Holding Space and Breaking Barriers: A Therapeutic Journey with Person-Centred and CBT Approaches

Whether you’re tasked with navigating intergenerational trauma, anxiety, grief, boundary setting challenges, or relationship issues, one approach to therapy stands out for its simplicity, warmth, and depth: Person-Centred Therapy. I often describe myself as having an eclectic approach to therapy. One of the things that has felt most natural to me is allowing the therapeutic process to be fluid. In doing so, I highlight the importance and acceptance of showing up as your authentic self. Combining aspects of person-centred therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy interventions removes the pressure of leaning on a structured program or diagnostic checklist. In my sessions, clients lead the way. Clients are (and will always) be viewed as the experts of their own lives in our therapeutic relationship.

Oftentimes, one will notice that sessions with me are client-led. This is intentional as I acknowledge each individual’s ability to narrate their realities. Having personally witnessed the transformative impact of a meaningful therapeutic relationship, I feel honoured to facilitate the therapeutic journey with individuals and hope to listen carefully, reflect feelings, and help clients to clarify their own thoughts and values.

👩🏾‍🦱 Showing up as a black, female therapist:

Research demonstrates that ethnic minority clients tend to avoid seeking help from mainstream counselling agencies except in emergency situations (Capuzzi et al., 2009, as cited in Shebib, 2020). As a black therapist who has experienced the nuances of this belief, I have determined the need to recognize the various factors that influence and contribute to the ongoing development of an individual, and in doing so, provide a safe space for clients to feel heard and understood throughout the therapeutic process.

🌏 The Best of Both Worlds: Combining CBT and Person-Centred Therapy for Deeper Healing

When it comes to therapy, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Every person is unique — with different struggles, goals, and ways of processing life. That’s why I focus on integrating a unique blend of different approaches to offer more personalized and effective support to each client I support.

🛋️Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Person-Centred Therapy in a nutshell:

While these two approaches come from different traditions, they can work beautifully together to help people create real and lasting change. Let’s take a closer look at how and why this integration works. CBT gives clients the tools to manage their thoughts and behaviours,while Person-Centred Therapy provides the emotional foundation for meaningful, long-term change. When used together, these approaches can complement each other in powerful ways:

1. A Balanced Approach: Head and Heart – CBT speaks to the mind, helping you think differently. Person-centred therapy speaks to the heart, helping you feel heard, valued, and safe. Together, they help people address both the content of their thoughts and the context of their emotional experience.
2. Stronger Therapeutic Alliance – Research shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of successful outcomes. The person-centred foundation fosters a warm, accepting relationship — which can make CBT techniques feel more collaborative and less clinical.
3. Customized Support – Every person is different. Some clients benefit from structured strategies; others need space to explore and process. Combining CBT and person-centred approaches allows me to adapt to the client’s needs in each session — blending practical tools with emotional support.
4. Greater Self-Empowerment – CBT helps clients understand how their thoughts influence their emotions and behaviours. Person-centred therapy encourages them to trust themselves. Together, they promote both insight and self-belief — which can lead to deeper, more sustainable change.
5. Flexibility for Complex Issues – Many people come to therapy with overlapping issues: anxiety rooted in low self-esteem, or trauma underlying unhelpful thought patterns. A blended approach creates the opportunity for a collaborative approach to address surface-level symptoms and underlying emotional wounds — without being locked into a single method.

2🧠 Final Thoughts:

Therapy is most effective when it meets you where you are. By integrating the practical, evidence-based tools of CBT with the warmth and acceptance of Person-Centred Therapy, clients often experience both short-term relief and long-term transformation. If you’re looking for an approach that honors your whole self — thoughts, feelings, and everything in between — consider working with a therapist who blends powerful modalities. It just might be the best of both worlds!

Capuzzi, D., & Gross, D. R. (2013). Introduction to the counseling profession. New York: Routledge.

Shebib, B. (2020). Choices: Interviewing and counselling skills for Canadians (7th ed.). Pearson Canada, Inc.