Richard Adler
Counselling and Psychotherapy

My main goal in psychotherapy is to provide my clients with an empathetic, compassionate, non-judgmental, hopeful and safe space to work through the difficult life circumstances and mental health challenges they may be experiencing. I strive to build a strong rapport with my clients and to make them feel comfortable in exploring the issues that are causing them distress. I help individuals to challenge unhelpful ways of thinking and to develop more realistic, healthy views of self and their life. Many times, people feel “stuck” in their problems and hold very rigid negative assumptions and beliefs about themselves, others and the world around them. When we realize that there are more helpful, alternative ways of thinking, feeling and responding to our environments and internal state, our mood and cognitive flexibility tend to improve. It’s not the situation you are in; it is how you view it!

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The core of how I work is helping clients to realize their strengths, abilities, competencies, successes and uniqueness that they may routinely overlook or minimize. By setting specific and attainable therapeutic goals and focusing on solutions, the client builds agency and realizes that their presenting problems are surmountable. Focusing on exceptions (problem-free times) is extremely important as well. When a client has a rationale for what they are going through and they learn cognitive and behavioral coping skills, this provides hope of improvement and mobilizes change. Overall, I help clients to be more aware of how their thoughts, emotions and behavior are interconnected and to realize that they are the experts on their own lives. 

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I routinely encourage real-life practice of the skills and ideas learned in psychotherapy. Psychological learning merely begins in session, as a session only takes up 50 minutes of an individual’s 168-hour week. A session can have a huge positive impact, however, what is of utmost importance is having the client test out or practice the skills, techniques and notions that were discussed in session in their everyday life. Experiential learning and homework are essential to enabling the client to begin to change how they think, feel and act in more adaptive ways in situations that they find problematic. I help clients to implement these new ways of thinking and behaving into their lives to improve their mental health and life situation one small step at a time.

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My counselling approach is integrative and evidenced-based: Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Person-Centered Psychotherapy, Motivational Interviewing and Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy. 

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Here is a link to my Psychotherapist profile on the Order of Psychologists of Quebec website:

 

https://www.ordrepsy.qc.ca/voir/RichardAdler

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Some of the main mental health and life issues I help individuals with are:

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• Anxiety 

• Mental health issues related to one's work/career/workplace (stress, burnout, work-related anxiety, work-life balance, etc.)

• Stress management and self-care 

• Loss and Grief

• Depression

• Self-esteem and self-worth

• Life transitions, coping with major life changes and difficult life circumstances

• Addiction: Specialized treatment for substance use (alcohol, marijuana and other substances) utilizing Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy and Motivational Interviewing

• Anger Management: I help clients to explore and understand the cues, triggers, beliefs, and ways of thinking (self-talk) that contribute to their anger, and help them to learn and develop new, more helpful and healthier ways of thinking and responding

• Helping Autistic people to build upon and navigate their lives, careers, and relationships in ways that are fulfilling, meaningful and authentic to who they are

• Perfectionism

• Help and support in navigating all types of relationships (family, peer, romantic relationships, friendships etc.)

• Issues of concern to LGBTQ+ individuals (orientation, disclosure, relationships etc.)

• Living and thriving with the challenges of chronic illness and disability

• Caregiving: How to cope with the stress and challenges of being a caregiver

• Issues of adolescent and young adult development (positive peer relationships, identity development, school performance, transition from high school to CEGEP, CEGEP to University, from University to the world of work etc.)

• School-related issues (Peer relationships, test anxiety, time-management, study skills, bullying etc.)

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Identity and meaning of life exploration

• Assertiveness

• Loneliness

• Issues with technology overuse, gaming, etc.

• Motivation and behavioral activation

• Procrastination

• Setting short-term and long-term life goals and creating a plan on how to achieve them

• Etc.

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