Counselling

What is Counselling?

Counseling involves meeting with a trained professional who can help you cope with, work on, and resolve many different kinds of problems. Counseling can also help you learn about yourself, explore problems, and help you make difficult decisions.

What can I expect from Counselling?

You will meet with a counsellor for about one hour.  The counsellor will help you explore the issues/challenges that you are presently experiencing.  Together you will set goals to work on the things that are important to you to create positive change).  Changes that happen in counselling may include decisions that you choose to make, practical actions that you decide to take, relief of symptoms you may have been experiencing, or insights that help you understand yourself or others in a healthier way. 

You will be given a survey at the beginning and the fourth session to help you and your counsellor track the subtle changes that you may experience.

Sometimes counselling lasts for one or two sessions to solve a simple issue and sometimes the counselling work can be a longer process if the issues are complex or long term.

 The counsellor’s role is to help you work on challenging issues in life that are important to you that may have you stuck or prevent you from reaching your goals.   The counsellor does this by listening, asking questions, challenging, supporting, and using a variety of skills to assist you.

Who can go to counselling?

Counselling is for anyone who has things they need or want to talk about. It can be for individuals, couples, or families.

Counsellors can also refer you to other resources in the community that might help with the issues you bring – like drug and alcohol counsellors, and psychiatrist, workshops, support groups.

 

What Issues Do People Talk About in Counselling?

Anxiety	Cultural and religious issues
Depression	Self-esteem issues
Drugs and Alcohol Concerns	Issues related to sexuality
Domestic Violence	Sleeping issues (too much or too little)
Sexual or Physical Assault or Abuse	Anger Management
Parental divorce	Cutting or other self-injuring behaviors
Death of a loved one	Thoughts of suicide of self-harm
Relationship break-up	Health Issues
Eating issues (eating too much, too little, restricting, binging, purging, dieting)
Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event.

What kind of approaches can be taken in counselling?

Exploring through conversation

Brainstorming

Problem Solving

Visualizing

Body Work

Breath Work

Role Playing

Relaxation

Imagery

Art therapy

Play therapy

Handouts

Skill Building

How Do I know if Counselling Will Help Me?

There are times when everyone feels stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, and anxious. However, sometimes these feelings last for a long time or become difficult to manage. They may start interfering with your health, relationships, school work, or social life. If this happens, counselling may help.

Myths About Counselling

Myth 1: Counseling is only for crazy or sick people

People go to counseling for many kinds of problems and concerns. Going to counseling does not mean you are crazy, but rather is a sign of strength that you have insight into things you would like to improve.

Myth 2: If I go for counselling other people will know my problems.

Your counsellor will keep all information you share with him/her confidential. This means that your counselor will not release any information, or even the fact that they have met with you, to anyone (including parents, friends, or people at your school or work) without your permission. Your counselor will discuss the limits of confidentiality as you begin sessions. However, your counselor has a responsibility to tell someone if you are going to harm yourself or someone else.

Myth 3: Counseling doesn’t work. I’ve tried it already.

The counselling process looks different each with each counselor, for each problem, and at each point in your life. Consider trying it again.

How to Make an Appointment

Contact Family Service Regina at 306-757-6675

An Intake Counsellor will guide clients through the process of beginning counselling.

Be prepared to provide the following information:

1. Your name and date of birth.
2. The names and dates of birth of anyone else attending counselling.
3. An address and a phone number where you may be safely contacted.
4. Whether or not you are covered by an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or insurance coverage through your employer or a family member’s employer.
5. What issues you are hoping counselling will help with.
6. Whether you are taking any medications and what they are.

How to Cancel an Appointment

If it is necessary to cancel an appointment, please try to provide 24 hours notice. To cancel an appointment, call 757-6675

Please note that for some Employee Assistance Program clients, the cost of missed appointments and appointment cancellations with less that 24 hours notice are the responsibility of the employee.

Family Service Regina has counseling services that can help you with any issues you are having. Just call 757-6675 for more information or to talk to an intake counselor.