LET’S TALK
We all need to be heard and understood. A caring, compassionate therapist can support you to better understand your situation. Your counsellor can offer information and strategies or help you explore your thoughts and beliefs to help you discover what might be causing you to feel the way you do. Together, you can come up with a plan to to help you reach your goals. Approaches available include Compassionate Inquiry, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Narrative therapy, or Solution Focus Therapy.
COUPLE’S COUNSELLING
This can be an important step to help you better understanding your needs and your partner’s needs within the relationship. Couples often find themselves reacting with irritation, hurt or resentment but don’t know why. Our counsellors are trained in helping you understand the dynamics that play out and find ways to heal relationship injuries so you can move closer to each other and communicate in more loving ways. Therapeutic approaches include Gottman Couples therapy, Attachment Theory, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and IFS for couples.
CHILDREN’S COUNSELLING
We understand that children’s young brains and nervous systems are still developing. They may not yet have the ability to solve social problems, understand consequences, see another perspective, or resist peer pressure. Often they can’t explain the jumble of emotions they are experiencing. Expressive therapies can help them organize their thoughts and express their feelings in an indirect way that feels safe, comfortable, and fun. For young children, Parent-Child Interactive Therapy and Play Therapy are offered. For older children, Sand Tray Therapy, Art Therapy or Psychodrama can be helpful approaches. Teens often benefit from these therapies as well blended with Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectic Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Somatic therapies.
DEEPER WORK
“Right Brain Therapies” move away from thinking and talking about issues and into exploring how the body and mind are affected by beliefs we hold, past traumas that have not yet been processed, or past relationships that have caused hurt. These approaches focus on your felt senses, trusting your intuition, and working with your internal protective system. They also allow you to access your implicit memories that we cannot remember either because you were too young or too overwhelmed. Somatic or Body-centred Therapies, Internal Family Systems, EMDR, Art Therapy, and Sand Tray Therapy provide ways for you to explore deeper issues, release past burdens, and heal.
Specialized Services
CLINICAL SUPERVISION /CONSULTATION
Kate is an approved Clinical Supervisor with BCACC and has been offering supervision and consultation to Master Level Students and Clinical Counsellors since 2016. Kate takes a developmental approach that meets you where you are and helps you develop skills, confidence and competencies. Supervision also helps you build resources, better understand how to put theory into practice, as well as understand the ethical and legal aspects of this job. Through regular case consultations and open discussions, you get the support, up-to-date information and resources you need. Individual and small group supervision is available online or in person.
COURT ORDERED SUPERVISED VISITS
This service is for family members who have a court order stating that their visits with children must be supervised. We understand that this can be a stressful and awkward time. We offer a welcoming, non-judgmental place for you to visit and have fun with your child. We have safeguards in place to ensure your comfort, confidentiality and safety. Our counsellors can offer age-appropriate activities, encouragement or redirection when helpful, as well as information on child development if requested. Our goal is for you and your child to enjoy your time together and look forward to your next visit.
ART THERAPY
Art therapy is a creative experience that can help us process emotions or difficult experiences. It offers an alternative to talking as it can sometimes be hard to put what we feel into words. Many people find that making art helps them explore issues or express underlying feelings to get clarity and insight. Creative activities can also regulate our nervous systems, making us feel calm, more at peace, centred, focused and connected.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based treatment that recognizes that we all have parts of us that will have their own agendas. Many of us naturally describe our different parts. For example, a person might say, “A part of me is so angry at him, but another part is starting to understand where he is coming from,” or, “A part of me feels so guilty for not studying right now, but another part of me knows I could use the rest.”
We all have many parts, and while they all have our best interests in mind, our parts can also be at odds with each other. These internal struggles can create internal discomfort and confusion.