Heather Ann Penner
M.Ed, Registered Psychotherapist
#004299
Emotion-based therapy for adolescents & adults
Together, we can identify emotional blockages that result in maladaptive behaviours, helping you live with greater emotional closeness and personal awareness.
About
Heather Ann
I am a psychotherapist in the Durham Region working in office and virtually. My training includes: a Master’s degree from University of Toronto in Applied Psychology, a 3 year core training program in Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, and ongoing, advanced training in the same model.
I work with clients from adolescence to adulthood whose presenting problems typically include depression, anxiety, challenges with emotional closeness, grief and loss, and somatic symptoms.
My approach:
Intensive Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy
'Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy' is a collaborative and active therapeutic approach. It is tailored to a healing process by accessing the emotional responses to painful experiences. When feelings are blocked, it can result in behaviour patterns that keep us from emotional closeness, work productivity, and not living up to our potential. With practice, paying attention to those feelings, can help a person experience personal agency, clarity of thought, and space within to live life more fully.
This evidence-based treatment has been extensively researched, practised and taught in programs around the world. It has been shown to be effective with patients suffering from depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, and other personality problems.
01.
The purpose of therapy is to work towards an improved quality of life, where a reduction or elimination of symptoms are interfering with quality of relationships, job performance, and fulfillment in regular activities. Many therapies focus on support and developing strategies for coping with symptoms. However, underlying core issues may continue to remain, causing frustration and a resentment for therapy. We would seek to address core issues in order to bring lasting positive change.
02.
It is very normal to say to oneself, “I should be able to figure this out on my own”. Many clients have shared this initial response to therapy with me. The reality is that unhealthy patterns are usually reinforced unknowingly over a period of time. Together we will recognize and explore unhealthy patterns and practice new ways of seeing the self with care and compassion in order to make healthy changes for the future.
03.
One of my clients at the end of therapy said,
“I resisted this, it was hard work, but I am so thankful that we went through this together. I have my life back”.
It is certainly emotional labour but when clients go through the often avoided path of facing their pain, they experience freedom and spontaneous flexibility in how they face life’s challenges and joys.
The first step
Give me a call (905-767-2149) to discuss how therapy may be of benefit for you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Phone
905-767-2149
Location
Whitby, Ontario