Brenda MacGillivray BAA/CYS, M.S.W., R.S.W., CISM, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, SEP
Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner,
SEP Advanced Therapist Individuals & Couples
Creative Growth Therapy
Virtual Therapy
designsforcreativegrowth@gmail.com
(c) 519-641-3149
(f) toll free 1-855-808-3086
Contact Us
"How can therapy help me ?"
With support you become increasingly aware of how you
uniquely perceive and experience the world.
You can begin to understand what's keeping you stuck or what's triggering a fight, flight or paralyzing fear response to people, places or events. When you begin to understand and process your experience of the world and yourself in a safe, nonjudgemental and supportive relationship; with a therapist who understands the unique complexities of the adaptions we make to survive in relationships in our world; you can begin to explore your inner landscape, become increasingly grounded in understanding who you are and how you want to reclaim your life.
In the therapeutic relationship knowledge is both shared and created.
At Creative Growth Therapy the focus is on co-creating therapeutic experiences that honour each person and their journey. Anxiety, depression, low self esteem, fear, relational conflict; couples, parent-child, sibling conflict, couple conflict and family conflict, bullying, trauma or abuse can leave you feeling isolated, alone and overwhelmed.
Let us help.
"Every life contains difficulties we are not prepared for" -Bernard Siegal
My ongoing, specialized training in Somatic Experiencing® Practice; involves connecting with your body sensation and locating where you may be holding constriction, collapse or trauma (overwhelm) in your body. With support you can increase your awareness of your unique internal experience and creating integration between your story or narrative, your feelings or emotional experiences and your body's experience or sensation. You can experience safety, wholeness and personal growth beyond the confines of your trauma, fears, impulses, addictions and unhappiness.
You can find release from these oppressive experiences and recover your vital life energy.
Trauma or overwhelm can be experienced in relationships ("something happens when I start to get close...I start to get scared...I pull back...or I go on the attack...trying to secure my place...but I end up hurting those that are close to me"), in sibling contact, couples dynamics, parent-child relationships, co-workers relationships, friendships...relational trauma can start to influence all relationships.
Trauma can be a result of a sudden unexpected overwhelm; car accident, near drowning, assault, robbery, natural or suicidal death of a loved one, injury, hospitalization or surgery, to name a few examples.
Attachment and Developmental trauma can also occur in our early Attachment relationships, (parent, caregivers etc.) and at different stages of our development including prenatal trauma.
Dr. Peter Levine; author of Waking the Tiger (1997) & In An Unspoken Voice; (2010) How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness; attuned approach to trauma healing has helped me assist hundreds of individuals to begin the process of reclaiming their sense of self through my specialized training in Somatic Experience Practice.
Dr. Levine's profound healing techiques are taught around the world and his message is simple; you can heal from trauma...
Trauma disconnects us from ourselves and often people repeatedly experience symptoms; high anxiety, sleep disruptions, difficulty maintaining a healthy balance in relationships and other symptoms. People begin to believe they are their symptoms and this is the way they have to live. This is untrue. You are not your symptoms; you are trapped in re-experiencing your trauma; a cycle that may leave you feeling, helpless, hopeless and exhausted.
You can recover from trauma and live a balanced, connected and attuned life again. You can begin to feel safe in your own body again and in your relational field. You can have loving, lasting and truly satisfying relationships with others and with yourself.
We believe in the power, creative potential and capacity in every individual, couple and family; to find their emotional healing and their core strength. You can be the governing force in your life again, stop reacting to events in your life; and begin to respond from a place of understanding, knowledge and compassion for yourself and others.
You can understand what is causing your anxiety and fear; feel your feelings and begin to understand your needs while creating intention and strength in a life designed with your true purpose in mind.
As the expert in your own life, you have walked the journey,
felt the pain and looked for the promise. With support you can create, own and design a life worthy of your expansive beauty and imagination.
Email designsforcreativegrowth@gmail.com or call us directly 519-641-3149. You can also leave a message with our confidential answering service
@ 519-641-3149 and we will return your call within 24 hours.
Your World
Your world is as big as you make it
I know, for I use to abide
In the narrowest nest in a corner
My wings pressing close to my side
But I sighted the distant horizon
Where the sky-line encircled the sea
And I throbbed with a burning desire
To travel this immensity
I battered the cordons around me
And cradled my wings in the breeze
Then soared to the uttermost reaches,
With rapture, with power, with ease.
Georgia Douglas Johnson
"More thoughts.....Our global community is rapidly changing, it seems to me that at every level, personal, environmental, and
relational we are challenged to own and use our creativity."
validating and creative way, will grow from exploring and sharing our creativity.""The intersections in our lives where we will discover, create, collaborate and find solutions in a whole new, dynamic and authentic way...is possible
"When we begin connecting our lives and our economic, political, spiritual and personal choice to our overall wellbeing as creatives;
we will understand that our souls and bodies need nourishment that consummer consumption cannot satisfy."
"We are enough, we have enough and when we support and genuinely care for ourselves and each other....beautiful connections
are formed, growth and healing occurs and life is enriched."
Peace and Health,
Brenda
Essentials to Congruent Living
To communicate clearly
To cooperate rather than compete
To empower rather than subjugate
To enhance individuals uniqueness
rather than categorize
To use authority to guide and accomplish
To love, value and respect ourselves and each other
To be personally responsible
To use problems as challenges and opportunities for creative solutions
Satire
I am inspirted by Virgina Satire's compassionate approach to supporting change and her belief that
individuals, couples and families have the power to change what isn't working for them, when they
learn ways to communicate, validate and trust themselves and others. Every family, couple and
individual is unique and my approach to therapy begins with identifying your unique strengths, so
you can discover and build your own creative solutions to life's challenges.
I believe we are all creative and our growth depends on creating collaborative interventions in our
work together, that support your unique strengths while challenging you to examine your life and
the patterns of interaction that keep you stuck, unfulfilled and unhappy.
You can begin to learn how to use your creative potential to develop new skills, new possibilies, a new way of looking at your barriers and finding better more satisfying ways to increase your self acceptance and live in new and meaningful ways; the old, tired, patterns of interaction that are not working or create barriers to fulfillment can be changed. I also remain committed to working with other therapists as part of my private practice, because these collaborations usually results in
improved outcomes for clients and also enhance my growth as a therapist. I love to learn how other therapist work and collaborate with their clients! I believe there is always room for growth and ongoing skill development, curiosity, creativity and hope.
Brenda MacGillivray, BAA/CYS, M.S.W., R.S.W. SEP Practioner Advanced, CISM
designsforcreativegrowth@gmail.com
Visual Artist, Therapist, Group & Workshop Facilitator and
Inspirational Speaker
My practice uses various therapy modalities because I believe that individuals are unique and no one therapy could possibly capture the complexities of the human spirit or support change using only one approach.
My experience and area of expertise in anti-oppressive practice, human development, empowerment, attachment and trauma recovery; grounds my work in the knowledge that individuals are the expert of their own lives; often requiring some support to uncover what is blocking them or keeping them stuck; repeating unhelpful, sometimes negative or unrewarding patterns. You do have your answers; however, they can be difficult to access when you feel powerless and hopeless.
My focus also includes acknowledging the individual as the expert in their own lives. I don't claim
to have the answers to your life's questions but I can help you find a pathway to discovering
YOUR ANSWERS.
Depression, Anxiety, Relationships, Self Esteem and Identify, Conflict Resolution, Communication,
Loss & Grief, Parenting, Roles and Identity, Addictions, Abuse and Historical Trauma are just some of the life stories we explore.
I hold a degree in Child and Adolescent Development from Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; (1990), which grounds my work in human development; attachment and relational trauma.
I also hold a Masters in Clinical Social Work Degree M.S.W., R.S.W. from Wilfrid Laurier University in Kitchener Waterloo, Ontario; (2011).
My graduate practice provided an opportunity to support mental health at Regional Mental Health, inpatient program, St. Thomas, Ontario; where I developed a visual art-meditative group exercise for adults suffering with mood and anxiety challenges. It was a beautiful opportunity to support individuals to explore their story using art, music and their own imagination; to trace the origins of their sadness, anxiety and disconnection from who they are and to find their voice again and express themselves in unique and powerful ways.
I also supported individuals and families facing organ replacement at London Health Sciences; University Hospital.
This work has further expanded my appreciation and understanding of the power of the human spirit to both expand and retract when faced with life's challenges. I was priviledged to work with a world class and dedicated transplant team and courageous families and individuals who allowed me to journey with them on life altering experiences; death, grief, life reclaimed and undeniably celebrated.
Thank you for the priviledge of learning with you and growing my belief in miracles; especially those miracles that are created by dedicated, courageous individuals who pull together and create a container for unfaltering, faith and belief in the power of possiblity.
The immensity of the human spirit to grow, create and connect to our inner world is available to us all if we can find a pathway that leds us back to our authentic selves. I work from an anti-oppressive, strengths based, feminist orientation that honours individuals and recognizes courage and resiliency. My background includes many years supporting individuals, couples and parents struggling to parent children and youth with behavioural, emotional and attachment based issues, women abuse, violence awareness, childhood truama, eating disorders, addictions and relational conflicts.
With increased awareness of how you uniquely perceive and experience the world, you can begin to understand what's keeping you stuck or creating resistance and where to make changes to better increase your personal power and purpose. You become the master designer of your own authentic life and can begin to creatively grow without fear, guilt, shame or anxiety.
You can develop coping strategies to reduce anxiety, panic and begin to move your life in the direction you choose. A life of your own design, creatively growing and exploring without resistance and fear.
With over 30 years experience supporting women, men, children, youth and families, I am committed to supporting individual growth, development and empowerment. Begin your journey today; design your own life instead of living someone else's creation.
Finding an Approach to Therapy that Works for YOU!
For example, in Narrative Therapy the focus may be on reclaiming your preferred identity, rebuilding your dominate story and finding answers that work in your life, helping you to uncovering your truths. At Designs for Creative Growth Therapy we integrate body-centred, expressive arts into our work with individuals and groups through our individual work and intensive workshops. This is incorporated into our individual sessions by exercises that help you to become aware of your body; reactions and responses. The first step is to understanding how your experiences are related to your own self awareness. Sometimes this may be as simple as offering journals to safely record your thoughts and feelings. Further reflection may include music or using visual art as an expression of your feelings, fears or anxiety.
I also invite individuals to explore meditation and drawing exercises to reduce anxiety and to support mindfulness and self awareness. I am committed to finding creative ways, with you, to explore and grow your awareness and your confidence.
The therapeutic process becomes a co-creation; that starts where you; the individual. You choose where you want to begin and expand to where you want to journey. Children and youth can also experience empowerment and change as they are taught age appropriate coping strategies and are supported as they learn to identify their feelings. Self expression can reveal strengths they never thought they had and expressive arts can help facils process.
I look forward to supporting your creative growth as you embrace your authentic
beauty and own your life; a life by your own design.