Process Oriented Psychotherapy in Surrey BC
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You may already understand your patterns quite well. You know why you pull away when someone gets close, why you overthink, why a small criticism can flatten your whole day, or why you keep ending up in the same kind of argument. Understanding it has not necessarily changed what happens when it gets activated.
Process oriented psychotherapy is a relational, experiential way of working that pays close attention to what is happening as you talk, not only what you are talking about. Rather than staying at the level of explanation or strategy, your counsellor helps you slow down and work with emotions, bodily responses and protective patterns as they actually show up in the room. At Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback in Cloverdale, Surrey, this approach is offered by Jonathan Wieser, a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist, in person and by secure video across British Columbia.
You can check Jonathan’s availability and book online through JaneApp, read about how he works further down this page, or contact us if you are unsure where to start.
What Is Process Oriented Psychotherapy
At Sojourn, we use the term process oriented psychotherapy to describe a relational and experiential way of working that pays close attention to how thoughts, emotions, bodily responses, protective patterns and relationship experiences unfold during a session. It is not a single standardised protocol. It is a way of paying attention, informed by several humanistic and experiential traditions, and the exact shape of it depends on the counsellor’s training and on what you need.
In plainer terms: process oriented psychotherapy is a form of counselling that works with how your emotions, bodily responses and patterns unfold during the session, rather than only discussing problems or teaching techniques.
One clarification is worth making early, because the name is easily confused. The term as we use it should not be mistaken for Arnold Mindell’s Process Oriented Psychology, also called Processwork, or for the newer Process Based Therapy framework associated with Steven C. Hayes and Stefan Hofmann. Both are different things, and both are explained further down this page.
What does “process” mean in therapy?
Every conversation in therapy has content and process. Content is what you are talking about: the argument with your partner, the job you are thinking of leaving, the thing your mother said. Process is what is happening while you talk about it.
Process might look like an emotion rising partway through a sentence and then being pushed back down. A change in your voice or pace. Tightness in your chest or a sudden urge to change the subject. A critical inner voice that appears the moment you start to feel something tender. A subtle pulling back from your counsellor when the conversation gets close to something that matters. Two wishes at once, such as wanting to be understood and wanting to protect yourself from being seen.
These moments are easy to talk past. A process oriented counsellor notices them, gently draws your attention to them, and is curious about them with you. Often that is where the real material of therapy lives.
From talking about an experience to experiencing it differently
Many people arrive at counselling having already talked about their difficulties, sometimes for years, with friends, partners or previous therapists. They can describe their pattern accurately. They understand where it came from. What they often say is something like: “I know all this. It still happens.”
Insight on its own does not always reach the part of us that reacts. A pattern that formed through experience often shifts through experience too. That is why process oriented work places weight on what is happening now, in the session, rather than only on analysis of what happened then. When a familiar reaction arises while you are sitting with a counsellor who stays steady and curious, something new becomes possible. You can notice the reaction, feel what is underneath it, and begin to relate to it differently. Many people find that this is where understanding finally begins to turn into change.
What Does Process Oriented Therapy Feel Like
From the outside, a session looks like an ordinary conversation. Two people sitting in a comfortable room, talking. There are no exercises you have to perform, no props, and nothing you will be asked to do that feels strange.
From the inside, the difference is in the quality of attention. Your counsellor is collaborative and curious rather than directive. The pace is often slower than everyday conversation, with room to pause when something stirs. Sessions tend to be emotionally engaged rather than purely intellectual, and the relationship between you and your counsellor is treated as part of the work rather than as background.
You set the pace. If something feels like too much, you can slow down, step back or stop, and your counsellor will follow your lead. Nothing is forced, and nothing is pried at. Over time most people find that the sense of being accompanied, rather than analysed or instructed, is itself part of what makes the work useful.
An example of a process oriented moment
This is a composite illustration, not a real client.
Someone is describing a recurring argument with their partner. As they talk, they notice their shoulders have crept up and their jaw is tight. Their counsellor gently asks what they are aware of right now. They pause and say that they feel like shutting down, the same way they do at home.
Rather than moving past that, they stay with it. Underneath the urge to shut down, something quieter becomes clearer: a hurt, and a fear of being told once again that they are too much. The shutting down starts to make sense as a protection, not a flaw. With that, a need that has been hard to say out loud becomes a little more nameable.
Nothing dramatic has happened. But in that moment the person has met their own pattern from the inside, with someone alongside them, and has begun to relate to it differently. That is the kind of moment process oriented work is built around.
What Might We Pay Attention to in a Session
This approach is not only about feelings, though emotion is often central. Depending on what is present for you, a session might involve curiosity about:
- emotions, including the ones that are hard to name or that arrive underneath the more obvious ones
- bodily sensations, such as tightness, heaviness, restlessness or numbness
- thoughts, self talk and the meanings you have made of your experiences
- protective responses and avoidance, and what they are protecting
- internal conflicts, or different parts of you that want different things
- relationship patterns, including what happens between you and your counsellor in the room
- imagery and memories that surface on their own
- needs, values and what matters to you
Which of these come forward, and in what order, depends on you and on how you and your counsellor work together.
Who Might Be Drawn to This Approach
People who find this way of working helpful often recognise themselves in statements like these:
- “I understand why I do this, but I still can’t seem to change it.”
- “I’ve talked about this before, and it still affects me.”
- “I don’t always know what I feel.”
- “I shut down when things get emotional.”
- “I keep repeating the same relationship patterns.”
- “I live in my head.”
- “Coping strategies help, but something underneath still feels unresolved.”
You do not need to be in crisis, and you do not need a diagnosis, for this approach to be worthwhile. It is a style of therapy rather than a treatment for one particular problem. It tends to suit people who want to understand themselves from the inside out and are willing to slow down enough to do that.
If this sounds like you, Jonathan is glad to talk it through in a first session. You can read more about how he works below.
Concerns People Bring to Process Oriented Therapy
Process oriented work is one way our counsellors may work with people experiencing anxiety, trauma and PTSD, complex trauma, attachment wounds, and childhood experiences that still affect you. It can also be a fit for grief, life transitions, persistent self criticism or shame, emotional numbness, and the recurring relationship patterns that sometimes bring people to couples counselling or to individual work about their relationships.
Each of those concerns has its own page on this site with more detail. This page is about the way of working rather than any one concern.
Is Process Oriented Therapy Right for Everyone
No, and it would be odd to claim otherwise.
Some people prefer a more structured, skills based approach with clear exercises between sessions. Some want a manualised program with a set number of sessions. Some are looking for a specific protocol for a specific problem, such as EMDR for a distressing memory. Some want practical strategies first and deeper exploration later, or not at all. All of those are legitimate preferences, and Sojourn’s counsellors work in those ways too.
Many people want a mix, and in practice most counsellors blend approaches. Fit matters more than the label. A first session is a reasonable way to find out whether this way of working suits you, and a good counsellor will tell you honestly if they think something else would serve you better.
How Process Oriented Psychotherapy Compares With Other Therapies
These comparisons are meant to help you choose, not to rank one approach above another.
Process oriented therapy vs CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy primarily works with identifying and changing patterns of thinking and behaviour, often through structured exercises and practice between sessions. Process oriented therapy puts more weight on what is happening emotionally, physically and relationally in the moment. CBT tends to be more structured and skills focused; process oriented work tends to be more exploratory and experiential. Many people benefit from elements of both, and they are not mutually exclusive.
Process oriented therapy vs Emotion Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy is a specific, well researched experiential model, originally known as process experiential therapy. Sojourn’s process oriented work shares many of its principles, including attention to moment to moment emotional experience and to attachment needs, and Jonathan has completed EFT externship training. But “process oriented” is a broader descriptive term for a way of working, not a synonym for EFT. If you are specifically looking for EFT, our Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy page describes that model for individuals, and our Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy page covers the couples version.
Process oriented therapy vs EMDR
EMDR is a structured protocol for processing specific distressing memories. Process oriented therapy is relational and follows what emerges in the session. The two can be combined by the same counsellor when it makes clinical sense, and Jonathan offers both. Which comes first, or whether one is used at all, is something to work out together.
Process oriented therapy vs psychodynamic or depth therapy
Both may explore patterns beneath the immediate problem and the influence of early relationships, and for some clients process oriented work naturally becomes depth oriented. The difference is mostly in theory and method. Psychodynamic and Jungian approaches rest on particular models of the unconscious and of interpretation. Sojourn’s process oriented work is grounded in humanistic, experiential and attachment traditions and works primarily with what is present and felt rather than with interpretation. We do not offer psychoanalysis or Jungian analysis.
Similar Names, Different Therapies
Several approaches have “process” in the name. They are not the same thing, and the distinctions matter.
| Approach | What it is | Associated with | Offered at Sojourn? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process oriented psychotherapy (as we use the term) | A relational, experiential way of working with what unfolds in the session | Humanistic and experiential traditions | Yes, with Jonathan Wieser |
| Processwork (Process Oriented Psychology) | A specific model working with dreams, body signals and awareness | Arnold Mindell | No |
| Process Based Therapy (PBT) | A framework for personalising treatment around evidence based processes of change, sometimes described as process based CBT | Steven C. Hayes and Stefan Hofmann | No |
| Process experiential therapy | The earlier name for Emotion Focused Therapy | Leslie Greenberg and colleagues | Yes, as Emotion Focused Therapy |
Is process oriented psychotherapy the same as Processwork?
No. Processwork, also called Process Oriented Psychology, is a specific model developed by Arnold Mindell. It draws on Jungian psychology and works with dreams, body signals, subtle cues and awareness, including in groups and organisations. Some Processwork organisations also use the phrase “process oriented psychotherapy” for Mindell’s model, which is part of why the term causes confusion. Sojourn does not offer Mindell’s Processwork. When we say process oriented, we are describing a relational, experiential style of counselling, not that particular school.
Is it the same as Process Based Therapy?
No. Process Based Therapy (PBT), sometimes described as process based CBT, is a contemporary framework associated with Steven C. Hayes, Stefan Hofmann and colleagues. Its authors describe it as a meta framework rather than a therapy modality: a way of personalising treatment around evidence based processes of change within a particular person’s context. Process oriented psychotherapy, as we use the term, is a way of working inside the session. The names are similar; the ideas come from different places.
What is process experiential therapy?
Process experiential therapy is the earlier name for what is now generally called Emotion Focused Therapy, developed by Leslie Greenberg and colleagues. It is part of the experiential family of therapies that Sojourn draws on. You can read more on our Emotionally Focused Therapy page.
Does “experiential therapy” mean art, role play or activities?
Sometimes, elsewhere. Some programs use the term for therapies built around activities such as art, drama, movement or outdoor work. At Sojourn, experiential means slowing down and attending to emotion, bodily experience and what happens between you and your counsellor within an ordinary conversation. No activities or props are required.
Our Approach to Process Oriented and Experiential Psychotherapy
Experiential psychotherapy is a broad family of humanistic approaches that emphasise directly experiencing emotions and reactions rather than only talking about them. The process oriented work described on this page belongs to that family.
Sojourn is a team clinic, and our counsellors do not all work the same way. The process oriented work described here is informed by several traditions that are part of our practice: person centred therapy, which treats the relationship and the client’s own experience as central; Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals and couples; Satir experiential family therapy; attachment informed work; IFS informed work with conflicting parts of the self; mindfulness; and, where it makes clinical sense, EMDR or somatic approaches.
Research on humanistic and experiential therapies, including Emotion Focused Therapy, suggests they can be helpful for concerns such as depression and relationship distress. Across approaches, the quality of the working relationship between client and counsellor is one of the more consistent contributors to outcome. The references at the bottom of this page point to the relevant research.
At Sojourn, this way of working is offered by Jonathan Wieser. Other counsellors on our team may draw on experiential principles in their own work, but if you are specifically looking for the approach described here, Jonathan is the person to book with.
Who Offers Process Oriented Psychotherapy at Sojourn
Jonathan Wieser, MA MFT, RCC, RMFT
Registered Clinical Counsellor (#3824) since 2010 · Approved Clinical Supervisor · Registered Marriage and Family Therapist
Jonathan holds a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and has been a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors since 2010. He is an Approved Clinical Supervisor and a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist. His training includes the Emotionally Focused Therapy externship, Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy, EMDR, advanced Gottman Method couples therapy, and neurofeedback.
Jonathan works collaboratively, paying close attention to what is happening for you in the moment and to the patterns underneath recurring difficulties. He works with adults and couples, and he often sees people dealing with anxiety, trauma, relationship distress and the sense of being stuck despite understanding themselves well. He integrates experiential, attachment based and family systems approaches, and brings in EMDR or neurofeedback when they fit. Sessions are available in person in Cloverdale, Surrey and online across BC.
What to Expect in Your First Session
A first session is mostly about getting to know you: what brings you in, what you are hoping for, and what has and has not helped before. It is also a chance for you to get a feel for how you and Jonathan work together. You do not need to prepare anything, and you do not have to share everything at once. Going deeper happens at a pace that feels workable to you.
Sessions are 50 minutes. Counselling with a Registered Clinical Counsellor is covered by many extended health plans; it is worth checking your plan’s wording for “Registered Clinical Counsellor” or “RCC.” We offer direct billing through TELUS eClaims for participating insurers, and otherwise payment is due at the time of your appointment with a receipt you can submit yourself. Sojourn has a 48 hour cancellation policy. Current rates are listed on our fees and insurance page.
Process Oriented Psychotherapy in Surrey and Online Across BC
Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback is located at Unit 211, 17696 65A Avenue, Surrey, BC V3S 5N4, in Cloverdale. We see clients from across Surrey, Langley, White Rock and South Surrey in person, and we offer secure online counselling across British Columbia.
Process oriented work translates well to online sessions. It relies on conversation, attention and the relationship rather than on equipment, and many clients find that working from a familiar space of their own makes it easier to slow down and notice what is happening.
Frequently Asked Questions About Process Oriented Psychotherapy
What is process oriented psychotherapy?
Process oriented psychotherapy is a relational, experiential form of counselling that pays close attention to how emotions, bodily responses, thoughts and patterns unfold during the session itself, rather than only discussing problems or teaching techniques. At Sojourn it is a way of working, not a single protocol, and it is offered by Jonathan Wieser.
What happens during a process oriented therapy session?
A session looks like a conversation. As you talk, your counsellor notices moments where something shifts, such as an emotion rising, a change in your body or an urge to pull back, and invites you to slow down and be curious about it. You set the pace. Nothing is forced.
Is process oriented psychotherapy the same as Processwork?
No. Processwork, or Process Oriented Psychology, is a specific model developed by Arnold Mindell that draws on Jungian psychology and works with dreams and body signals. Sojourn does not offer Processwork. We use “process oriented” to describe a relational, experiential style of counselling.
Is process oriented therapy the same as Process Based Therapy?
No. Process Based Therapy (PBT), sometimes described as process based CBT and associated with Steven C. Hayes and Stefan Hofmann, is a framework for personalising treatment around evidence based processes of change. Process oriented psychotherapy, as we use the term, describes a way of working moment to moment within the session.
Is process oriented therapy the same as experiential therapy?
They overlap closely. Experiential psychotherapy is a broad family of humanistic approaches that emphasise directly experiencing emotions and reactions rather than only talking about them. Sojourn’s process oriented work belongs to that family. “Experiential” is the broader category; “process oriented” describes how we work within it.
Is process experiential therapy the same as Emotion Focused Therapy?
Essentially yes. Process experiential therapy is the earlier name for what is now generally called Emotion Focused Therapy, developed by Leslie Greenberg and colleagues. Sojourn’s process oriented work draws on EFT but is not identical to it.
How is experiential therapy different from regular talk therapy?
Ordinary talk therapy often stays with the content: the story, the explanation, the advice. Experiential work attends to what is happening in you while you tell the story, and works with that directly. The conversation is still the vehicle, but the attention is on the lived experience rather than the account of it.
Do I have to talk about trauma or go deep right away?
No. You decide what to bring and when. Early sessions are usually about getting to know each other and what you are hoping for. If difficult material comes up, the work is paced so that it stays manageable, and you can slow down or stop at any point.
Is process oriented therapy structured, or is it just talking?
It is responsive rather than unstructured. There are goals, ongoing attention to whether the work is helping, and intentional choices by your counsellor about where to focus. What makes it process oriented is that those choices follow what is actually emerging in the session rather than a fixed script.
How do I know whether this approach fits me?
If you understand your patterns but they still run you, if you tend to live in your head, or if strategies have helped but something underneath feels unresolved, this approach may be a good fit. The most reliable way to find out is a first session. If it is not the right fit, Jonathan will say so and help you find something that is.
Can process oriented therapy be done online?
Yes. Sojourn offers secure online sessions across British Columbia. Because this approach relies on conversation, attention and the relationship rather than equipment, it works well online, and many clients find it easier to slow down in their own space.
Is counselling with a Registered Clinical Counsellor covered by extended health insurance?
Many extended health plans in BC cover sessions with a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). Check your plan for “Registered Clinical Counsellor” or “RCC.” Sojourn offers direct billing through TELUS eClaims for participating insurers; otherwise you pay at the time of the session and submit the receipt yourself.
Book Process Oriented Psychotherapy in Surrey
If the way of working described on this page sounds like what you have been looking for, you can check Jonathan’s availability and book online through our secure JaneApp booking system, or view all therapist profiles. If you would rather read his full profile first, that link will take you there.
If you are not sure whether this approach is the right starting point, or whether another counsellor on our team might be a better fit for what you are dealing with, contact us at 778 381 5868 or info@sojourncounselling.com and we will help you find a good fit.
Clinically reviewed by Jonathan Wieser, MA MFT, RCC, RMFT, Approved Clinical Supervisor. Last reviewed: August 20, 2026.
References
- American Psychological Association. APA Dictionary of Psychology: “experiential psychotherapy” and “process experiential psychotherapy.”
- Greenberg Institute for Emotion Focused Therapy. Emotion Focused Therapy was originally known as process experiential therapy.
- Mindell, A. and Mindell, A. Description of Process Oriented Psychology (Process Work).
- Hofmann, S. G., and Hayes, S. C. (2019). The future of intervention science: Process based therapy. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(1), 37 to 50.
- Elliott, R., Watson, J. C., Greenberg, L. S., Timulak, L., and Freire, E. Research on humanistic experiential psychotherapies, in Bergin and Garfield’s Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change.
- Flückiger, C., Del Re, A. C., Wampold, B. E., and Horvath, A. O. (2018). The alliance in adult psychotherapy: A meta analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 316 to 340.