AREAS OF PRACTICE WOMEN'S ISSUES: Experience: In my private practice I have focused primarily on women and older girls. I have worked for 10 years with women who were victims of family violence and other crimes through the Vancouver Alternatives to Violence Program, the BC Criminal Injuries Compensation Program and private practice. I have also provided counselling for relationship and intimacy issues. Approach: My approach is to help women and older girls develop a positive self image and to overcome any barriers to health that may exist due to negative gender conditioning or traumatic experiences. My approach is influenced by cognitive behavioural and humanist traditions. I also focus on the impact of emotional and/or physical abuse, whether in the family of origin or in later adult relationships, on relationships and intimacy issues. MOOD DISORDERS (DEPRESSION, ANXIETY): Experience: Seven years of private practice providing treatment for men and women with anxiety and depression. I worked for nine years at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Program and WorkSafe BC consulting on cases of depression, anxiety and post trauma. Approach: My primary approach to treating mood disorders is Cognitive Behavioural. I assist clients to change automatic thought patterns, while experimenting with healthier behaviour. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been shown by research to be a highly effective treatment for mood disorders. I also work closely with physicians who are managing the medical aspects of mood disorders. FAMILY OF ORIGIN ISSUES: Experience: Most of my work with these issues has been with clients in my private practice since 1994 as well as through work in anger management groups. In addition, many of these issues arise in relation to depression and anxiety. Approach: Our earliest experiences in relationships impact upon our later successes and/or difficulties in our adult relationships. Experiences of abuse and neglect or the absence of a parental figure who was able to form a close attachment significantly impact our emotional lives. Therapy provides a safe and supportive environment to examine these issues and to challenge faulty beliefs. PARENTING ISSUES: Experience: I trained for a full year at Juvenile Services to the Courts, which exposed me to adolescents who had problems with the law. In my private practice, I have assisted parents to create strategies to deal effectively with teen and child issues before they develop into more serious problems. Approach: My approach to assisting parents is primarily based on attachment theory. I help parents to identify ways of becoming closer to their children, to understand their needs more fully, to set appropriate boundaries and structure family life to strengthen the parent/child bond. WORKPLACE DISABILITY: Experience: I provided psychological consultation for four years as a psychological consultant at WorkSafe BC, seven years in private practice. Approach: A thorough assessment is the first step to assisting clients to make a full recovery and successful return to work. Co-ordination with stakeholders such as the client's physician, employer, union representative, and insurer create a supportive structure within which recovery can occur. Targeted treatments for common conditions underlying the disability, such as depression, anxiety, anger, conflict, substance abuse and relationship problems are provided. For further information please contact me at 604.473.6465 or at katystrachan@shaw.ca . ANGER MANAGEMENT AND ABUSE ISSUES: Experience: I provided services for five years to the Vancouver Alternatives to Violence Program and Burnaby Family Life Program conducting treatment programs for men. I have worked with victims of physical and emotional abuse in my private practice as well as through liaising with these programs. Approach: I focus on understanding the thoughts and fears that motivate the anger response and on instilling the awareness of choice in one's reactions as well as a firm sense of personal responsibility. The impact of abuse can have many forms some of which are low expectations for relationships simply from a lack of exposure to normal, healthy interactions. I focus on establishing acceptable standards of behaviour in relationships from all parties. It is also important to explore and expose the messages that abuse can convey to the victim (such as "I must not be worthwhile") and replace these with more accurate thoughts and feelings.