Counselling/Therapy

All kids have emotional ups and downs. As they develop into adolescents and young adults, the world around them is affecting that growth. Many children have problems that affect how they feel, act, or learn. Counselling can identify problems and help teach children how to effectively manage emotional distress and anxiety.

The goal of child therapy is to break down problems into manageable parts, so children can better understand and cope with them. Therapy can help them make sense of what is going on in their minds, bodies, and lives

The adolescent years (from teenager to young adult) can be some of the most difficult years in our lives, for us and our family members. Adolescence is called the age or period of turbulence, where every individual goes through certain changes in their mental as well as physical structure. It's common for teens and young adults to need help in dealing with emotions, family conflict and relationships, and academic issues.

Adolescent counselling is aimed at young people to help them make sense of their feelings, behaviours, and thoughts and entails the use of unique techniques. Teen therapy can help adolescents to learn skills for developing friendships, heal from traumatic experiences, such as bullying, improve self-esteem, and support personal development to aid transition to independent adulthood and make life decisions.

Therapy is nothing to be ashamed of, any more than a visit to a medical doctor. Mental health is something you can manage before you are in over your head. Therapy is an incredibly useful tool that helps with a range of issues, from anxiety to sleep to relationships to trauma. Research shows that it’s incredibly effective in helping people manage mental health conditions and experts say that it’s worth it even if you don’t have a medical problem.

Through therapy, a mental health counsellor can help you work through difficult feelings or stressors that may affect your day-to-day life. The approach is very collaborative and depends on your relationship and your therapist. 

If you’re diagnosed with a mental health condition, your mental health specialist may recommend therapy in conjunction with medication for your treatment plan.

Couples therapy isn't just for couples whose relationship is ending. Whether you’re a couple in distress or in "the perfect relationship," couples therapy can benefit your partnership.

Couples counselling, especially pre-marriage counselling, is a chance for partners to work through small irritations like money, anger, jealousy, or other issues that they feel might hinder them in the future. A counsellor will listen to what your share and offer an unbiased perspective.

Leading couples researcher and therapist, John Gottman, PhD has found that the average couple waits 6 years before seeking help for marital problems.  That is a long time to be unhappy in a relationship! Therapy can help you get back that connection you both crave and miss:

• Therapy can help can teach you skills to improve your communication skills.
• Therapy can address underlying issues in the relationship.
• Therapy can help talking about a difficult subject.
• Therapy can rebuild trust that has been lost in a relationship.
• Therapy can teach skills to reduce the stress associated with parenthood.
• Therapy can offer support through life changes, health problems, loss, and grief.

Consensual or ethical non-monogamy (CNM) involves consensually non-exclusive romantic or sexual partnerships between multiple people. The “consensual” distinguishes it from infidelity or coerced relationships and emphasizes that everybody's informed consent is needed. In other words, all partners know about one another and consent to it. Those who practice CNM tend to experience greater moral stigma than those within exclusively monogamous romantic relationships.

Some of the issues that may affect consensual non-monogamous relationships include:

• Boundary navigation
• The potential for jealousy
• Safe-sex practices
• Communication skills
• Feelings of inadequacy or neglect

We can provide a safe space to help you navigate the beginnings or ending of a non-monogamous relationship, to discuss goals within the relationship, or to discuss issues in your CNM relationship.

Family therapy can help family members improve communication and resolve conflicts. It helps family members understand each other and work through difficult feelings in a safe space. This type of therapy focuses on improving the interactions and communication between family members.

Family therapy is often short term. It may include all family members or just those able or willing to participate. Your specific treatment plan will depend on your family's situation.

• Family therapy can help family members cope if a relative has a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia — but the person who has schizophrenia should continue with their individualised treatment plan.
• Family therapy can happen while the person who has an addiction participates in residential treatment. Sometimes the family may participate in family therapy even if the person with an addiction hasn't sought out his or her own treatment.