Counselling services for children, youth and adults
At times, life can be overwhelming, resulting in feelings of anxiety, depression, and helplessness. But it doesn’t have to be this way, I am here to provide you with a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings, and support you through life's challenges. There are a variety of areas that we can focus on in therapy, including mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, past trauma and upsetting events, current life stressors and changes, and personal growth such as boundaries, relationships, and self-development. Together, we can work towards developing new coping strategies, exploring the root of disruptive patterns, confronting past traumas, and creating a new path forward. Let's work together to rediscover your inner peace, resilience, and strength.
In my practice, I provide individual therapy for adults, adolescents, and children. If you have a child under 10 who is mature for their age, I encourage you to message me so we can discuss more. Although I offer one-on-one sessions, I strongly recommend that parents and caregivers of children participate in the therapy process. I believe that involving those who are essential to the child's daily routine and well-being is critical to their success in therapy. To accommodate your needs, I offer both in-person and virtual video therapy sessions. Session methods can always be changed if conditions present such as poor roads, illness, sudden travel obligations, or session preference changes. Additionally, online booking is available, making it easy for you to schedule appointments that suit your needs while also allowing you to make changes as required. I recognize the reality of shift work in the valley and offer variety in my scheduling with flexible booking.
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Are you someone who finds it difficult to express yourself through conversation? Luckily, healing comes in many forms! Therapy can be achieved through art, movement, play, music, and of course, talking. With my practice, I offer a variety of methods to help you work through your challenges at your own pace. You are always in charge of your session, what you'd like to do, and what you feel like working on. Whether you prefer traditional talk therapy or would like to try SandTray Therapy – a unique approach that gives voice to your experiences stored in otherwise non-verbal ways, this promotes faster healing, deeper insight and further processing -I am here to support you.
I understand how important privacy is to you. I uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, providing you with a safe space where you can openly discuss anything without fear of judgement.
Gain practical and effective strategies to manage your emotions, navigate challenging situations, and enhance your overall well-being
Much like a tree, therapy can help you feel grounded, extend your branches, nourish new leaves and grow in the light.
"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...
" I am truly humbled and grateful for winning this award, I promise to continue to give to my community and surrounding areas because we ALL matter. I promise to uphold this award with my heart, integrity and professionalism, thank you to all who voted for me"
Getting started with counselling is one step process.
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 during your first session.
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 during your first session.
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. 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.)
Session Length & Payment Policy - Sessions, whether in-person or virtual, are scheduled for 50 minutes each. Payment is due at the conclusion of every session and can be made via e-transfer, cash, or credit card. While I strive to direct bill where feasible and accepted by insurance, this is contingent on individual insurance company policies. Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not directly bill for counselling services. Receipts are promptly provided upon payment for your convenience in submitting your claim. If you have any questions regarding payment or insurance coverage, please feel free to discuss them with me.
First Session Payment Policy - Payment is due at the time of booking for your initial session only, and subsequently at the end of each session thereafter. If you encounter any difficulties with this policy, please don't hesitate to reach out to Jennifer for assistance
Cancellation Policy - I understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, necessitating appointment rescheduling. However, please note that late cancellations or missed appointments result in a vacant spot in my schedule that could have been utilized by another client. Therefore, I require a minimum of 24 hours' notice for cancellations. Clients who provide less than 24 hours notice or fail to attend their appointment will incur a full session cancellation charge. Additionally, to avoid cancellation fees, session methods can always be switched from in-person to virtual if you are sick, there are poor road conditions, or are out of town, ETC.
