I work with clients who have experienced trauma and/or PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance misuse or addictions, significant life transition or loss, and/or relationship distress.

Another area of my clinical work is with military veterans and RCMP who have experienced operational stress injuries such as PTSD, depression, substance use, and/or moral injury in the course of their service.

Couples/Relationship Counselling

Couples issues that I have worked with include loss of intimacy ("lack of we"), communication challenges ("he doesn't listen to me"), managing conflict (including difficulty making decisions together), infidelity whether it is sexual and/or emotional, belief that the couple is "growing apart" ("we're like roommates"), or an individual issue affecting the relationship (e.g. substance use, mental health issue, interpersonal, sexual addiction).

Intimacy goes beyond the physical relationship. Equally important are the emotional (sharing vulnerable emotions), cognitive (sharing thoughts), and behavioural (doing things together) elements.

It is important to identify each person's attachment style. This is based on the way we received care from our primary caregivers). This can be secure (secure and engaged in a relationship), avoidant ("I don't need anyone"), anxious ("don't leave me"), or disorganized (fearful avoidance "come here... go away").

I also specialize in working with couples where one person has been diagnosed with PTSD. I use an approach that treats the PTSD while also improving the relationship functioning. Who better to get on board other than the partner lives with and supports the person with PTSD? Usually the biggest motivation for the person with PTSD is to NOT lose their relationship.

Family Counselling

I often work with many families usually parents of an adult child who is struggling with a concurrent disorder. I provide support and understanding, offer education or information, act as a sounding board, and help to create a plan to help their loved one get into treatment and/or start their recovery.

The approach I use is called "Community Reinforcement and Family Training "(CRAFT), an evidenced-based approach to help get the loved one into treatment without coercion.

Ready to get started? [Book an appointment now](https://ottolim.janeapp.com/#staff_member/1) to start your journey to improve your mental health.