Christian Marriage Counselling, therapist Mississauga, Toronto, Oakville, Ontario
George Hartwell - I help couples become a united team. I use my extensive experience as a Christian psychotherapist and my training in emotionally-focused couple therapy to enhance communication, resolve conflicts and facilitate couple bonding. I believe that your emotional and spiritual health is enhanced by living in a life-giving marriage with healthy love and communication.
George Hartwell registered psychotherapist
(College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario registration #6700)
Expectations:
When you work with me expect to find:
- Support in your life situation,
- Security to find your voice,
- Safety to express your identity,
- Listening prayer to heal your heart,
- And, best of all, real life transformation.
My guarantee is that sessions with me will be, creative, healing and fun times. If any session is not productive and helpful I provide a money-back guarantee. This includes the first session if you feel there is not a good fit with me.
My Method:
1. Empathy: I listen with care to your situation. No quick judgments. You feel respected and listened to. This is an important source of support to couples under stress and models good communication.
2. Communication: You learn to listen to one another by acknowledging the other in words that catch the meaning and feeling of the other. As listening with empathy happens, then bonding will begin.
3. Conflict Management: I show you how to use your empathic listening skills to handle conflicts. You will then begin to heal the wounds that haunt your relationship. That enhances your bonding, trust is restored and your teamwork deepens.
Your mission is to build a marriage that lasts and has fun, love, passion and intimacy. Your goal is deeper bonding as a couple and better communication.
My Sessions:
What is it like to have a session with George?
Listening: I track with clients. I proved a safe space for them to express who they are. I provide a safe place for clients to find their voice, to discover and express their identity. I provide a secure place for clients who are confused about their lives and feel like they are in a nervous breakdown. At the end of a session you should feel listened to.
Love: Clients often say that a most helpful aspect of sessions with me is love. Why is that?
It may be because,
1. I put all me effort into listening to and understanding my client. I do that in every session.
2. I convey respect for people and treat them fairly.
3. I have shed any tendency to judge, or be superior to others.
4. I have no need to control others, tell them what they should do or to prescribe their life choices.
5. I am deeply committed to your growth and healing.
Christian Aspect: My therapy sessions begin and end with prayer. Your faith and relationship with God are respected. I understand healthy prayer and spiritual warfare. I honour marriage as a sacred opportunity given by God to love and support one another.
Respect for your religious feelings and beliefs.
Your feelings about God can always be put on the table in a session with me without experiencing any religious attitude and moral superiority from me. I am always and consistently your therapist. I am not in the role of priest or pastor. Nothing ever contradicts my love, respect, listening and understanding of you as my client.
Christian Counsellor: I identify as a Christian because of my deep interest, respect and life commitment to Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. My life changed dramatically when I gave my life to God. My role is as a healer of your life and marriage and not as one who guides your life decisions on a religious basis. That is what I mean by not being a pastor.
People turn to me in many different circumstances and get results:
- Couples have come to me dealing with a recent or ongoing affair.
- Couples find their arguments and fights have become destructive and they want to learn a better way.
- Couples have chosen me because they want a faith-based counsellor who is committed to building healthy marriages that last.
- Couples learn they have got into a vicious cycle with one withdrawing and the other attacking.
- Sometimes one partner is feeling the marriage is unhealthy for them and want a professional to explore their issues and help them in that assessment..
- Sometimes one of the partners is stressed with the pressure of all the responsibility as their partner keeps messing up finances leaving them with finances out of control.
What to Expect:
When you work with me expect to find:
- Support in your life situation,
- Security to find your voice,
- Safety to express your identity,
- Listening prayer to heal your heart,
- And real life transformation.
Professional Background:
Welcome to My Professional Background!
Education:
With a Bachelor's degree from the esteemed University of Toronto and a Master of Science degree from the University of Calgary in the Department of Educational Psychology, specializing in School and Community Psychology, I bring a solid educational foundation to my practice.
Training:
My expertise extends beyond academia. I have undergone specialized training in various therapeutic modalities that equip me with the tools to support my clients effectively. These include Transactional Analysis, a robust approach developed by Eric Berne, focusing on understanding the different ego states within ourselves (Parent, Adult, Child). I have also studied Christian Transformation techniques, as John and Paula Sandford outlined, which delve into the healing of the inner self and the wounded spirit.
In addition, I am trained in Emotionally-Focused Couple Therapy, based on the groundbreaking work of Sue Johnson, author of "Hold Me Tight." My proficiency also extends to Psychodrama, having completed a rigorous year-long practicum under the guidance of Dorothy Burwell at the University of Toronto.
Furthermore, I am well-versed in Christian Listening-Prayer Therapy, a method that integrates the power of listening for God's truth to heal memories. I am also a trained EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) practitioner, a widely recognized trauma-resolution technique. Additionally, I have studied Coherence Therapy, as advocated by Bruce Ecker, author of "Unlocking the Emotional Brain."
Qualifications:
As a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO #6700), I am committed to upholding the highest professional standards. This accreditation allows me to operate under the college's guidance and principles. Moreover, I am a trained EMDR practitioner, utilizing this evidence-based approach to facilitate healing and growth in my clients.
Professional Experience:
Drawing from over four years of experience as a Psychologist at Alberta Hospital Ponoka and four years as a Community Counsellor with Preventive Social Services of Athabasca, Alberta, I bring a wealth of practical knowledge to my private practice, which I have successfully operated since 1983. Throughout my career, I have practiced with supervised experience for six years and peer supervision for ten years and to the present, ensuring my continuous growth and development as a practitioner.
Approach:
My therapeutic approach revolves around attentive listening, affirmation of my client's goals, and a deep connection to spirituality. I choose methods informed by rigorous research on interventions that lead to lasting emotional learning and change, mainly drawing from Bruce Ecker's Memory Reconsolidation Research, as outlined in his seminal work, "Unlocking the Emotional Brain." By integrating my clients' faith and belief systems, I strive to create a sacred space where they can explore their emotional and spiritual well-being.
Philosophy:
I firmly believe that effective therapy should address the cognitive, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person's life. With a firm conviction that God is love, I begin each therapy session with a spoken prayer to facilitate a connection with divine love and truth. This approach enhances our efforts in emotional healing and fosters transformative growth.
Client Feedback:
Client feedback is an integral part of my practice. After each session, I make it a point to request client feedback. This valuable input allows me to ensure that I am aligned with their goals and encourages me in my therapeutic approach.
I invite you to explore my professional services and embark on a journey toward holistic well-being. Together, we can work towards achieving your goals and fostering lasting positive change.