About

Dr. Whillans believes that we each have unique strengths that have helped us move through our difficult times. Sometimes, though, we do not see or appreciate these. And sometimes we overuse them and become ‘stuck’ and spiral into distress, exhaustion, pain and helplessness.

 As well as working with individuals who are curious about their personal growth and want to deepen their personal awareness, Dr. Whillans also works with adult individuals who want to find ways to decrease or manage their experience of distress and pain so that they can live more satisfying lives instead of feeling overwhelmed and stuck.  She works with clients collaboratively to identify and support their unique individual strengths and to explore how these can both help and hinder their sense of vitality and satisfaction. Together they explore new ways of using their strengths and alternative approaches to the experience of being ‘stuck’. This loosens the hold of distress (e.g., anxiety, fear, anger, frustration, sorrow) to become ‘unstuck.’

Credentials

Dr. Whillans’ graduate studies, post-graduate practice and research focused on chronic pain and/ illness and on the experience of significant life events that affect us and the ways in which we cope. Such events affect how we see ourselves and our world. She has extensive experience and training in working with people who have experienced extreme circumstances and been altered by these experiences. Dr. Whillans’ resume is available for download here.