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I grew up in a large family on a farm in Southern Ontario and learned early to know bird calls and names of wild flowers. I became vegetarian as soon as I realized that we were eating the animals I loved. To this day when life becomes stressful I can always find peace in nature, whether it be in a raging snow storm or on a lovely sunny day in spring. The Royal Botanical Gardens and The Bruce Trail have always been a great comfort to me.
I was good at school work but always had an insatiable curiosity and
needed more answers than others seemed able or willing to give. One
early example was at age 8 when I saw the sign No Jews Allowed, on
Bronte beach. I asked my mother "What bad thing did the Jews do that
got them kicked off of the beach?". She didn't seem to have much of an
explanation, which happened a lot.
I tended to go wherever my interest took me and it took me on a long a varied path which included becoming a nurse and running my own little outpost hospital in North Ontario, to studying Theology at McMaster University, to studying philosophy in independent study, to taking Psychology courses at McMaster University for 3 years, to studying Transactional Analysis, Psychodrama, Psychosynthesis, Gestalt and Bioenergetics at various places, many of them in the US. It also took me into a 21 year relationship in which we built two very successful Pharmacies in Medical buildings, with Surgical Supply sections. Many of our policies were trend setting at the time, though common now. I excelled at independent thinking as well as independent study and that quality remains to this day.
In 1974, at age 39 I struck out on my own with my 3 children ages 7, 9 and 12. I had never met a divorced person so this was a very foreign world to me and my children. But, after first healing my body of several pretty serious conditions by meditating one to two hours a day for the first 2 years, I turned my attention to figuring out what went wrong with a relationship filled with such passion and joy in the beginning and ending with such disillusionment and bitterness.. I spent the next 20 years studying many aspects of that question and learned much from many wonderful teachers both in person and in books. All of this led me to give up my first profession which was Nursing, and open my own Psychotherapy practice in 1978.
Not the least of all my wonderful teachers were the many different kinds of clients I have been privileged to serve. They were people with a dream and with the willingness to work to make their lives and the lives of their families better. It gave me hope and joy to see them make those dreams come true. Once all my children were launched in their own homes and families, I moved to Dundas, a lovely town, closer to the natural world of my childhood. I still maintain a consulting room in Burlington but am semi retired, seeing only a few clients a week and one group. My children and grandchildren light up my life, which is making is easier to slow down and smell the roses. I continue to take great joy in clients who have the determination and perseverance to make real changes in their lives.
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Karyl Pope, BScN, RN
- Diploma McMaster University School of Divinity
- Behavioural Psychology - McMaster University
- Clinical Member - Ontario Society for Psychotherapists (OSP)
I believe that each person is intrinsically healthy at the core and when fully aware of all of their choices, will always make decisions which move them toward health and happiness.
Hence my principal focus is on:
1) encouraging in-depth understanding, awareness and expression of Self, including both conscious and unconscious beliefs, attitudes and feelings, and
2) developing awareness of all choices in this present moment, courage to choose from those choices, and the strength and support to implement and take responsibility for those choices.
I am non-authoritarian, informal and trust each person's judgement regarding the priorities and directions which are best for him/her at any given time. I give direct and honest feedback at all times and encourage clients to do the same with each other and with me.
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Professional References:
"I have been consistently impressed with the positive changes I have seen clients of Karyl Pope & Associates make in their lives, and with the new insights and skills they have acquired."
-Gwen Solodzyk, RN Employee Health Services
"This work has helped me to find my sensitivity and compassion and shown me the way to integrate these qualities into my personal and business life."
-DC Business Executive
"Working together at Karyl Pope & Associates has brought about permanent healing in our whole family."
-SS Clergyman
"I know of no therapist who has more completely, perfected the application of self, intuition, spontaneity and personal response in psychotherapy. While she is widely read and extremely well trained, her first response is always personal."
-Rev Ron Owsten, Clergyman/Psychotherapist/Director of Community Agency and Training Centre
"I have a great deal of respect for Karyl. She is committed to her own growth and to that of her clients. Her integrity is beyond reproach."
-Ross Johnson, Psychotherapist
"Karyl has developed a unique process of group work which greatly increases effectiveness in terms of results and in terms of cost."
-RC Human Resources Executive
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