What is counselling?
Counselling is a collaborative process of self-exploration and self-understanding. Individuals often choose to engage in counselling when they want to change something or move forward in a different way. This process may involve clients making meaning of, processing, or working through, complex feelings and experiences, and/or examining other mental health issues that may be acting as a barrier to personal well-being and performance.
What is an RCC?
A Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) is someone who has acquired the requisite training, supervision, and certification in the area of counselling through university (undergraduate and graduate) coursework and has been approved to practice by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). RCCs provide counselling services designed to facilitate a safe and non-judgemental self-exploration process where individuals can examine their experiences in more depth. RCC support is covered by many extended medical plans. For more information if you are eligible to be reimbursed, please consult with your provider. We do not bill directly at this time.
How might you benefit and what are the risks?
Many individuals benefit from counselling. These benefits can include improvements in self-awareness, self-confidence, hope, feeling understood, relationships with other people, emotional expressiveness, and being an active agent of change in personal and professional life. Counselling also has potential risks. Approaching feelings or thoughts that you have not explored before may be uncomfortable or painful. Making changes can be scary, and sometimes it can alter the relationships you have with people in your life. It is important that you consider both the risks and benefits before moving forward. Most people who take these risks find that counselling is meaningful and helpful.
What is involved?
Individual counselling sessions often include an initial exploration of client goals, followed by a facilitated self-exploration process where individuals can explore their feelings, thoughts, behaviours and experiences in a safe, positive and non-judgmental space. Group counselling sessions will begin with the establishment of Community Agreements, and will be actively geared towards creating a safe, positive, and inclusive environment where group members can benefit from the collective wisdom and shared experiences within the group setting.
Individual sessions are usually 50-60 minutes in duration. The number of sessions appropriate will vary based on individual need. If you come with a particular area to explore you may find three to five sessions ample. Alternatively, depending on your unique and personal goals you may want to engage in more sessions over a period of time. An invitation to participate in future session(s) is something that will be discussed in your session.
What is the approach used?
Our practitioners have been trained in a range of counselling approaches including but not limited to, CBT, mindfulness, solution focused, feminist, somatic, and narrative. Our primary goal is to establish a strong therapeutic alliance where individuals can explore themselves as active agents in their own change process and feel supported by the approach most suited.