Recognizing when you are having difficulties is an important part of knowing if counselling could help you. There are many struggles, or challenges, or simply uncomfortable feelings you might be having which can be a reason to talk to a trained professional who can help you. Reaching out for support earlier in your struggles can be critical to your life and your relationships. Seeking support and receiving help is a courageous step in a world that often sends you the message that you need to ‘figure it out on your own’.

We talk for 20 minutes about what your current struggle is, what your goal might be for sessions, and how I can be of service. This consult allows you to get a better sense of who I am, and I can let you know how I would approach helping you. We can arrange this conversation by phone, on Skype, or in person.

The number of sessions for therapy varies for each person. Your purpose for therapy, your goal, your finances and your time availability will all affect this decision. We collaborate to determine what therapeutic pace will best suit you. We can discuss this in your free 20 minute consultation.

Short term therapy (6-10 sessions) is chosen in order to work on a specific problem or struggle. Medium term therapy (8-20 sessions) is chosen to work deeply on a reoccurring pattern or issue in your life that could use a shift in perspective and strategies that enable you to get to know yourself better and in doing so, affect change in where you were once stuck. Long term therapy (12 + sessions) is chosen when you desire ongoing support while working on meaningful and transformative intentions in many aspects in your life.

Positive Psychology is a more recent field that studies the strengths and resources people have that make them capable of living a good life. In counselling, this approach still addresses the problems, challenges, or blocks that clients experience and moves further into the human experience to consider the virtues, values, and qualities that each person has and can help them achieve the life they desire.

We will either sit in my office or we will meet over Skype. Our first session together will include some assessment questions so I can get a sense of your overall health and well being, and you will be encouraged to begin sharing about your struggle. Our following sessions will include talking, space for feelings, and learning about tools and strategies that might help you move through your challenges. What we do and how we spend the time are a collaborative journey; your needs and your voice matters to me.

I recommend that the initial free consult includes both parent and youth and we collaborate to decide how the sessions will look to best serve the struggles and challenges you are working on. Often, youth like to have their own sessions as this allows them to have their own space to be themselves and be heard outside of the family system. That said, having parents do their own counselling work and incorporating parents into the sessions is desirable.

Email me at leanna@lifedancescounselling.com or phone me at 1-250-882-4179 to request a consult.

What is said within counselling sessions stays confidential which means that I will not tell your parents or your teen any information you have shared in individual sessions. This is the same with your friends – I will not share any information you have shared.

There are times when you will be encouraged to share with important people in your life, with thorough support and guidance, and only when you feel ready. The only time I have to share information is if I suspect you are in danger of harming yourself or another person, or I suspect there is child abuse.

You will likely experience a variety of feelings before, during and after a counselling session. As your counsellor, I will be supportive of you and I will also look to challenge you and your perspectives during our sessions. Changing your long held beliefs and patterns can cause discomfort to begin with, but over time it can help bring lasting change. As you consider new perceptions, or new steps you may feel hesitant, tired, or agitated, while other times you may feel hopeful, lighter, or experience relief.

Your counselling sessions will benefit most when you come with a willing and open mind; your commitment to taking steps towards your goal outside of our sessions will also help you immensely.

Your friend might need support or guidance and may not be ready to ask for it yet or know where to find it. What you can do is offer a listening ear and encourage them to connect with a teacher, mentor, or counsellor. You can offer to attend counselling sessions with your friend. Also, if your friend is unwilling to get support, it could be very beneficial for you to receive your own support through a trusted adult or counsellor as you navigate your friendship.

To find out if your sessions with me can be covered, please contact your insurance or extended health benefits program first. You can give them the following information: Leanna Madill is a Registered Professional Counsellor, registered with Canadian Professional Counsellor’s Association; registration number #3618.

The convenience of having your counselling session online allows you to navigate a busy schedule with work or family and still get the support you deserve. This counselling method is also cost effective since no travel is required to get to and from an office. As well, counselling online allows you to experience your process from the comfort of your own home and sometimes people feel more open to sharing their struggles with a counsellor who they won’t run into at the local store.