Counselling services for children, youth and adults
Are your emotions keeping you from the life you want? Do you feel like joy has been sapped from your life? Living with mental health issues, life stresses, changes, or previous negative experiences can be a heavy burden to carry. If you are struggling, you are not alone and you don't have to do this by yourself.
Talking about your struggles to a therapist can positively help you on your journey to overcome them. You can think of your therapist as a safe person to talk to. Someone who wants to hear about what you’re dealing with and cares about seeing you feel better. A good therapist can help you work through your struggles while exploring your own inner resources and strengths you may not realize you already have.
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Healing can take many different forms! There are many ways to work through problems . Therapy can involve art, movement, play, music, sandtray, talking, and much more. I offer a variety of ways for you to explore your struggles and work within your comfort level.
Your privacy will be respected. You can feel safe to say anything to your therapist, free of judgement.
A therapist can help you develop strategies to process your emotions, handle situations differently and improve your overall happiness
Living with mental health struggle can be like living under a cloud. Therapy can help set you free.
"Just be real" is a phrase that I relate to in my therapeutic and personal interactions. Discussing difficult life topics is hard enough without feeling like you're not truly being heard. I knew I wanted to be in a helping role since I was in high school in a small town in the East Kootenays of B.C. I achieved my Bachelor of Social Work Degree and proceeded to work in various employments with children, youth and adults who experienced disabilities, trauma, violence, big life changes, and much more. In 2015 I returned to school, as I wanted to be able to help others on a deeper level...
Getting started with counselling is simple.
Jennifer drastically changed my life by helping me to realize deep rooted trauma that I had buried over the years. She is so easy to talk to, I feel safe to share and her genuine kindness shines through. I will be continuing my sessions with her for a very long time to come!
Counselling is new to alot of people -It’s okay to have questions!
There are many reasons people see counsellors. Some want to explore recurring patterns that are disrupting their lives, talk about previous or currently upsetting events, are going through a big change, learn new coping skills for anxiety or big emotional reactions, or simply improve how they are feeling. Other reasons people see counsellors may include: feeling overwhelmed, getting too little or too much sleep, loss of appetite, consuming thoughts of self-harm, death or injury to others, repetitive thoughts or behaviours that interrupt daily functions, feeling depressed, anxious or aggressive, withdrawn or loss of interest in regular activities, struggles with body image or intense focus on weight, restricting or purging food. There is no wrong reason for seeing a counsellor, your reason can be discussed upon initial consultation.
Your counsellor may invite you to share things you'd like to address or work on. You can share as much, or as little as you want, and there is no requirement to share personal information if you do not feel comfortable with it. Each session can look different, depending on what you want to focus on that day. Some sessions may include talking, problem-solving, or learning new coping skills. In other sessions, your counsellor may suggest alternate forms of therapy, such as the use of Art, SandTray, and Mindfulness. It can be beneficial to have an open mind to various types of counselling methods your counsellor may use; however, you get to decide what works best for you.
Counselling is an individual journey, goal attainment and personal progress can be reached within a few sessions or may go on for months. There is no "right or wrong" set of sessions that determine an individual's path. Oftentimes, you will just "know" when it is time to end your service, take a break, or continue with counselling. It is important to be honest with your counsellor about your feelings regarding your session, so changes can be made, or tweaked to be sure you are getting what you want to get from counselling.
Most individuals book weekly appointments to gain the most from consistency, momentum, and continued personal work. Although it is recognized there can be obstacles that interfere with this frequency, it is recommended to aim for weekly or bi-weekly sessions, especially when beginning. It is typical that sessions tend to reduce in frequency once closer to the end of service. If you are concerned about frequency, please talk to your counsellor upon initial consultation.
Counselling may be subsidized or covered by private benefits, health insurance, or employee health care plans. Please check with your provider for more details.
You are in charge of your own information, and get to decide what you share and do not share. There may be times when it is tough to talk about some things, counsellors offer a safe, non-judgmental place to do that while respecting your boundaries. You will not be forced to share anything you do not want too.
Seeing a counsellor doesn't mean you are broken. It is a way to empower yourself to reduce stress, improve your daily life, process difficult or previously upsetting circumstances, and help you discover your own resources you may not be aware you already possess.
Phoenix Tree Counselling provides sessions for children aged 12 and older, adolescents, and adults. Initial 20-minute phone consultations are suggested so we can decide if we would be a good fit to work together. For children under 12, sessions are offered to caregivers to support them with interventions and navigation for specific concerns.
Phoenix Tree Counselling offers both in-person and virtual session options. All video calls are made over a secure platform called Jane.
Confidentiality is extremely important in counselling for trusting relationships and safety in the process. Ultimately everything you say to your counsellor is kept private; unless required by law, if there is imminent danger to yourself or others, or if abuse is suspected. The details of confidentiality and its limits will be discussed during the intake process.
It takes a lot of courage to share if you are self-harming, your counsellor wants you to share so they can help you to keep safe, and if you want to stop, then work with you to find alternative methods of coping. Your counsellor will do a risk assessment to identify if there is an imminent, severe danger to yourself. However, self-harm is not an automatic reason to speak with your caregiver or loved one.
Most extended benefits cover part or all of the cost of a session. Refer to your benefits to check your coverage. (Jennifer is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and has her Masters in Social Work (MSW) Specializing in Clinical Counselling. Look for these designations within your benefit plan. However; if you are unsure, ask your provider as some do not list designations as requirements for coverage.)
An initial consultation is a great way to get to know Jennifer and she if she’s the right therapist for you.
In regular sessions, you will address the issues that are causing you the most pain.
