- Improving mood
- Eating and sleeping more regularly
- Feeling more energized
- Regaining interest in activities
- Feeling more at peace
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that can vary from mild to severe. It is most commonly associated with feelings of sadness, but can also include many other changes in how one experiences their day-to-day life. People suffering from depression may also experience anxiety, anger, thoughts of death or suicide, decreased energy, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, and changes in eating or sleeping patterns.


What is postpartum depression?
The experience of negative emotions after the birth of a child is normal and common, especially for women, as the baby is no longer physically attached to the woman and hormones are in flux. When this experience of the “baby blues” becomes persistent, mothers and fathers may be experiencing postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is characterized by intense and prolonged feelings of sadness, anxiety, stress, guilt, shame, sleep issues, changes in appetite, and decreased or total lack of motivation.
- Regulating mood swings
- Making it through the day
- Re-establishing a routine
- Reducing the intensity of negative thoughts and emotions
What are stress and anxiety?
Stress is a feeling of physical, mental, or emotional tension. Stress is the body’s normal reaction to difficult situations. Likewise, anxiety, worry, and fear can be normal reactions in stressful situations. Anxiety disorders (including panic disorder and phobias) on the other hand, are experiences of anxiety and fear that are more intense or more prolonged than expected.
- Learning to calm down and regain a sense of balance
- Navigating stressful situations without feeling overwhelmed
- Shutting down anxious thoughts
- Improving concentration


What are phobias?
A phobia is defined as a persistent, excessive fear of an object, animal, person, or situation. Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. Phobias are extremely common; many people are able to name a thing or two which provoke an intense fear which they recognize doesn’t make logical sense.
- Reduce feelings of fear, stress, and worry relating to the object of the phobia
- Increase ability to manage situations where the object of the phobia is involved
- Identify and manage thoughts relating to the object of the phobia
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder marked by extreme swinging between feeling “up” (i.e. manic) and “down” (i.e. depressed). People in the up state feel more energized, impulsive, elated, and/or agitated, while people in the down state feel more lethargic, sad, and/or hopeless.
- Navigating both the up and down states
- Controlling rash, impulsive actions
- Regaining motivation
- Feeling more emotionally balanced


What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive compulsive disorder is characterized by frequent obsessive thoughts and behaviours that interrupt a person’s day, impeding their ability to go through their day smoothly. These intrusive obsessive thoughts lead the person to frequently and repetitively do behaviours to remove the feared stressor. There are four main categories of obsessions and compulsions: checking, removing contamination, arranging and ordering, and unwanted thoughts.
- Reducing the frequency of compulsive behaviours
- Addressing the fear leading to compulsive urges
- Managing unwanted thoughts
- Restoring a normal daily routine
- Feeling safe
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is characterized by stress reactions to a traumatic event that persist and remain intense long after the time of the traumatic event. These reactions can take the form of flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, upsetting emotions, fear and anxiety, sleep trouble, constantly being on the alert, withdrawal and avoidance, and physical problems, to name just a few. Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) differs from PTSD in that PTSD can develop after a single traumatic event, while C-PTSD develops as a result of repeated traumatic experiences and/or the experience of trauma over a longer time period.
- Removing the upsetting feelings associated with revisiting the traumatic event(s)
- Sleeping more soundly
- Managing intrusive thoughts
- Reducing hypervigilance
- Feeling calmer and happier


What is anger management?
Anger is a natural emotion experienced as a reaction to stressful events. However, while anger can be a valid response to an event, the intensity of anger felt or outward expression of anger may be unhealthy. Anger management helps to properly experience anger in a way that is in line with the stressful event and is healthy and productive in its expression.
- Identify the underlying hurt masked by the angry response
- Communicate anger in a way that is safe, healthy, and productive
- Notice common triggers for anger amongst seemingly disparate events
- Manage angry feelings
- Remain calm in the midst of upsetting experiences
What is infidelity?
Infidelity is a state or act that betrays the promise in a couple’s relationship to be faithful to each other. Infidelity can be either emotional or physical in nature. In an affair, it is the betrayed partner and not the partner who committed the infidelity who has a greater say in whether what was done constitutes infidelity.
- Heal from the hurt of the betrayal
- Discuss possibility of repair in the relationship after betrayal
- Provide teaching and skills to help the relationship survive the betrayal
- Provide a safe space for asking questions about the betrayal


What is disordered eating?
Disordered eating is a preoccupation with food that often takes the form of either eating insufficient or excessive amounts. Disordered eating often represents a coping mechanism for stress or negative emotions, and/or an unhealthy self-image. Disordered eating typically follows one of three behaviour patterns: eating insufficiently, eating followed by purging, or binge-eating.
- Identify the concerns that lead to disordered eating behaviours
- Manage stress and feelings in a way that reduces the urge to follow disordered eating behaviours.
- Address self-image and self-esteem issues that perpetuate and are perpetuated by disordered eating
- Reduce shame of the self and of the disordered eating behaviour
What is spiritual and religious trauma?
Spiritual and religious trauma can often arise from church or other faith-based environments where one experiences coercion, manipulation, or indoctrination into a certain set of beliefs. Spiritual and religious trauma can affect all dimensions of a person: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It can lead to feelings of lack of safety, an inability to trust people or God, fear, shame, guilt, and flashbacks. While spiritual and religious trauma is not a formal diagnosis, it can lead to a variety of other mental health issues and needs to be taken seriously.
- Restore faith in God
- Regain feeling of safety and ability to trust
- Reduce physical, mental, and emotional symptoms arising from the trauma
- Eating and sleeping regularly


What is Christian counselling?
Christian counselling can be varied in the degree to which Christianity is integrated in the counselling experience. It can take the form of discussing faith and Christianity in the context of daily presenting concerns or, conversely, the integration of Scripture alongside “secular” evidence-based treatment.
- Clarify questions regarding Christian faith
- Show how Christianity relates to present-day struggles
- Explore what the Bible says about one’s current experience
- Bridge Christianity with modern science
What are return to work issues?
Returning to work can be difficult. In preparing to return to work, one might relive trauma from a previous work experience, feel low confidence, motivation, or self-esteem, or find themselves in an unfamiliar environment, among other things. A successful transition to returning to work can also be impeded by things of a practical or logistical nature.
- Resolving trauma from previous work experiences
- Addressing fear and anxiety related to return to work
- Boosting self-esteem and self-efficacy
- Coming up with solutions to anticipated issues upon returning to work


What is attachment repair?
Attachment theory powerfully explains the foundation for a strong relationship and is backed by more than 50 years of research. The effects of a strong (or weak) attachment begin in childhood and can carry into adulthood. The attachment relationship between two people can undergo a felt break when one feels hurt by the other. This break necessitates an attachment repair to restore the relationship.
- Develop stronger bonds using attachment theory
- Recognize how a relationship came to experience a break and how to repair the break
- Heal past wounds in the relationship
- Communicate more openly and effectively with each other
What is career counselling?
Career counselling involves walking with someone to help find a desired career path. Career counselling looks at personality, interests, skills, and talents to help determine what might be a good fit. Career counselling is client-centered; the therapist is there to help the client in their exploration process, not to make a decision for them.
- Come to a greater self-understanding
- Brainstorm and consider what options are available
- Feel self-confidence and self-efficacy in one’s desired career path
- Address fear and anxiety in choosing a career path
- Identify barriers to working effectively


What is attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that begins in childhood and may continue into adulthood. ADHD now includes ADD, and is usually characterized in three “subtypes” or presentations. ADHD can be “predominantly inattentive” (what used to be called ADD), “predominantly hyperactive-impulsive”, or “combined”. People with ADHD may experience issues with inattention, difficulty maintaining focus, the need to switch tasks frequently, impulsiveness, or restlessness.
- Maintaining attention and concentration
- Reducing impulsive urges
- Understanding neurodiversity and fostering self-acceptance
- Staying organized
What are insomnia and sleep concerns?
Sleep concerns can take many forms, of which the most common is insomnia, which is a difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep. Other troubles related to sleep include sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy. Insufficient quality sleep can have negative effects on mental health and overall functioning.
- Improving sleep hygiene
- Addressing intrusive thoughts while trying to fall asleep
- Treatment of other mental health concerns associated with poor sleep, such as depression and anxiety
- Stress management


What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is any form of behaviour used to gain and maintain power and control over one’s partner in a relationship. Domestic violence is often thought of as being physical, but can also be emotional, sexual, economic, technological, or psychological in nature.
- Establishing safety
- Regain power and control in the relationship (where possible)
- Coming up with a plan for survival
- Resolving past trauma from experiences of domestic violence
What is bullying?
Bullying is an experience of ongoing, persistent, repeated attempts where one intends to cause harm through physical, verbal, or social means. Bullying can be done by one person or by a group towards another person or another group. The bully intends to gain and maintain power and control over the bullied through repeated hurtful actions.
- Establishing safety
- Regaining feelings of trust and self-esteem
- Reducing feelings of guilt, worry, shame, and fear
- Eating and sleeping more regularly
- Dealing with intrusive thoughts


What is neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity refers to the idea that some people’s brains are wired differently than the “standard” (i.e. neurotypical) understanding of what constitutes “normal” thinking and behaviour. The concept of neurodiversity is often applied to people living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Tourette’s syndrome (TS), dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, although there are other presentations that fall under the neurodiverse umbrella. While there may be overlap between neurodivergence and mental illness, the language of neurodiversity and neurodivergence helps to de-shame perfectly valid patterns of thinking and behaviour that happen to differ from the norm present in society.
- Self-acceptance and understanding
- Exploring what patterns of thinking and behaving are helpful and not helpful in a shame-free environment
- Skill-building to function more effectively at home and outside the home
- Giving language to one’s experience
What is parenting?
Parenting is full of joys and challenges. One doesn’t ever graduate from being a mother or father to their children, but what the parent-child relationship looks like changes as children progress through life. Counselling is not just for parents with infants, but children of all ages.
- Understanding life-stage appropriate parent-child dynamics
- How to understand the messages communicated by a child’s behaviour
- Negotiating life-stage transitions
- Repairing past wounds in the parent-child relationship
- Developing stronger connections between parent and child


What is medical trauma?
Medical trauma refers to physical and emotional responses to pain, injury, serious illness, medical procedures, and negative treatment experiences. Medical trauma can lead the brain and the body to reject important present or future physical healing as a result of past traumatic experiences. Therefore, healing from medical trauma can aid in future help-seeking behaviours.
- Re-establishing feelings of safety and trust in medicine at a somatic (i.e. bodily feeling) level
- Reduce fear and anxiety associated with medical procedures
- Reduce physical and psychological stress responses associated with past trauma
What are personality disorders?
Personality disorders are a lifelong pattern of thought and behaviour that leads the person to react in ways that hurt themselves and others. Personality disorders have been classified into three “clusters” which encompass ten personality disorders in all. Personality disorders are defined and diagnosed within a strict set of criteria, and so they differ from both someone simply being unpleasant to be around and someone who happens to be neurodivergent. While there can be overlap between personality disorders and having a different way of thinking or behaving, the concepts of personality disorders and neurodivergence should be kept separate from each other.
- Managing thoughts and behaviours in order to be able to get through the day
- Exploring deep-seated past experiences that contributed to current thought and behaviour patterns
- Navigating social interactions


What is couples counselling?
Couples counselling is there to help you strengthen your bond with your partner. Couples counselling is not just a last resort attempt to save the relationship before a break-up or separation. It can be helpful for any couple to explore how to grow in their relationship, to reach even greater heights in a relationship that is already satisfying. There is no shame in using couples counselling to uncover and work on areas of growth in the relationship; in fact, doing so early can help prevent more difficult issues later on.
- Greater awareness of areas of strength and weakness in the relationship
- More effective communication
- Feeling more attached to your partner
- Exploring the deeper issues behind seemingly repetitive arguments
- Recovering from infidelity in the relationship
What is separation and divorce counselling?
Counselling can be very helpful for couples who are deciding to separate or divorce. Counselling can help the couple communicate issues leading to the separation or divorce, and either help both partners leave the relationship more amicably or perhaps even encourage giving the relationship another try. Counselling is also very helpful for growth, uncovering weaknesses and areas of growth in each partner, and helping each partner to improve as individuals, so as not to hurt future partners in the same way. Couples counselling can help at all stages of the relationship, and the end of the relationship is no exception.
- Coming to terms with the separation or divorce
- Exploring the issues that led to the decision to separate or divorce
- Making a last-ditch effort to save the relationship before finalizing separation or divorce


What is grief and bereavement counselling?
The loss of a relationship can be one of the most painful experiences for us as human beings. As humans, we are built for connection with others, and the loss of such a connection can shake us not just emotionally, but physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Grief is the natural reaction to loss. Grief and bereavement counselling can help to process the loss, to move through it instead of simply moving on, and to return to a place of peace and stability.
- Releasing negative emotions and body feelings associated with the loss
- Coming to terms with the loss
- Making sense of jumbled thoughts and emotions, feeling lost or disoriented
- Navigating triggers and reminders of loved ones
What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is defined by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as “is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit”. The illegal movement of people is not limited by gender, age, or geographical region. Human trafficking is considered a modern form of slavery, and is one of the most lucrative forms of organized crime in the world. Counselling can help people caught in human trafficking make it through the day, have their practical needs met, process the trauma of their experience, and begin to live freely.


What is child abuse and neglect?
Child abuse can take many forms, including (but not limited to) physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. Neglect is another form of child abuse, specifically the failure to take care of a child’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, and hygiene. All forms of child abuse are damaging and need to be taken very seriously, as the experience of abuse can have a lifelong effect on the child’s experience of self and others. Counselling can help to mitigate or reverse the damage done by child abuse.
What is childhood exposure to domestic violence?
Domestic violence is any action taken by one person to gain and maintain control over another. If a child witnesses domestic violence, for example between their parents, it is enough to negatively impact their understanding of how relationships work, hindering their ability to trust themselves and others and to feel safe. Even though the abusive behaviour might not be necessarily directed at the child, the child’s brain and nervous system will still learn and incorporate (i.e. quite literally take into their body) the information. Counselling helps the child to make sense of these emotions and body feelings, which for the child might be overwhelming and incomprehensible at the cognitive level.


What is childhood trauma?
Childhood trauma is any negative experience in childhood that feels overwhelming for the child. Trauma can look like something an adult might consider ‘not a big deal’, but a child is not equipped with the same capacity as an adult to deal with difficult situations. The younger the child, the more important it becomes to take negative experiences seriously, as the presence of a caring and trusted adult makes a big difference in how the child experiences upsetting events in general and traumatic events in particular. It is never too early nor too late to begin to heal the damage done by childhood trauma.