clarification process to happen. Sometimes this leads to an amazing experience that the body is reliable in its living-forward tendency." Focusing was first developed by Dr. Eugene Gendlin, a philosopher and psychologist, and was described in his book Focusing published in 1978. Focusing has been influential in many domains including psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing. Julie has trained in Advanced Focusing with Ruth Hirsch through the International Focusing Institute and in using Focusing and nightmares with Dr. Leslie Ellis. For a taste of Julie's approach to Focusing listen to her recording "Focusing Guided Inquiry" on the Insight Timer App.
Buddhist Psychology & Contemplative Practice
Julie has engaged in-depth study of Buddhist Psychology and meditative practices. She has learned from early Buddhist, Zen and Tibetan Buddhist teachings as foundations of Insight Meditation, Mindfulness and other secular and contemporary meditative practices. Julie appreciates how these ancient lineages can inform and be skillfully extended by other domains of knowledge including neuroscience and psychological frameworks. Julie has engaged in extended periods of silent meditation retreat practice and training at the Insight Meditation Society and Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Barre Massachusetts, Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California, Gaia House in England and Upaya Zen Center in New Mexico. Sh
Somatic Experiencing
Julie includes the body and somatic survival responses in her work. She is qualified as Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) through Somatic Experiencing International, as well as additional training in working somatically online with esteemed SE teacher, Kathy Kain. Somatic Experiencing "resolves symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma that accumulate in our bodies. When we are stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or freeze, SE helps us release, recover, and become more resilient." Julie utilizes a somatic approach as it fits with each individual client's concerns.
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy & Integration
Julie has trained in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy (Psilocybin and MDMA) through the Victoria, British Columbia based non-profit TheraPsil as well as specific Psychedelic Integration training with Fluence and introductory education and experience with Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy. Since completing training in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PSTD Julie is able to offer this therapy to her clients through the legal route of Canada's Special Access Program when other forms of trauma-focused therapy have not been effective.
Philosophy & Other Ways of Knowing
Julie began her undergraduate studies majoring in Philosophy, with a particular interest in philosophy of mind, science, phenomenology and Existentialism. This eventually led to her interest in studying psychology and completing her master's degree in counselling psychology and psychotherapy at the University of Toronto with a particular focus on Buddhist Psychology and Mindfulness in psychotherapy.
Connecting to Self, Others and the World Through Images
What do you become aware of as you look at these images? If something is pleasant, what tells you it's pleasant? Where do you feel something in your body as you look at these images? If you perceive something as unpleasant, do you know what quality is unpleasant? You may become aware of thoughts, emotions and associations as you look at these images. Do any of the images evoke curiosity, wonder, awe, or delight? It's possible some images may evoke confusion, apprehension or displeasure. Notice how you may feel drawn to linger and explore some images, while others are not particularly interesting or possibly even aversive and you quickly pass over them and move on to the next.
I hope you find something here pleasant, inspiring and interesting!
