Contact me for a free consultation or to make an appointment:
(604) 616-7974 • maura.ivison@gmail.com
Why Go To Counselling?
Here is a little bit about what I believe is important about counselling, why the counselling relationship is valuable, and what we get out investing in the counselling process...
Sometimes Life IS Hard
Past and present life experiences, events and circumstances can leave us feeling stressed, overwhelmed, inadequate, lost, or scared. We may tell ourselves, or others tell us, that we should "get over it", "be positive" or "be grateful".
However, trying to cope by pushing our feelings away, distracting ourselves, or hoping things will get better on their own, often doesn't work because unresolved issues don't just go away. In fact, feelings we have buried can manifest themselves in all sorts of unwelcome ways, such as irritability, exhaustion, anxiety, anger, violence, unhappiness, depression, impaired relationships, and so on. And it's not always easy to link all the pieces of our lives with how we feel/think/behave the way we do.
I help people make sense of their lives.
When you acknowledge and make sense of experiences, events and circumstances, you can recognize the significance and impact that they have on your life. And when you can see how normal it is to struggle under the weight of this, perhaps you can stop being so hard on yourself.
However, trying to cope by pushing our feelings away, distracting ourselves, or hoping things will get better on their own, often doesn't work because unresolved issues don't just go away. In fact, feelings we have buried can manifest themselves in all sorts of unwelcome ways, such as irritability, exhaustion, anxiety, anger, violence, unhappiness, depression, impaired relationships, and so on. And it's not always easy to link all the pieces of our lives with how we feel/think/behave the way we do.
I help people make sense of their lives.
When you acknowledge and make sense of experiences, events and circumstances, you can recognize the significance and impact that they have on your life. And when you can see how normal it is to struggle under the weight of this, perhaps you can stop being so hard on yourself.
Relationship is Necessary
Others are important to our growth.
However, personal relationships may not provide the kind of support or skill needed while going through difficult times or trying to make changes.
In counselling, there's something about the genuine, non-judgmental, and empathetic connection that allows you to access parts of yourself that that can be hard to reach on your own. I'm here to listen to your story, your experiences, and your thoughts and feelings. I am here to help you make sense of what is going on, help clarify your goals, work toward change, and to encourage, validate, and support you.
However, personal relationships may not provide the kind of support or skill needed while going through difficult times or trying to make changes.
In counselling, there's something about the genuine, non-judgmental, and empathetic connection that allows you to access parts of yourself that that can be hard to reach on your own. I'm here to listen to your story, your experiences, and your thoughts and feelings. I am here to help you make sense of what is going on, help clarify your goals, work toward change, and to encourage, validate, and support you.
Learn, Reflect, Understand
Through counselling, you will learn about yourself, learn new information, and learn new skills. You will be able to reflect on what you've learned, and incorporate it with the strengths and skills you already have.
Through the processes of learning and reflecting, you will come to new understandings of your self, your relationships, and your life.
When you use what you've learned and work toward making changes that you feel good about, you will notice growth in areas of your life, such as:
Through the processes of learning and reflecting, you will come to new understandings of your self, your relationships, and your life.
When you use what you've learned and work toward making changes that you feel good about, you will notice growth in areas of your life, such as:
- how you think and feel about yourself
- understanding your own needs
- understanding deeply held beliefs and expectations and where they come from
- understanding behaviour
- understanding and navigating change and transitions
- understanding and managing conflict
- awareness of your own triggers
- ability to challenge your own thoughts and take different perspectives
- ability to relate to or be in relationship with others
- understanding and setting boundaries
- understanding and responding differently to family dynamics and intergenerational issues
- gaining clarity of your goals and direction
I would love to hear from you
Contact Maura for a free consultation
or to make an appointment.
or to make an appointment.
(604) 616-7974
maura.ivison@gmail.com
maura.ivison@gmail.com