Choosing the right therapist is about fit, not perfection. This post explains what makes Karkiu Psychotherapy different and how to decide if this approach is right for you.
What makes Karkiu Psychotherapy different from any other therapy clinic? How do I know if this is the right place for me?
When I started this practice, I knew there was something unique we had to offer. It’s been truly difficult to explain what makes us special. As our practice keeps on building and we continue to work with clients that understand us, we begin to find more words to describe what we are really about.
If you’ve read previous blogs, the name “Karkiu” is meaningful to me in a very personal way. At the crux of it, Karkiu is me and I am Karkiu – but let’s be real, you don’t really know me. So let me try to give you a sneak peak into the brain that has designed and continues to design what we do here at Karkiu.
I decided to pursue a career in psychotherapy and mental health from a young age. The ideas of being curious about human behaviour, using compassion and love to heal others, and holding non-judgmental space were concepts that came naturally to me. Studying psychotherapy and counselling helped me feel validated in what I already knew and put clinical terms to what I was already doing, and it helped me refine my skills with evidence-based theory. But there always seemed to be something about what I was learning that didn’t fully explain the uniqueness of the therapeutic relationships I had built with clients that propelled the progress of their healing and growth. That missing piece is what I have tried to create with Karkiu Psychotherapy.
The field of Western human psychology – the clinical terms, the DSM – was mostly developed by eurocentric cis-male experts. They weren’t wrong, but there is so much more about human behaviour that they couldn’t have known without that lived experience. This is why people who come from an immigrant culture background find it really difficult to wrap their head around therapy, or talking about their feelings, or setting boundaries. Psychotherapy as it is traditionally taught up until now does not prepare therapists to consider the intersectional parts of each person. But not only that – being a psychotherapist requires having some level of privilege. Privilege can make us blind to the struggles of those who have less privilege than us.
At Karkiu, we are real people designing therapy for real people. We are people who have lived experiences designing therapy for those who have lived. We are unique individuals designing therapy for unique individuals. We will never pretend to know something we don’t know because we respect your experience. We will not try to fit you in a box because people don’t belong in boxes. We will empower you to find the words to best describe your experience in the way that you experience it, and empower you to lead the life that fits best for what you want. We will allow you to exist as you are with your expectations, standards, and values.
We are here to courageously and boldly walk alongside you in breaking intergenerational cycles and to decolonize mental health. So, welcome! Welcome to our movement; you are an invaluable part of our venture and we are excited to have you join us.
How do I know if a therapist is the right fit for me?
A therapist is the right fit when you feel respected, understood, and not pressured to explain or justify your experience. Therapy fit often matters more than the specific modality. If therapy hasn’t worked for you before, it may have been a mismatch in approach rather than a personal failure.
What should I look for when choosing a psychotherapy clinic?
When choosing a psychotherapy clinic, look for alignment in values, approach, and worldview. Consider whether the clinic acknowledges lived experience, culture, and identity, and whether the therapeutic relationship feels collaborative rather than prescriptive.
Karkiu Psychotherapy supports individuals seeking psychotherapy in Vaughan, and Virtually across Ontario