COUNSELLING SERVICES & CONDITIONS
Individual Counselling, both in-person and telehealth is available for all of the following conditions.Â
Group Counselling available.
CHRONIC PAIN & CHRONIC ILLNESS
Counselling can help with coping and management of chronic pain and illness symptoms. Improve your well-being and quality of illness. We will also work on feelings that arise such as grief, anger, anxiety and sadness, and worry thoughts.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has a large evidence base for treating chronic pain and illness. We will work on contacting the present moment so that focus isn't only on pain; creating distance between you aren your pain/illness thoughts; accept physical sensations and emotions; reconnect with your values; engage in pleasurable activities that you can do even with your pain/illness; and increase your awareness of the world around you.
I also integrate somatic self-regulation therapy and yoga therapy as they have large evidence bases for working with chronic pain.
CONCUSSION
Counselling for concussions helps with cognitive functioning, including memory and concentration. Coping skills for managing thoughts and feelings about the accident and your recovery.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and CBT have evidence bases in working with concussion symptoms. Mindfulness, in particular, has been shown to improve cognitive functioning.
ANXIETY
Counselling for anxiety can help you cope with worry thoughts, physical sensations of anxiety so that you can manage it better and take back control of your life.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been shown to be incredibly effective in treating anxiety, whether it occurs alone or along with other conditions (depression, chronic pain/illness, concussion, etc.)
DEPRESSION
Counselling for depression helps to give you coping skills so you can deal with ruminative thoughts and feelings of sadness. Action planning can help to you engage with activities you once enjoy, to help you increase your overall life satisfaction
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has shown to be incredibly helpful in the treatment of depressive disorders, grief, and sadness.
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*If you are having suicidal thoughts please seek help immediately from your local hospital or by contact a crisis hotline.
POSTPARTUM MENTAL HEALTH
Pre- and postpartum anxiety and depression are quite common. Counselling can help you engage in more self-care, help you deal with negative thoughts, and improve communication between you and your partner.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and more traditional Cognitive Behaivoural Therapy (CBT) are effective in treating pre- and postpartum concerns. Additionally, evidence-based self-care (NEST-S) has been shown to help with the mental health of new parents (including same sex and male partners, and adoptive parents)
CAREGIVER BURNOUT
Counselling can help you cope with feelings of sadness, anxiety, irritability, hopelessness and helplessness that occur in people who are caregivers. It can help you re-engage in social activities and be kinder to yourself so that you can increase your compassion for others as well.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help with caregiver burnout as we will focus on cultivating compassion for yourself and others, and help you action plan to engage in meaningful activities in your time away from being a caregiver.
LIFE STRESS & LIFE TRANSITIONS
We can work on giving you coping skills for dealing with stresses as they come in many areas of your life including personal, relationships, and your career, to improve your overall wellbeing.
Life stress tends to increase during life transitions and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help you to reconnect with your values so that you can deal with the stress and transition in a way that is meaningful to you.
ICBC
If you have a claim through ICBC you are automatically approved for 12 counselling sessions.* We can work on pain, concussion, general and/or driving-related anxiety, and life stress that commonly occurs after a motor vehicle accident.
Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy we will focus on improving your well-being in any and all areas that were affected following your car accident.
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*If you have an older claim and are still covered by ICBC, check with your adjuster first.
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I take ICBC clients (in-person and telehealth video/phone) through Advance Health and Wellness.
WALK & TALK THERAPY
Coming July 2023 in Port Coquitlam
Walk and talk is a nice alternative to traditional counselling. Instead of sitting in an office or online, we take a mindfulness-based walk in nature while engaging in talk therapy. In addition to the benefits of talk therapy, walk and talk helps to reduce stress and tension, improve physical mobility, and engage the body and the mind in therapy.
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Walk and Talk will be available through Advance Health and Wellness. We will meet on a pre-established path near the clinic. If you are interested please request a consult.