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"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as a I am,

then I can change" - Carl Rogers

Welcome

If you are feeling like life’s challenges are stressing you out, and getting in the way of you being the person you want to be, then you have come to the right place. KONECT COUNSELLING SERVICES can support you to a place of calm and help enact lasting change so you can know yourself as peaceful, complete, whole, and safe.

My Services

I integrate strength-based techniques to help clients achieve powerful change. Modalities I use include Client Centered Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Family Systems Therapy. I am also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions, Child and Adolescent Development, Trauma and Crisis, Cultural Diversity, Disordered Eating and Addiction.

Taking a goal-orientated approach places focus on a client’s present and future circumstances rather than past experiences. The therapy types I use help clients to envision their future, and offer skills, resources, and abilities needed to achieve that vision successfully.

I work with individuals who are experiencing:

anxiety
depression
self-esteem issues
trauma & loss
substance use issues
disordered eating
relationship difficulties
separation & divorce
issues with life transition

What is Counselling?

Counselling can help you identify and overcome the causes of your negative patterns, depression, and anxiety, and to create lasting change in the way you experience your life and relationships. Life throws many surprises at us, and while we cannot predict the outcome of any situation, we can take control of how we respond to certain situations. In counselling, you learn about acceptance and how to exert your power of choice over whatever life may throw your way. Discover how to:

Nurture relationships with yourself, friends, coworkers, and loved ones
Cope with stress, anxiety, and depression
Be mindful of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning in life
Improve your love life by learning to develop intimacy and trust
Overcome addiction and self-destructive habits
Improve self-esteem and self-image

Learn to focus on what matters most across the three big life domains – self, relationships, and work. Use the necessary tools to facilitate change and maintain a flourishing and sustainable holistic life balance.

A Little About Me
Geraldine Potter MA, RCC, CCC

My journey into the field of mental health has been a long, unpredictable road filled with a rich tapestry of experiences. Throughout this journey, I learned that healing is not about simply 'fixing' problems. Instead, it is about helping clients develop an internal atmosphere that can address imbalances and create a blueprint for flourishing in life. This type of introspection moves the focus of healing beyond one specific problem to establishing total equilibrium: health, a quiet mind, and growth.

As I pursued my studies in psychology, I became actively involved with organizations dedicated to therapeutic growth, including Women Against Violence Against Women, Edgewood Treatment Centre, Vancouver Island Mental Health, and the Nanaimo Family Life Association. My experiences enriched my understanding of mental health issues across the spectrum, equipping me with the skills necessary to support a broad range of individuals.

Today, I work in private practice with clients seeking support for anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, disordered eating, grief, relationship issues, and life transitions. My primary methods are person-centred, solution-focused and family systems therapy, drawing upon other modalities such as cognitive behavioural therapy, depending on each client's unique needs. My sessions incorporate practical problem-solving skills focusing on stability, inclusion, and independence. My goal is to support clients in finding balance and meaning in their lives, whether their problems relate to work, relationships, or self.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Vancouver Island University and a Master of Arts degree in counselling psychology from Yorkville University. I am a registered clinical counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and a certified clinical counsellor with the Canadian Counselling Psychological Association (CCC). I am also a registered counsellor with the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), the Crime Victim Assistance Program(CVAP), and a service provider for the Autism Funding Unit. I can direct bill to FNHA, CVAP, and the Autism Funding Unit.

ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION, AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING

CBT Intensive Training - Dr. Leslie Sokol
CBT Training for Children and Adolescents - Dr. David Pratt
CBT for Self-Esteem in Youth - Dr. Leslie Sokol
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Couples - Dr. Leslie Sokol
CBT Solutions to Resolve Insomnia in Clients with Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression - Dr. Colleen Carney
Narcissistic Relationships, Emotional Abuse & Gaslighting - Dr. Lindsay Gibson, Dr. Gregory Lester, and Dr. Alan Goodwin
CBT Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD - Foundations Training: Advanced Psychological Care for OCD and Related Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders and PTSD - Ottawa, BC - Dr. Caitlin Claggett Woods
C-DBT - Certified Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Professional
IFS Therapy - Family Systems Model Across Clinical Applications
Understanding eating disorders (Through BCACC)
Working with children: Getting comfortable with different levels of risk (Through BCACC)
Families, family breakdown, and the Law (Through BCACC)

San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety - Core training
First Nations Approaches to Healing Trauma
Trauma-Informed Clinical Strategies for Equity, Inclusivity and Client Empowerment: Social Justice, Ethics & Diversity in Therapy

Training and Certification in Progress:

ADHD Clinical Services Provider Certification
Complex Trauma Certification - Level 1 & 2 (CCTP/CCTP-II)

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FAQs

What Can I Expect for the First Session?

You can expect a 55-minute meeting consisting of gentle exploration at your own pace. The first few sessions are often guided by conversations aimed at developing a good understanding of who you are, the challenges you might be experiencing, and your wishes or goals. You (or your caregiver(s)) might be asked to share information to aid in assessment and the development of a counselling plan. Although it can be difficult to identify specific goals at first, a conversation about your wishes can help guide the type of counselling we engage in together.

What are your fees?

55-minutes - $145

Fees at Konect Counselling Services are based on standards and recommendations of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC).

Will My Contact with You Be Confidential?

What Is Your Cancellation Policy?

As per private therapy practice standards, a full 48-hour notice is requested for cancelling all counselling appointments. If you cancel or reschedule with less than 48 hours before your appointment time, or if you miss an appointment, you will be billed the full cost of your appointment.

How Long Will I (Or My Youth) Be In Therapy?

Everyone is different. Some individuals might feel ready to leave therapy after 12 to 20 sessions, while others may stay in therapy for months or years. Therapy length, sessions, and duration depends on many factors such as one's goals, connection with the counsellor, developmental history, symptoms and symptom history, level of impairment, motivation level, and many others.

Confidentiality is a legal construct which prevents the disclosure of the events of therapy. Counsellor confidentiality gives the client the assurance they can share whatever they want with KONECT. Nonetheless, there are a number of critical limits of confidentiality in counselling. Exceptions to confidentiality in counselling include:

where the counsellor believes on reasonable grounds that disclosure is necessary to eliminate or reduce significant, imminent risk of serious bodily harm (includes physical or psychological harm) to the client or anyone else, e.g. suicide, homicide. Note: If the counsellor believes a significant, imminent risk of serious bodily harm exists.
where disclosure is required under the Child and Family Services Act, 1990 for example, where the counsellor has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is in need of protection due to physical harm, neglect or sexual abuse by a person having charge of the child;
where necessary for particular legal proceedings (e.g. when the counsellor is subpoenaed)

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do”

- Brene Brown

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Schedule a Session

Contact me today to schedule a session.

(250) 734 3863

Konectcounselling@gmail.com

1223 College Drive, Nanaimo, BC