Meet The BFT
Hi, folks! I'm Steven!
My name is Steven Butler (he/him/his) and I am a Licensed Counselling Therapist (LCT) with the College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick (CCTNB) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).
As a gay/queer therapist, I understand the unique challenges and experiences that can arise within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In my office, you'll find a warm and supportive environment where you can openly discuss your thoughts, feelings, and concerns. I'm passionate about working in the community and bettering the lives of New Brunswickers.
I use Person-Centered, trauma informed & humanistic approaches, elements of queer theory, affirmative therapy, narrative therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), emotion focused, solution focused, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and positive psychology.
A little bit more...
I hold a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from St. Thomas University and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counselling Psychology from the University of New Brunswick.
My approach to counselling is first and foremost directed at providing a comfortable, welcoming, non-judgemental space. I meet you where you are at and go from there.
I am also trained in using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR. This is a form of treatment originally used for folks who lived through trauma; but has been found to be effective in treating many other mental health conditions.
During sessions we will work together to create goals, foster resilience, gain skills and coping strategies to empower you to work towards change and combat your negative thinking to ultimately improve your well-being.
I recognize the importance of diversity and cultural identity and I will work to understand your beliefs, values, and traditions and how to implement them into your plan. I work at being anti-racist, non heteronormative, and affirming.
I am a Professional Member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and am WPATH trained in trans and gender non-conforming health. As such, I work under the WPATH Standards of Care version 8 to provide letters of support for gender affirming surgeries and hormone affirming therapy.
Why See the BFT?
I work with a variety of people (currently 16+) who are looking to improve their mental health.
Some examples include:
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Gender Identity Questioning & Exploration
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Sexual Orientation Questioning & Exploration
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LGBTQ+ issues
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Anxiety
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Depression
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PTSD
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Trauma
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Relationship issues
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Queer relationships
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Work place stress
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Boundaries
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Stress/burnout
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Youth & Adults (16+)
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Panic
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Grief and loss
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Pet loss
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Open/Poly relationships
In-office and virtual Sessions are available for folks residing in New Brunswick.
The Story Behind the Name
There were many drafted and tabled logos and names when thinking about a name that adequately reflects me, my personality, and my general approach to counselling.
I settled on The Big Friendly Therapist (The BFT) because, while growing up, I was frequently referred to as "The Big Friendly Giant (The BFG)" in honour of Roald Dahl's beloved character of the same name. I've always been a person of sizeable stature (should you decide to come meet with me in person, you'll notice that I'm 6'4), and I felt the name The BFT is also a testament to my friendly personality.
My hope is that the name itself also offers a more welcoming and tongue-in-cheek reference to counselling and psychology.