Curtis Henschel BA - Psychology

I am eager to work with couples, adolescents, and adults.

I am Metis citizen of Saskatchewan and a professor and coach of drama and performance techniques. I have spent a decade working with diverse groups and students—ranging from young people to professionals, including actors—using performance-based techniques. These techniques are designed to ease anxiety and fear, access feelings of power, develop character, and clarify deeply felt values and goals, to develop character, and analyze circumstances.

I draw on experience and research in Indigenous, anti-oppressive, feminist, and biopsychosocial counseling. I believe that together, we should create a shared view of the world and your relationships that makes sense of your experiences and supports your feelings of safety, personal power, and change, and dismantles oppressive social stereotypes. Together we will work as equals to build a therapeutic relationship and counseling process and find ways to build feelings of safety and assertiveness.

Counseling should help us to live with intention and find a positive way to cope and be in relationships. My past work has shown me that our own senses and imagination can be enough to get us there.

My approach is grounded in emotionally focused client-centered therapy with a strong emphasis on personal strengths. I integrate principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy, decolonial and empowerment theories, and performance-based techniques. When working with couples, I blend Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) with client-centered practices like the Gottman Method. I believe change is possible both in the short term and through a rich, cumulative process. Many of my techniques are honed through years of emotionally sensitive teaching and workshops, and they can be integrated with any therapeutic approach.

My areas of interest are:

·         Couples and relationship conflict

·         Performance- and drama-based therapy

·         Depression

·         Body image and muscle dysmorphia

·         Anger and aggression

·         Self-harm

·         Anxiety

·         Trauma and depersonalization

·         Medicine wheels

·         Anti-oppression awareness

·         Group therapy

I am a student in my final year of practice for my Master of School and Counseling Psychology (MEd) and look forward to expanding my knowledge of eating and body image disorders, grief, anger, self-harm, and high conflict couples and families. My practicum with Evolve will be from September 2024 to April 2025.