Approach
THE CREATIVE NON-DIRECTIVE APPROACH (CNDA® )
A different way
of approaching therapy.
Developed by Dr. Colette Portelance,
the Creative Non-Directive Approach (CNDA® ) is a humanistic and relational approach that supports you in better understanding what you’re experiencing, recognizing your needs, and taking responsibility for how you choose
to care for yourself.
the Creative Non-Directive Approach (CNDA® ) is a humanistic and relational approach that supports you in better understanding what you’re experiencing, recognizing your needs, and taking responsibility for how you choose
to care for yourself.
01
Looking at what's
happening for you.
In CNDA®, we pay attention to what you're experiencing —
your emotions, reactions, needs and the things that feel
difficult to understand on your own.
your emotions, reactions, needs and the things that feel
difficult to understand on your own.
What you feel, need and experience
becomes easier to understand when
you can put words to it.
becomes easier to understand when
you can put words to it.
02
Understanding what happens within you.
What happens around you - an interaction, a reaction
or a difficult moment - can reveal an emotion, a
vulnerability, a need or a pattern that is already
part of your experience.
or a difficult moment - can reveal an emotion, a
vulnerability, a need or a pattern that is already
part of your experience.
What happened?
→
What did it
awaken in me?
awaken in me?
→
What do I need?
03
Taking responsibility
doesn't mean taking
everything on.
In CNDA®, responsibility means learning to recognize what belongs to you: your emotions, your needs, your choices and your actions. It also means allowing other people to take responsibility for what belongs to them.
My experience
belongs to me.
belongs to me.
I can explore what
something brings
up for me.
something brings
up for me.
My needs
belong to me.
belong to me.
I can recognize them, express them and decide how I want to care for them.
Their experience
belongs to them.
belongs to them.
I can be mindful of how I affect others without taking responsibility for their emotions or reactions.
04
From understanding yourself
to choosing yourself.
As you become more aware of what you're experiencing
and what you need, you can begin to make choices that
feel more aligned with you.
and what you need, you can begin to make choices that
feel more aligned with you.
In CNDA®, you remain at the centre of that process.
The choices you make about how you care for yourself,
your needs and your relationships remain yours.
The choices you make about how you care for yourself,
your needs and your relationships remain yours.
Making space for yourself also means
making space for your own choices.
making space for your own choices.
