First Steps
Making changes and reaching out for help can be an overwhelming experience. It is important to find a therapist who can understand your perspective, hear your needs, and join you in your journey to accomplish your goals. Each client/family who accesses services will work toward an individualized treatment plan based on the strengths and skills that you already have, while building towards new skills and strategies.
Parent and Child/Teen Counselling
Are you concerned about your child's behavioural, social or emotional well being? Have you noticed new behaviours that are out of the ordinary or inconsistent with their typical personalities or temperament. Is it hard to communicate with your child, or fully understand what they might be needing? Has your child indicated that they are having difficulty communicating with you or their peers. Counselling can help to start you on the path toward the relationship you want to achieve.
Key Benefits:
Increased trust and attachment
Dedicated time together to learn new ways of communication
Increased self control during times of conflict
Safe space to practice new skills
Supportive conflict resolution and planning for ways to ensure success at home
Decrease in oppositional and defiant behaviours
Increased insight and understanding of the presenting concern
Developing new and effective ways of behaving and responding during challenging times
Increased confidence
Parent Coaching
Parenting is one of life's most rewarding journeys. One moment, we may be filled with pride and excitement, and another, we may find ourselves overwhelmed and needing a break. If you are finding yourself struggling to cope with the demands of parenthood and believe that your children are not getting the best version of you, it may be time to get help. During a parent coaching session, you will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns and speak freely about what is impacting you-
JUDGEMENT FREE.
Key Benefits:
Having a space to be real about your role as a parent
Receive feedback while developing a plan for next steps
Validation and support
Develop a philosophy of parenting that you and your and your partner/co-parent can agree on
Parent/caregivers can discuss their own triggers and adult related matters without their children present
Multi-generational families can bridge the gaps between parenting styles
Child Counselling
Children, like adults, cope in a variety of ways. Some use distractions to keep their minds busy, some turn toward hobbies or athletics as an outlet to manage difficult emotions. At times, children may begin to adopt unhealthy coping patterns such as story telling (lying), withdrawal from activities they once enjoyed, avoidance of stressful situations or targeting others. If you or your child have noticed that coping with day to day stressors has become too difficult, is disruptive to other family members or is making it hard for you to perform your daily responsibilities (school or work) it may be time to get help.
Key Benefits:
You child can learn new, creative, and effective ways to discuss their thoughts and feelings
Children can speak openly in session while practicing new skills
Increased confidence and assertiveness.
Better relationships with friends and family members
Working more effectively under pressure (academic, athletic performance)
Increased self awareness
Increased impulse control
Teen Counselling
Teens are under more pressure today than ever before. Self-esteem, body image, navigating social media, cyber bullying, academic demands, and career choices are just a few common reasons that teens seek counselling.
If you are a parent and are concerned with how your teen is coping with stress, or worried about substance use or risky behaviours, I can help. Parents may observe secretive behaviours, low mood or unpredictable mood swings. If you suspect that what you are seeing is outside of the norm, counselling may be warranted.
If you are concerned about how your teen might respond to the idea of attending a counselling session, please contact me for a complimentary 15 minute phone consult or schedule a Parent Coaching Session so that we can discuss ways to approach the topic with sensitivity.
Key Benefits:
Increased communication within the home
Healthier expressions of intense emotions including anger
Improvements in decision making skills
Developing healthy, effective and creative ways of coping with distress
Increased sense of control
Family Counselling
Life transitions, loss, grief or trauma can impact families at the same time. It is important to understand that no single person can be expected to respond, or heal, in the same way. If your family has overcome, or is in the midst of a significant event, counselling can help to build resilience and connection. Family counselling involves supporting the needs of multiple individuals and varying goals during counselling sessions. If you are concerned about multiple children or family relationships, a family counselling session can help.
Key Benefits:
Finding a common ground or shared understanding
Addressing sibling conflict
Receiving support to navigate the separation and divorce process
Helping blended families struggling to adjust
Receiving impartial feedback and support
Developing a plan to help the family move forward and achieve their own individual goals
Adult Counselling
You may have struggled to some extent your whole life but are finding that life's stressors are becoming too much
to manage on your own. No matter where you are in your journey, having a safe and judgement free space to
explore your thoughts and feelings can make a significant impact. Whether you have a clear goal or are
struggling to figure out your first steps-I can help.
Key Benefits:
Increased confidence and self esteem
Better understanding of your needs
Increase in communication with others
Disruption of unhealthy behaviour patterns
Improved relationship with family members
Work-life balance
Living your best life
"Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”