Working with Tracy

First, It is important to make the distinction that I am a Spiritual Counsellor which is different from a Psychiatrist, M.D., Psychologist, Social Worker or Psychotherapist. You can read about how they are different here.

Also, I am not covered by O.H.I.P. or extended health insurance plans.

What is Spiritual Counselling?

Spiritual counselling is distinct from other forms and methods of psychotherapy because of the assumed spiritual dynamic within the counselling therapeutic relationship. There is an underlying faith assumption and the assumed presence of a spirituality within the approach of the Spiritual Counsellor. The client therefore knows and understands that they are involved in spiritual counselling rather than psychotherapy because there is a faith or spiritual dimension to the counselling relationship or context.

While faith, religion and spirituality arise as common themes within almost all forms of psychotherapy, what distinguishes spiritual counselling is the accountability of the counsellor, who functions partly as a representative affirmed by their faith community.

Therefore, spiritual counselling is primarily supportive in nature and content. Individuals whose needs exceed supportive counselling must be referred to appropriate, qualified professionals.

Supportive counselling includes the emphatic giving of support, development of skills, providing sympathy and/or encouragement and the providing of additional help, guidance and information.

Approaches to spiritual counselling include:

Brief Client Centred Counselling: a directive, client centred, time-limited counselling style facilitating the setting of goals for behavioural change without necessarily seeking resolution of clients concerns

Strategic Counselling: a focus on “being with” the client – an incarnational process of discerning the spirit within the journey

Counselling and Motivational Interviewing: a directive, client centred counselling style for eliciting behaviour change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence

Biblical Counselling: uncovering actions/feelings/attitudes – false beliefs-true beliefs-right actions-changed behaviour/attitudes/thinking

Pentecostal Counselling: uncovering the gifts of the spirit and the revealed knowledge of God within the counsellor/client relationship

Coaching/Counselling Model: focus upon five areas – spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, social

 

Working with me, either individually, as a couple or in a group/workshop setting will assist you in achieving a sense of mastery over your challenges.

Through my own personal and professional experience, I have learned that Unconditional Authenticity is THE most important element of  wholehearted living.  I am passionate about teaching (and modelling) theses principles & practices which begin with mindful awareness and finding the courage to be vulnerable, imperfect and, ultimately, fully authentic.

Becoming familiar with these aspects of ourselves will help us learn to embrace our challenges by seeing them as gifts and opportunities for expansion. Allowing ourselves to truly see… and celebrate… the complete picture of who we are and stepping into the truth of our own worthiness is what I call Unconditional Authenticity.

The resulting experience is a tremendous sense of freedom and feelings of self-efficacy, confidence, and peacefulness.

Sessions Overview

Sessions are available for adult individuals and couples and are offered for a period of 50-55 minutes for individuals and up to 75-80 minutes for couples. We will determine what timeframe is best for you, depending on your therapeutic needs.

Sessions will provide you with a greater awareness of the dynamics in your life and new knowledge and skills to overcome the areas of concern to you. For some of you, effective counselling will eliminate your original concern. However, depending on your presenting concern, the goal of counselling is to gain a sense of mastery over your challenge areas and an acceptance of these challenge areas as a complete picture of who you are.

In addition, sessions often have a creative component in that you will become aware of the various “muses” in you life. Much like an artist who expresses his/her self in a tangible expressive art form, such as writing, sculpture, or music, all people are capable of discovering and creatively expressing their unique purpose in life. You will gain a sense of your own responsibility to address the current outcomes in your life and how they came about. Through the process, you will be encouraged to become more focused on being guided by your values, rather than your “wants” and to invest your time and energy into more spiritual (and therefore ultimately satisfying) pursuits.

Session Focus

While the majority of my practice focuses on all types of relationships (families, couples, co-parenting), sessions can address many things, and often the focus will change during the counselling process. Common areas of concern may include one or more of the following:

  • Separation & Divorce
  • Parenting and Family Issues
  • Effects of Divorce on Children
  • Depression
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Panic Attacks and Phobia
  • Mood Regulation
  • Self Esteem
  • Grief and Loss
  • Anger Management
  • Life Transition
  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • History of Abuse
  • Relationship Dynamics
  • Sexuality Concerns
  • Spirituality
  • Work and Career issues
  • Crisis Management
  •  Stress Management
  • Addiction & Recovery
  • Medical and Health Concerns
  • Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Sessions may contain an educational component, experiential exercises, mindfulness/stillness practice as well as homework assignments conducted outside of session.

Session Benefits

Sessions will examine all aspects of your life that contribute to your health. Counselling will strive to provide you with:

  • A foundation of physical health: your basic biological needs (e.g., sleep, diet, exercise) will be addressed
  • Safety: you will experience safety through the counselling relationship
  • Relatedness to others: you will begin to understand and appreciate the importance of relationships. The quality of your relationships will improve and you will experience greater feelings of love and connectedness with others
  • Increased self-esteem: you will build healthy self-esteem as a natural outgrowth of counselling
  • Improved thought processes: your counselling will focus on identifying your negative thought patterns and finding more adaptive ways to think
  • Increased self-awareness and insight: you will develop new insights about why you do things and how to change
  • New knowledge: you will become educated on the nature of your presenting problem
  • Development of your potential: you will become more of who you really are
  • A contribution to the well being of others: you will find an increased capacity to contribute to others and to the world around you
  • Feelings of transcendence: you will feel connected to the flow of life and feel connections occurring randomly and with ease

Request a Complimentary Consultation using the form below:

Sessions are active and require your full participation. Being listened to is an important component of counselling, but the key factor to your success is you. The counselling relationship is based on equality between you and your counsellor. You are seen as the authority in your own life, and your counsellor is a partner in the growth process.

Without new knowledge, we often do not have the mental framework to organize and make meaning out of our experience. Likewise, without new experiences, we often times do not have access to the insights gained from different ways of knowing ourselves.

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Thank you!