I love working with emotion. For some people it’s almost a dirty word; to be “emotional” is to be “irrational”, and should therefore be avoided at all costs…

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Learning how to articulate and communicate your limits is one of the best self-care strategies you can employ. So much of what we do to cope deals with our symptoms: stress, anger, or sadness in our relationships with others. Proactively setting boundaries can address the root cause of these emotions.

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Many of us equate asking for help or needing something from someone else with conflict. We fear that our concerns and feelings will hurt or offend others. Subsequently, the emotions that we put aside to avoid conflict begin to simmer and boil over.

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Sometimes getting help feels like a stretch on its own, and the thought of counselling through your laptop or phone may feel awkward. To put you at ease, I’ve gathered my top tips for getting the most out of your distance counselling session.

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Ever since deciding to move my practice from Vancouver to the Comox Valley, I’ve gone back and forth on the idea of offering online counselling to old and new clients alike. Will it work? Will I be able to be as effective for my clients as I am in person? How do I make sure to uphold our rigorous privacy standards? Luckily, I am not the first to wonder these things. Here’s what the research says about online counselling:

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Progressive muscle relaxation is an exercise that relaxes your mind and body by progressively tensing and relaxing muscle groups. I often recommend this exercise to clients because it can help get distance from negative thoughts, locate the source of body-based emotional tension, aid sleep preparation, and tangibly relax breathing and stressed muscles…

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So, you’ve found a handful of counsellors online who have piqued your interest. You understand what all the letters behind their name mean, and whether or not your benefits cover their services. You have read through their “About Me” section and found something that gets your attention. Now what?

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Clients and therapists alike are often frustrated with how confusing the mental health landscape can be. Do I need to see a psychologist? Counsellor? Psychiatrist? What’s the difference between a counsellor and a therapist? Who do my benefits cover?

While many people assume that psychologists and psychiatrists = PhDs, and counsellors = Master’s degree, this is not the case. Unfortunately the terms “counsellor” and “therapist” are not (yet!) regulated in British Columbia. This means just about anyone can set up shop and advertise themselves as a counsellor, regardless of their ability to actually help or keep people safe. 

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