Clara Whitman is a Clinical Social Worker from the Annapolis Valley who works with youth (14+) and adults. With over a decade of experience in social work, she has been privileged to connect with clients of all ages and stages of life in her work with families and individuals. She has a particular affinity for working with those impacted by trauma, including traumatic stress, PTSD, c-PTSD, developmental and intergenerational trauma.
Clara comes from a family of scientists which has fueled her curiosity to understand not only how therapy is delivered, but why and how it works. Her perpetual critical thinking inspires her to pursue ongoing learning, not just from clinical practice trainers, but from some of the top researchers in developmental science, attachment, and neuropsychology. It is through this mindset of curiosity and critical thinking in which Clara approaches the specific struggles and goals her clients bring to sessions and develops tailored approaches to work with each that blend the best-fit ideas and tools from multiple therapeutic modalities.
In practice, Clara draws from evidence-based therapies that include elements of mindfulness and self-acceptance, such as: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Relational Psychodynamic Therapy, and Somatic Therapy. She also integrates elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Therapy. Clara is further trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an eye-movement therapy designed to offer relief from symptoms of trauma and anxiety in a shorter number of sessions.
Clara views mindfulness practices as unique in their power to intentionally interrupt our nervous system’s default feedback loops, creating pauses in the mind’s continuous assignments of meaning to what it senses. Within these pauses exists the possibility to take conscious control over the meaning we connect to events, people, self, and the actions we choose to take.
Abuse
Anger Managment
Anxiety/Panic
Attachment Issues
Burnout
Caregiver Stress
Coping Skills
Family Conflict
Depression/Low Mood
Emotional Dysregulation
Grief & Loss
Identity (Gender and Otherwise
Interpersonal Communication Struggles
Intergenerational Trauma
Parenting & Child Development
Phobias
Relationship Issues
Self-Esteem
Seperation/Divorce
Situational Stress
Traumatic Stress / PTSD /c-PTSD / Complex Trauma
Workplace Issues
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Emotiona Focused Therapy (EFT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Narrative Therapy
Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
Somatic Therapy
Youth 14+
Adults 19+
Parents and Families
Indigenous community
Veterans
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
Existing clients can book an appointment for therapy with Clara HERE.
New clients can book by calling 902-499-0089 or emailing admin@breathemindfulness.com.