Counselling Insights

Vicki sits down with CTRI Clinical Director Joddie Walker to get an inside look at how first responders can be impacted by traumatic injury. Joddie describes common themes as well as unique impacts for first responders, such as moral injury and sanctuary trauma. She explains the importance of creating a safe space to unpack the stigma around needing help and the key step of broadening the story to include adverse childhood experiences. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and former corporate leader and author Carolyn Swora discuss what it means to become a trauma-informed leader and how to apply this awareness to workplace interactions. Carolyn describes keys skills toward self-awareness, including understanding the three centres of intelligence, and the seven guarded archetypes of how we protect against vulnerability. She gives clear examples of using the three steps of her model to evolve, as described in her book, Evolve: The Path to Trauma-Informed Leadership. Follow Carolyn on LinkedIn and Instagram! For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and John explore the art of therapeutic letter writing as part of facilitating connection, charting progress, and supporting the client’s strengths. John shares examples of successes as well as missteps that have helped him learn the best ways to introduce this concept to people. He also provides tips and strategies for counsellors to make a habit of using letters to support counselling work – from before you meet the client to creating lasting impact after you end.

Vicki and Tom Walker dig into the connection between adverse childhood experiences and long-term patterns of holding stress. Tom shares his lifelong journey of understanding the impact of his own early life experiences of violence and substance abuse in his family, and his own deeply compassionate approach to supporting other first responders and helpers. Vicki and Tom explore what high intensity self-care can look like for any helper – an approach that can move us into releasing trauma and absorbed stress toward greater freedom and compassion. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and Marwa Fadol share stories and excerpts from their upcoming book, Self-Care Transformed. They discuss their hope to bring new life to the concepts of self-care, wellness, and resilience. Going deeper into greater self-awareness, courage to acknowledge systemic stressors, and feel the deeper feelings, they share excerpts from their new book, along with personal experiences that have shaped their own journeys. Everyone is invited to the free book launch on November 27, noon-1PM CT! For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and Melanie Bazin explore land-based wellness practices – a wholistic approach to healing and self-awareness. Melanie describes how to prepare ourselves as helpers to engage in these practices authentically and she gives examples of sessions such as work with youth she does at L'il Steps Wellness Farm. And they discuss how connecting with the land opens a reciprocal relationship of care and responsibility between ourselves and nature. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and Kristen Klassen discuss Seriously Therapeutic Play – using LEGO® bricks to build metaphorical models. They explore how this process helps us to think and listen differently, and provides unique communication and problem-solving opportunities. Kristen gives examples of simple strategies any counsellor can use with a few toys to bring this process into the therapy room or a group conversation. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and Rebecca Bloom explore vicarious trauma and why it's gotten more intense for helpers since the pandemic. Rebecca delves into her book, Vicarious Trauma Illustrated, to provide a process for curiosity, reflection, awareness, and discovery about our own experiences of vicarious trauma. She also reminds us that our way out of stress and overwhelm is to dance and play with each other. Note: Due to an equipment failure, Vicki's audio was negatively impacted. Our apologies for the inconvenience! For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and Shelly Qualtieri discuss the process of de-escalating potentially violent situations and how we need to start by learning to de-escalate ourselves. Shelly explains how anger is a secondary emotion – the bodyguard to sadness and the protector to fear. They explore practical steps that can make a difference to calm both ourselves and others. Not only can we interrupt an escalation, but Shelly embodies a perspective that sees hope in these very situations toward possible deeper connection and healing. Note: Due to an equipment failure, Vicki's audio was negatively impacted. Our apologies for the inconvenience! For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com and for further learning on this subject try our new De-Escalating Potentially Violent Situations™ E-Course

Vicki and Michelle Gibson unpack the Internal Family Systems counselling model. Michelle describes how parts make up the internal systems of who we are, and how developing Self-energy is the foundation of healing. She also talks about her journey of learning many different counselling models to find her own personal approach to counselling.

Vicki and Jennifer Slay explore the research on adverse childhood experiences and discuss the power of greater awareness of one’s past life story to understand today’s behaviours and choices. Jennifer explains how what is happening in a child’s environment can create toxic stress that has ongoing impact on their developing brain and relationships. She also shares her resource to Slay Your Inner Critic as an example of moving toward more freedom and choice. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and Family Therapist Wilma Schroeder discuss the growing area of dementia care. They explore a perspective shift from valuing others for their cognitive abilities, to valuing the whole person and relationship. Wilma shares many practical tips for enriching the life of someone living with symptoms of dementia, such as using colour and music, as well as key steps for family members and carers to attend to their own wellness. Wilma shares her hope for a future with dementia-friendly communities. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com and for further reading on dementia care read Wilma's blog.

Vicki and David Jung explore the experience of burnout in a counselling role and how we often only notice it once it has already arrived. They unpack David’s three key strategies to help notice signs of burnout sooner, and he describes learning how to say no and when to end toxic relationships. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and Kelly Smith discuss the growing interest and research around psychedelic-assisted counselling. Kelly describes what a typical process is like for a client at Field Trip Health where she works, and notes important considerations for when this is a safe and beneficial choice for someone. Kelly suggests ways any counsellor can increase their knowledge and support clients who might be curious about psychedelics. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki and International Association of Journal Writing Director Lynda Monk discuss the power of journaling both in a personal reflective practice and as a counselling resource. Lynda describes helpful structured steps for therapeutic journaling, as well as a range of ways to start journaling for burnout prevention and overall wellness. She also shares several helpful resources for people to get started, as well as an opportunity to access a free gift. Find her book, Life Source Writing, here. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki explores the use of photovoice as a counselling technique with Briar Shulz, who describes five accessible ways to use photos and images in the counselling process. They unpack the importance of being cautious with this counselling technique because of the powerful ways images can facilitate a deepening of insight and expression. Briar also shares training suggestions for photovoice and her current passion for crafts. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki has a conversation with Krystel Salandanan, PsyD. They explore what a multicultural view of depression may look like and consider the example of “smiling depression.” Vicki and Krystel also discuss the role of the DSM and how it needs to be always evolving to be relevant. And Krystel offers guidelines for any counsellor to increase their capacity for a multicultural approach to understanding mental health. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki interviews elder, Louise McKay. They explore blending Western clinical counselling approaches with traditional Indigenous practices. Louise describes learning to listen differently, allowing oneself to be led by Spirit, embodying gifts we may not even know we have. And Louise offers suggestions for any counsellor to become more inclusive of an Indigenous worldview, embodying reconciliation. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com

Vicki interviews counsellor and trainer, Galya Chatterton. Together they explore the powerful impact of experiential work, and the importance of using presence to deepen therapy work while spending more time in positive experiences. Galya also gives helpful illustrations of slowing down to support unconscious emotions and beliefs to come into awareness, and we learn how skydiving helped shape her counselling approach. For more free resources visit the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute

Vicki interviews Noela Crowe-Salazar – trainer, counsellor, author, and Kookum. They explore Noela’s life long learning for balancing Western mental health concepts alongside Indigenous teachings and views. Noela gives practical suggestions for decolonizing thinking and approaches in counselling. And together they reflect on the importance of conversation and relationship.