Good Conference? IAC/CCPA 2014

Posted by: Dawn Schell on May 16, 2014 3:45 pm
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What makes for a good conference?  The definition varies for everyone.   For me, if there are one or two things I learn that I can apply directly to my work, and if I can make one new connection with a colleague I feel quite satisfied that my time and money has been well spent.

Sometimes there are so many fabulous sessions and the schedule is so full there is little opportunity to connect with others.  Other times I have walked away feeling I didn’t learn anything I could use though I met amazing people and felt re-energized by my connection with the counselling community.

The latest IAC & CCPA conferences in Victoria, BC were a balance of learning and connection.

A few of the highlights for me:

Meeting and talking with counsellors from so many different countries. Particularly in the final panel session when many of them shared their perspectives about the IAC’s vision and mission.

Andrew Samuels’ thought-provoking keynote address (and this will be an oversimplification of the topic) on Therapy and Politics.  He talked about “good enough” leadership, economic inequality, therapeutic responsibility and the politics of intimate relationships. I am still mulling over what he said.  Check out his website –  http://andrewsamuels.com

Learning about the University of Malta’s inspiring programme in Transcultural Counselling.   It is a “collaborative degree programme offered by the University of Malta and the University of New Orleans…The mission of the M.A. in Transcultural Counselling is to train world counsellors who are able to serve diverse populations worldwide. Graduates of this programme are global citizens who, as counsellors, possess a sense of social responsibility and global civic engagement, as well as global competence.”

http://www.um.edu.mt/imp/courses/ma-counseling-counselling

Stephane Grenier’s honest, humourous and compassionate keynote address on Mental Health in the workplace.  He spoke about his own experience with PTSD and how workplaces need to be sources of social support for those who struggle with mental illness.  Hear! Hear!

Hearing about exciting new research in Technology and Counselling.   Avatars, augmented reality, and applying Erikson’s stages of development to adoption of technology.  I look forward to hearing the end results of the work these students are doing.

Several sessions gave me fresh ideas that I can use with my clients.  Yeah!

Participating in a panel discussion with Paul Jerry, Simon Nuttgens, Lawrence Murphy and Dan Mitchell on the topic of Online Counselling.  A subject near and dear to my heart.

There is so much more I could say here about what I gained.   I’ll have to save it for a future blogpost.

What makes for a good conference?

Spending time with old and new friends, sharing ideas, resources, strategies, research and learning, learning, learning.
IAC/CCPA 2014 was indeed, a good conference.

See you in Niagara Falls next year at the 50th anniversary of the CCPA.

Dawn M. Schell, MA, CCC, CCDP is an affiliate of Worldwide Therapy Online Inc.  http://www.therapyonline.ca




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

I Feel Like a Flower Waiting to Bloom….

Posted by: Priya Senroy on May 16, 2014 3:33 pm
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Dear fellow counsellors….YES…SPRING is finally here…I am seeing it in my backyard…although the weather is enigmatic as ever…I try to find some meaning in its  forecasts, try to make sense of the erratic nature…..this year is going to be unpredictable and I need some kind of roots to ground me—speaking of metaphor—while doing spring cleaning…I found my old metaphor cards and have used them  occasionally with my clients….the results have been better than our weather forecasts—each time I use them, they  are interpreted in amazing ways. I was first introduced to them as a young fledging Drama and Movement Therapist- we were encouraged to embody the images and then dramatize the associated feelings and metaphors…they can be defined as therapeutic tools that  open a window into a person’s inner world; associative reactions to the illustrated cards make it possible to reflect upon childhood memories, to recall repressed experiences, and to release blocked feelings. Since the interpretations of metaphors featured in the cards are completely in the eyes of the beholder, the same card can trigger different reactions in different participants (OH cards institute 2014) There are many kinds of cards, I use ECCO which are just one of the few decks out there .If anyone is interested in finding more about these cards which are specially useful when words are not enough to express how one feels. I became more fascinated by them when one of my favorite therapists-Mooli Lahad spoke of them. He has  quoted  about them in another site as (the) cards help us create a space in which we allow ourselves to invent, make believe and day dream, while knowing all along that the “fantastic reality” is there to serve our coping skills and not in order to cut us off from reality (Lahad, 2003).

I can go on and on….but I think I will leave you with websites that can shed more light on them and hoping that they will inspire to be used as an effective creative therapeutic tool in counseling:

http://www.oh-cards-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Chen-Nicole-International-Conference-Experiential-Card-Therapy-v2.pdf

http://www.oh-cards-na.com/areas-of-use/therapy-and-counseling/

http://www.oh-cards-institute.org/2012/metaphoric-cards-an-effective-tool-in-therapy/




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

5 Lessons I Learned From Burning Out

Posted by: David Jurasek on May 16, 2014 3:30 pm
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I sat there, empty as a husk, having given everything I thought I had to give. As my last client, a boy with a past more terrible than my imagination could make up, left the hospital, I sat there, slowly sorting the files and signing the termination reports. My nerves were frayed. I was done. Empty but glad that my cases were closed and all my clients referred elsewhere. “Off to better hands”, I told myself. I stayed glued to that chair for a long time.

It had taken months of nightmares and a slow and sickening descent into my own personal hell, to finally admit that I needed to put the brakes on. The clinical head of my department, a doctor who I admired for her ability to see 700 families and remember and care for every one of them, was kind enough. She suggested that I was doing a fine job and needed to just “leave it here” without taking it home. I wish I had her hardiness and distance then. In taking a leave of absence, I felt like I was committing the worst crime as a new therapist: abandoning my clients and conceding defeat.

That was over ten years ago, on a day whose night unfolded into a journey of personal disintegration: losing my identity into an abyss of trauma, panic, and despair. It was the beginning of my own mask as a “helpful therapist” and overall “nice guy” shattering into a thousand pieces.

Though the beginning sounds terrible, there are many blessings that have come out of my experience of burning out: some came as I climbed out of my personal hell and others like wine cultivated in the years that have followed. I list them here in brief to inspire, console, and perhaps even guide any of you who are also going through your own hell, or afraid that you may one day do so:

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Epiphany

Posted by: Bhavna Verma on May 16, 2014 3:30 pm
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Today, it dawned on me…I was putting more effort in a treatment program than were my patients. For example, I prepared for a session that was a continuation of an individualized version of a group. The patient did so well for the first couple of weeks; motivated to change, did all the homework, utilized the skills; and even though she failed sometimes, she kept up with her positivism and momentum. I thought, “Oh wow, she’s really going to do this! I’m so excited for her!” That was the naïveté in me. Don’t get me wrong, I am always excited for patients when they progress and really begin to feel enthusiastic, I will always be their biggest cheer leader. But, the problem began when this patient began missing her appointments. At first, she was calling and informing the clinic about not being able to make it to her appointment, and then she stopped calling as well. Meanwhile, I was at home the night before working on the next day’s material in anticipation of her arrival. When I finally noticed that I was working harder at treatment than my patient was, that was when I recognized the potential for early burnout. How so? Because, I need to check in with myself and identify a few things: 1. I am not meeting the patient where the patient is at, and am working through treatment on my own agenda rather than hers. 2. How is this affecting my attitudes towards the patient and 3. How is this helping me with my self-care? These are but just a few among many other concerns. Of course, with personal counselling, I will be able to work through the first two issues, but the one I want to focus on is the self-care component. By spending time working on a treatment plan for hours, endless readings, and neglecting my friends, family or sleep, I have crossed over to the other side. In other words, I have neglected myself and am one step closer to burning out. I personally feel that a way to ensure that I am not repeating the same mistake is by adopting the rule “Follow the patient’s lead” and never having an agenda; instead, embrace a loose guideline. Sometimes, the patient may not be ready to move forward. Another preventative measure I have begun and really like is putting limits on the amount of time and energy I spend on working from home. This tactic is thus far aiding in finding a balance between work and play. By putting such limits, I can shut off the work component of my brain and get into relax and rest mode afterwards.

By: Bhavna Verma




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

The Therapist’s Office as a Therapeutic Tool (Part 1)

Posted by: Jaclyn Trecartin on May 16, 2014 3:28 pm
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I believe that my office/space is a vital tool for the therapeutic process.  This can be pretty obvious: for my work with children, I rely on toys and art supplies—obvious tools of my trade.  However, there is more to my set-up than having certain resources.  I work to keep my space child-friendly and accessible, as I find the best work happens when clients have a broad selection of activities and toys.  Therefore, open-storage is a must.

Aside from the resources kept in your office, there are other things you can do to make the space more conducive to therapy.  The rest of this post will talk about stabilization.  Stabilization, when something is stable and secure, is vital in therapy! When stabilization is seen in an office, clients (and therapists!) feel calmer, and more able to tackle interventions.

Light

Light is so important!  The quality of light in your space is something to not overlook.  Do you have overhead fluorescent lighting?  Floor lamps can be turned on instead, alleviating the harshness.  Ambient lighting, such as twinkle/Christmas lights and accent lamps are both decorative and functional. Not only are floor lamps and ambient lighting helpful in making a room cozier, they have biological importance.  For the most part, when clients come to us, they are in distress and may have hyper- or hypo-aroused nervous systems.  Gentle lighting decreases stimulation, which is helpful for the hyper-aroused, and feels safer than harsh overhead lighting, which benefits both hyper- and hypo-aroused people.  As my office is an interior one, I decided to make a faux-stained glass window with some LED lights behind it.  The lights give a nice warm glow through the coloured panes and the window itself kind of tricks my brain into thinking there is an actual window in the office, making a connection to outdoors.

Continue reading →




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

The Best Marketing Method

Posted by: Andrea Cashman on May 16, 2014 3:25 pm
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In order for you to build and sustain a practice you need to market yourself. There are many types of marketing strategies out there that can suit your niche and personality. Marketing can be scary to a new counsellor in private practice. Where do you start? How much do you invest time wise and financially? What is the best way to market? If you are feeling frustrated and overwhelmed with the process of marketing your business, know that you are not alone and that many other therapists feel the same way. You are  in a profession that puts clients first so I can imagine if you feel that self promotion feels uneasy. I suggest to you that you market in your comfort zone.

Unfortunately, there is no best way. Yes, I tricked you into thinking there was one way. There are many smart ways. However, I think the best marketing tool at your disposal is to have a website as I’ve mentioned in my last post. A website speaks on your behalf to the public. It can easily be added to your business cards, email signatures, advertising etc., Alright, I’ve touched upon the main tool to have. Here are some marketing tips and methods to try (but I advise you to try the ones that speak to you personally and professionally).

–        Consider public speaking and offering workshops to potential clients in your specialty. These can even be free or at a low cost to generate more attendance.

–        You can invest in some online marketing advertisement such as having your name on certain sites such as Theravive, Psychology today etc., or advertising through Google itself. I advise you what ever way you choose, do some research prior to your decision.

–        Connect and network with key stakeholders revolving around your specialty. Your list could include family doctors or specialists and other therapists. Think out of the box in terms of who would benefit from referring you clients. Always, ALWAYS carry business cards on you, even to the grocery store. You just never know who you’ll meet and be able to network with.

–        Create social media sites which link back to your website. These do require time and effort to  draw people’s attentions in.

–        Create a newsletter or blog on your website

–        Write for a newspaper or magazine

–        Interview on a radio show

Can you think of any other marketing methods? Have you tried something and it failed? Has something worked well for you? The goal is to eventually have word of mouth referrals from these networks and from clients themselves but you have to start somewhere. It will definitely feel like more effort in the beginning and you’ll need to put some conscious effort in the long run to sustain clients. So where would you like to begin?
Andrea Cashman is a private practice counsellor who has founded Holistic Counselling Services for individual clients seeking therapy in Ottawa, ON. She also practices at the Ottawa Hospital as a registered nurse. Feel free to comment below or contact her at [email protected] or visit her website at www.holisticcounsellingservices.ca

 




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Marriage Is . . .

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on April 28, 2014 3:27 pm
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“No sooner met but they looked; no sooner looked but they loved; no sooner loved but they sighed; no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy; and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage.”     ~ William Shakespeare

As a husband of 17 years, I can inform you that marriage is a lifelong education.  Marriage is the essence of life and it has an intrinsic way of wholly consuming every aspect of life.  While the consumption is likely, the type of consumption can be a profitable experience rather than a drudgery.

Furthermore, marriage is a lifelong commitment.  The commitment cannot solely be an individual endeavor, rather marriage is a joint effort.  As a clinician, I am always amazed that the assumption of marriage is viewed from a myopic perspective, rather than a hyperopic one.  Marriage is not a singular ideological framework, rather it devised of two perspectives uniting together to become one.  While you can rest assured that your ideological views surely will cross, it is always essential to come to a place to agree-to-disagree.  Moreover, while there are no perfect marriages, the highlight of every marriage is to strive for an unified best!

KEEPING THE LOVE LIGHT BURNING

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”  ~ Mignon McLaughlin

Marriage is an ultimate sacrifice of thyself and thy personhood.   It is through the sacrifice that we learn to serve and to be served.  Marriage is the best reminder of why it is important to love thyself.  While many utter words of love, few completely understand the roots of love.  Love is an intense feeling of deep affection, admiration, respect and warm approval.  Without love, there is likely no attachment or affection.  Nevertheless, you can be the best of friends and not be “in love.”  Moreover, love must begin within you before it can be expressed outwardly.

What does it mean to be in love?  Being in love is not a mystical experience, having hidden or esoteric meanings.  Rather, being “in love’ is within anyone’s reach and is a response to reactions in our brain, but connecting to the “right” person is often the challenge.  You cannot force a person to “be in love.”  If you partner is not “in love” with you, then the likelihood of making that connection is null.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Getting Hit by That Cosmic Two-by-Four

Posted by: Mark Franklin on April 28, 2014 10:46 am
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Clues from Career Buzz guest on getting hit by that cosmic two-by-four

“I got hit by a cosmic two by four to the head,” is the way David Cohen explained to Career Buzz  listeners (April 3, 2014) how his career change was triggered by divorce and job loss all within three months. Then, while attending a workshop he noticed the role of the facilitator, and said to himself, “That’s what I want to do!” So, he want back to school to get certified as a coach, and as a teacher of adults, and eventually began his business, Boomer Business Coach.

What are the clues that apply to you? Like David, have you experienced big change — a hit by that cosmic two by four — in your career or life? Whatever triggers you have in your life, notice how David did things that put him in the way of clues. Try this:  Take a page out of David’s book and learn something new — a course or craft or kayaking — and watch for clues.

 

Need help making sense of the triggers and clues in your career and life? Check our flagship career change program.

 

Listen to the whole interview with David Cohen on our Spring Membership show. Thanks to listeners who supported CIUT after CIUT’s transmitter died. You can still help! Donate Now and add Career Buzz as your favourite CIUT show.




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Building Your Website

Posted by: Andrea Cashman on April 25, 2014 3:42 pm
2 Replies

There are many counsellors that do not have websites. I believe this is a mistake. In a day in age where the majority of the population turns to the internet to do research, having a website is essential to providing potential clients research into your practice and if you are their ideal fit for a counsellor. The main reasons to have a website are as follows:

–        It’s a formal way for you to market yourself with clients and network with other professionals
–        It helps clients FIND you
–        It establishes your credibility and outlines your experience as a counsellor. It’s a great idea to include your expertise and niche in your website.
–        It should help clients figure out if you can help them with their problems.

How to build a website is a daunting task; however, marketing your website if one of the best ways to promote yourself. If you can afford to hire a professional to build your website, do so. Many starting out cannot afford to so make sure you find a good website provider that provides you the look your are looking for. There are both free and paid website hosts. Whichever you choose, your choice should allow you to choose from preexisting templates and make it easy for you to shape your website into your vision. Here are some other tips for you to consider:

–        Make sure your contact information is visible on every page of your website.
–        Make sure your website personally reflects your style.
–        Avoid use of jargon as much as possible. Make sure your website is understandable to everyone
–        Make sure that your website speaks to the benefits of your service.
–        Use a simple, clean format and use consistency where ever possible. Choose no more than 2 fonts and colours.
–        Ask others to review your website for any spelling, grammar mistakes that you may have missed and to provide you valuable feedback on the esthetics and wording of your website.
–        Consider the use of social media to bring in clients to your website. You can choose various other social media as a professional forum, such as Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, to bring in more website traffic. Personally, I have a Facebook page in addition to my website.

Other things for you to research and consider in terms of your website and online presence are: having a blog on your site, including useful links for clients in your area, keeping up on SEO tactics (Search Engine Optimization) that will help increase your rank of your website for internet searches and having a mobile version of your website (I have one with webs.com) for those smart phone internet users. Best of luck in building your website. Take your time to really plot out and research what works best for you and your potential clients.
Andrea Cashman is a private practice counsellor who has founded Holistic Counselling Services for individual clients seeking therapy in Ottawa, ON. She also practices at the Ottawa Hospital as a registered nurse. Feel free to comment below or contact her at [email protected] or visit her website at www.holisticcounsellingservices.ca

 

 




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Lost In Translation

Posted by: Priya Senroy on April 25, 2014 3:40 pm
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I am hoping that Spring is finally here and we can get liberated from the scarves and the tons of clothing which I am finding is restricting my body language and sometimes I am also finding it difficult to read my client’s body language. This is especially true for clients in counseling who find it challenging to communicate using words and use their bodies primarily. We know that in counseling, body language is used to help build rapport, by observing the clients body movements and matching them in an appropriate way it can improve communication. On an unconscious level mirroring the clients movements can help them feel more comfortable with their counsellors; reason being people feel more connected to the people who are most like themselves. The counsellor observes the client’s body language at all times, noting any discomfort, as this could indicate difficulty verbalizing something, and further exploration can be carried out to connect to the client’s deeper feelings. Body Language is the unspoken communication that goes on in every face-to-face encounter with another human being. It informs us the true feelings towards us and how well our words are being received by others. I found an acronym in a website which helps me to remember that dos and don’ts of using body language as a counsellor-it is important though to remember that every client t is different and every situation is different so it is important to make sure that using body language takes into  account the  diversity,culture, gender , ethnicity etc. So the acronym SOLERF stands for

S – Squarely face person vs. sitting kitty-corner.

O – Use Open posture vs. crossed arms and legs

L – Lean a little toward the person vs. settling back in your chair

E – Use Eye contact vs. staring off into deep space

R – Relax; keep it natural vs. sitting like a board

F – look friendly vs. neutral or scowling.

For me, every client is always feeling much more than what they are saying and it is important to  be aware of my own body language and making sure that I am keeping the communication simple and make sure that nothing is lost in translation.

Priya Senroy




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA
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