Counselling Services
Counselling is not always easily described. It varies depending on the personalities of the counsellor and the client and the particular problems brought to each session. Counselling calls for a very active effort on your part.
For therapy to be successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and at home. Counselling can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of our life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness.
On the other hand, counselling has been shown to have benefits for people who go through it. Therapy can lead to better relationships, learning new ways to cope with or solve problems, developing new skills, a significant reduction in feelings of distress, changing unwanted behaviour’s, and improved self-esteem.
But there are no guarantees of what you will experience. Counselling is a process of personal exploration and may lead to major changes in your life perspectives and decisions. Together we will work to achieve the best possible results for you. Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy. If you have any questions about my procedures, we can discuss them whenever they arise. If doubts persist, we will be happy to refer you to another counselling professional.
Counselling Sessions
The first appointment is an intake, needs assessment session wherein the client and counsellor get to know each other and a detailed history taking is done, which creates the foundation for case planning and future sessions. During this time, we can both decide if the counsellor is the best person to provide the services you need to meet your treatment goals.
Appointments for phone or zoom counselling sessions can be made between face-to-face appointments.
Terms of Engagement
New Aniibiish is committed to working in the best interest of the client. The counselling and therapeutic services are offered in confidence in accordance with normally accepted legal standards.
When the client is a child, the focus will always be directed towards the needs of the child. To avoid drawing the focus from the child’s need, no time will be spent addressing the parents’ issues/concerns. The counsellor assigned to the child may encourage parent(s) to seek out their own individual counselling.
At no time will the therapists and counsellors providing services be called upon to testify in any court proceedings.
Record Keeping
The laws and standards of the legislated governing bodies of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and the Manitoba College of Social Workers (MCSW) require maintaining client treatment records. Brief records are kept, noting mainly that you have been here, what interventions happened in the session, and the topics discussed. Should you wish, you are entitled to receive a copy of your records, or a summary can be prepared. Because these are professional records, they can be misinterpreted by untrained readers. If you do want to see your records, you will be offered to review them in the presence of the counsellor so we can discuss the contents. You have the right to request corrections of any perceived errors in your file. Records are maintained (for seven years after termination session) in a secure location that cannot be accessed by anyone else.
The privacy of all personal information will be protected, as outlined by the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA).
The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) provides access to information and protection of privacy rights concerning personal health information. PHIA allows individuals to examine and receive a copy of their own personal health information from a trustee holding this information. PHIA imposes obligations on trustees for the protection of personal health information, specifically its collection, use, disclosure, and security.
For more information about PHIA, please check the following websites.
https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/phia/index.html
https://www.ombudsman.mb.ca/faqs/phia-frequently-asked-questions.html
Limits of Confidentiality
It is essential that you understand the confidential nature of your relationship with your therapist. Information that you disclose about your situation will be treated as confidential. No one at New Aniibiish will release your name, or information about you, or your counselling, to anyone outside of the agency without your informed, voluntary, and written consent.
In order to ensure accountable, ethical, and effective clinical service, your therapist may consult with a Clinical Consultant and/or colleagues for clinical consultation. Identifying information will be kept to a minimum during any such clinical consultation.
If you are a CFS client attending therapy, CFS does ask for reports on a regular basis. This is to ensure that goals for treatment are being met and to ensure CFS continues to support the family.
Clients’ Rights
You have the right to ask questions about anything that happens in therapy. You can feel free to ask the counsellor to try something that you think will be helpful, as well as to refuse any counselling techniques. You can ask the counsellor about their training and experience for working with your concerns and can request a referral to someone else if you decide the counsellor is not the right therapist for you.
You are free to leave therapy at any time, though it is recommended that you participate in a termination session. If you are dissatisfied with services, please let the counsellor know. If a resolution of your concerns is not addressed to your needs, you may contact Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and/or the Manitoba College of Social Workers (MCSW) to file a formal complaint.
Electronic Communication Consent
For many people, electronic communication is an important part of life. This includes but is not limited to, cell phones, texting, email, social media, and video chatting, as well as any other form of electronic communication. At New Aniibiish, we want to make sure that we meet the needs of our clientele and take cautionary means about privacy.
New Aniibiish utilizes electronic communication to arrange, cancel/confirm appointments, or provide clients with information about upcoming events or services. We will not be able to contact you without your permission.
Emergencies
Emergency services are not provided by New Aniibiish. If you are in need of immediate assistance, the following are some resources available.