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Use this confidential form to let us know your hopes and goals for your work with us, as well as your preferences. Then we’ll follow up personally to discuss your options, help you get matched with the therapist best suited for you, and assist you in scheduling your first 15 minute complementary meeting by phone or video chat.

  • Address

    PO Box 40 Shawnigan Lake, BC Canada V0R2W0

  • Email Us

    positivecounselors@gmail.com

About Us
ANA MARIA PAVON MARIN, MA CPsyc, MM, LLB, CIC, RCC

Registered Clinical Counselor (BCACC), member of APHICE (Asociacion de Psicoterapia Humanista e Integrativa y Counselling de España), Human Rights Advocate, Immigrant and Refugees, trauma-informed approach, cross-cultural and intercultural issues. Mediation and Restorative Justice. My work respects my fellow humans’ uniqueness, and it is based on a strength-based, compassionate, and resilience-oriented cross-cultural and trauma-informed approach to therapy. Intergenerational trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, cultural and multicultural issues, relationship problems, or IPV are some of the concerns faced by those whom I encounter in therapy. I value scientific methods as well as the spiritual experience of my clients. I have worked with individuals, families, and groups of a wide diversity of backgrounds for more than twenty-five years, offerings services, workshops and training in English and Spanish. In addition to counselling, my professional experience includes 25 years of practice in law, mediation, and restorative justice. Please see more on LinkedIn

Video presentation AMPM

My work is founded on a strength-based, compassionate, resilience-oriented cross-cultural and trauma-informed approach to therapy. Each client is valued for their unique characteristics. Intergenerational trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, cultural and multicultural issues, relationship problems, or IPV are some of the concerns faced by those whom I encounter in therapy. I value scientific methods as well as the spiritual experience of my clients.

I have worked with individuals, families, and groups from a wide diversity of backgrounds for more than twenty-five years, offering services, workshops, and training in English and Spanish. In addition to counseling, my professional experience includes law, mediation, and restorative justice.

Our Team

Alex Regelman

    Alina Smith

      Ronnie Win

        Taylor Sopia

          James Colin

            Vinnie Paul

              Services
              The Benefits of Online Counseling and Psychotherapy

              Many have turned to online therapy due to Covid and have discovered its many advantages, which include giving patients access to professionals all over the world from the privacy and comfort of their homes. This is especially important when you wish to find professionals with cultural competency, to save time previously lost in traffic, time lost in waiting rooms, when you live far from urban centers, or when the patients are in more than one location, as well as greater flexibility of schedules. Many busy professionals are embracing technologies that empower patients and tele health therapists eliminating barriers of access for mental health.

              Several recent studies have confirmed that online counseling and therapy are as effective and often more accepted by patients as in person sessions. Patients enjoy greater emotional intimacy, feel safer to express their vulnerability and honesty from the comfort of their own homes or a place of their election that ensures privacy. Some people also welcome the greater confidentiality of not attending in person, some suffer disabilities or can continue their counseling while traveling.

              Another advantage of online counseling is that we can meet with you no matter where in the world you are. Since we specialize in online counseling and coaching, most of our clients aren’t even in Canada. Counseling in Spanish and other languages is also available as some of our counsellors are bilingual.

              Book Your Free Consult Today
              Online Cross Cultural and Multicultural Trauma Therapy

              As many people are now transplanted to a new cultural setting due to immigration, marriage into other cultures, being refugees, students living away from their families or many other causes,  multicultural and cross-cultural counseling demands that therapists demonstrate cultural competence and understanding of their patients and their struggles with cultural issues, racism, religious prejudice, changed gender roles, language, social and economic set backs, discrimination, and other related experiences.

              Therapists must be equipped with ethnocultural knowledge and apply multiculturally responsive therapeutic framework and strategies when treating trauma with diverse populations.

              They must posses a humble posture of learning, empathy and respect, to be able to better understand how different cultural groups handle stress, may have alternative coping strategies, their values of honor, pride, their beliefs, differences on how they express grief, their different communication customs, their resilience and motivations, their cultural stigmas on mental health, their needs, desires, abilities and must be open and enquire about their feelings, views, emotions gently, with care and sensitivity when treating trauma 

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              Trauma Associated with Systemic Racism and Discrimination

              Online Therapy for Trauma Associated with Individual and Systemic Racism and Discrimination

              Online therapy is especially important when you wish to find professionals with cultural competency, to save time previously lost in traffic, time lost in waiting rooms, when you live far from urban centers, or when the patients are in more than one location, as well as greater flexibility of schedules.

               Many busy professionals are embracing technologies that empower patients and tele health therapists eliminating barriers of access for mental health. Such discriminations have a detrimental psychological impact and can have symptoms like those of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as anger, depression, anxiety, low self esteem, hopelessness, insomnia, chest, and head aches, among others. Such trauma is often exacerbated by other trauma such as family violence and collective traumas suffered by their extended family and social network, as well as vicarious and indirect trauma when exposed, for example, to news coverage of police brutality as with George Floyd and many others. Many Indigenous North Americans are traumatized by the disproportionate number of suicides as well as incarceration, which is also the case for other minorities. In addition to the above such stress is aggravated by other health and social disparities.

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              Trauma Associated with Ableism and Chronic Illness Disability

              Trauma therapy caused by Ableism, Disability and Chronic Illness

              Millions of people with disability suffer trauma caused by social, workplace, medical or public discrimination. It is estimated that in the United States 19% of the population has disability and this does not include chronic illnesses such as 11% suffering from chronic pain and another 17.6% from severe chronic pain,

              nor those suffering from long term autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, diabetes, depression, anxiety or bipolar mental health challenges and other progressive disorders.

              In addition to the above, many suffer from internalized ableism that makes them feel unworthy, not able to overcome their challenges, not loved and understood by family, friends, co workers and thus have difficulty with their life’s purpose. This type of trauma can benefit from therapy to manage the stress of the discrimination, or its effect on relationships and how to advocate for their needs.

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              Trauma Associated with Discrimination based on Religious Differences

              Online Counseling related to Trauma Associated with Discrimination based on Religious Differences

              Trauma associated with religion and/or spiritual abuse takes many forms, and it is unfortunately much more prevalent than reported. For example, we all know of the holocaust of the Jewish people, we know of the Islamophobia after 9/11, the conflicts between Moslems and Jews in the Middle East,

              Counseling for Trauma Associated with Religious Discrimination

              the persecution of Bahais in Iran, of the traumas suffered by Indigenous people who were victims of child sexual abuse by priests, the slavery and rape of Yazidi girls by ISIS, the conflicts between Hindus and Sikhs in India, the persecution of the Rohingya Muslims by the Buddhist majority in Myanmar, the long-time conflicts between Sunni and Shia Moslems.

              In addition to the above, millions also suffer religious trauma: wanting to change their religion or leave a cult-like community and being in a family and/or community environment where they are subjected to physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional abuse for not conforming to the religious understanding and values of a spouse, their extended family, or their community.

              The traumas suffered in all these situations can be compared to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Individuals exhibit symptoms like nightmares, anger, confusing thoughts, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, depression, grief, feeling isolated from family, friends and community, and many other symptoms usually associated with PTSD. These mental health challenges not only affect the original victims of the religious trauma but it can have inter-generational consequences.

              Many who suffer these types of traumas may be culturally reluctant to seek mental health counseling. Such therapy could be misunderstood, regarded as only necessary for people who have lost their minds. This affects all the members of an extended family. Unfortunately, in such cases they may refer the matter to the same people who are the original cause of the trauma. As a result, many go without help and try to hide what is happening to them.

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              Trauma from Cultural shock and Adjustment Issues

              Telehealth Counseling for Cultural Shock and Adjustment Issues

              We live in a new age where international resettlement is common. People accept a career opportunity or to study abroad. Many marry a person of a different culture and settle in a new country. They have to cope with many challenges: a different set of values, way of life, family structure and religious beliefs. All of this while experiencing separation from the familiar: the food,

              health services, the role of women, expected traditions and behaviors. All prior support systems are removed. When changes happen by choice, as when studying abroad, it is possible to get help for the transition. The same is true for career changes when the employer will help with the challenges of cross-cultural transitions.

              Counselling can help manage such challenges and bring back the emotional equilibrium needed. Different people and circumstances result in many different symptoms resulting in a variety of symptoms. These can include physical, mental, or emotional signs of distress such as headaches, changes in sleep patterns or appetite. Symptoms can also include extreme feelings of sadness and worthlessness, irritability, anxiety, isolation, frustration, disorientation, helplessness, powerlessness, vulnerability, and confusion. These are related to the loss of social rules and accustomed cultural cues. Depression, confusion, anger or extreme levels of homesickness which can precipitate many symptoms including panic attacks, extreme sweating, irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, substance abuse and gastrointestinal disturbance.

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              Online Trauma Counseling Related to the Workplace, Corporate Environment and Organizations

              We spend more time at our workplace than in any other activity. Over 40% of all people consider their work as stressful. Organizations and employers must be prepared to help prevent such stress or to support their employees. If they bring pre-existing traumas into the workplace, it can not only affect their work performance and productivity, but also affect those of their colleagues and the whole organization. Currently we can see the stressful effects of the health pandemic. All activities worldwide have been affected. Many families are dealing with death, grief, suicide, accident, or injury. While at work, people can be exposed to a variety of pressures such as sexual harassment or various types of discrimination (racial, religious, sexual or cultural, including language proficiency).

              Bullying, threats, harassment, betrayal, maliciousness, extreme isolation, chronic pressure, unresolved conflict or a toxic work environment can cause uncertainty. This could include fear for the future, downsizing, or fear of unemployment. Many such situations can affect physical, emotional, or mental health, all of which are intertwined.

              Work related trauma can also result from feeling victimized by having too many responsibilities or unrealistic expectations from the employer. Poor communication, gossip, bullying, tension, harassment, discrimination, low job satisfaction, or personality conflicts at work can all contribute to poor health.

              The symptoms can manifest in multiple ways. These can include insomnia, irritability, mood swings, anger, or feelings of disappointment and disillusion about their career choice and/or employer. People can become filled with confusion about why they are unable to meet the demands placed on them. Hopelessness can set in. The inability to cope can result in anxiety and fear, fatigue, muscle tension, family problems, depression, feelings of isolation and substance abuse. Certain professions will also have special stressors. For example, the police force, the military, firefighters, health care workers, clergy, teachers, those who work in mining or overnight shift workers, airline crews, among others. Organizations and employers can seek help from mental health counselors to offer confidential online support. Such help would prevent employees who are suffering from such conditions from losing their jobs, as many will not share their traumas with the organization for fear of stigma.

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              Online Marriage, Couples and Relationship Counselling
              Whether you find yourself alone at the end of a relationship, considering marriage or facing challenges in your marriage or relationship, a trained, unbiased coach and therapist can help. Counselling can restore your confidence, help you to gain deeper understanding of your self and your emotional needs during one of the most important crossroads of life.
              Online Relationship Coaching and Counseling if you are Single
              A trained counselor can help with your understanding and exploration of the most important relationship in one’s life – your own self. This will help you move forward in any future relationship. Often unresolved trauma such as past relationships, or family history prevents us from being feeling safe. Subconsciously, it creates sadness, loss or lack of self-esteem. Often accompanied by guilt or anger. This frustrating state is a lonely experience when you do not know where to turn for help.

              With the help of a therapist, you can explore your fears from past relationships: fears of rejection or repeating unhealthy and dysfunctional patterns. It can assist you to take more conscious control of your future relationships and restore your trust for others while improving your problem-solving skills.

              Online Premarital Coaching and Counseling

              As you are reading this website it is evident that you know successful relationships don’t just happen. Premarital counseling is a great investment to ensure a strong, healthy relationship. It helps prevent potential problems, it facilitates communication on such delicate and sensitive issues as goals, values, priorities, having and raising children, cultural and religious differences, career plans, finances, boundaries among other things. Premarital counselling will help develop trust and confidence not only between the couple, but between the blended and extended families. Often this type of counseling allows for the couple to deal with potential frictions and get help with past traumas before the marriage, thus ensuring a more harmonious relationship in marriage.

              Online Marriage and Relationship Therapy

              All marriages and relationships experience tests and challenges. In fact, when handled properly, this is often how such relationships gain strength. The sooner a couple seeks help, the better the results. This often depends on both parties being committed to each other. Despite this, all situations can be opportunities for healing, even if only one person is willing to seek help.

              Counseling is required under many circumstances. When there is poor communication, infidelity, unresolved conflicts, dishonesty, past hurts, or when the only thing holding the couple together are the needs of the children, counselling is needed. It is always best to seek help before you believe that divorce is the only solution.

              A trained therapist will help bring about honest communication in all areas: help restore hope in the resilience of the relationship, to rediscover love and commitment, empower the couple to regain a meaningful connection and to even dream of their future together. Good marriage and relationship counseling can help with the healing of hurts or communication issues. In short, to assist you in regaining trust in each other.

              Book Your Free Consult Today

              Online Counseling for Multicultural Couples and Families

              Intercultural families and marriages are an ever-increasing trend in the modern world. Many factors contribute to this, including access to education, migration or work mobility. Forced displacement caused by economic, environmental, religious, political, or security circumstances (whether voluntary or involuntary) can result in the movement of populations in many countries of the world.

              All marriages and relationships are very complex. These complexities are magnified by the many factors that are unique to intercultural couples and families. These include a complex list of challenges that make up our unique cultures. Differences in patterns of behaviour, ethnicity, race, religion and language can contribute to stress.

              In addition, the roles of men and women, extended families, the feeling of being an outsider (by one or both parents) differences in cultural references can all be contributing factors. In addition, expectations regarding holidays, raising children in a different culture, discipline, social and economic status, even hospitality and humor can create tension. Due to the complex factors involved, each family and each relationship is very different.
              Multicultural couples and families also enjoy unique advantages which can help the therapist in their counseling. These include increased cultural literacy and adaptability, a world view and multilingual capacity, cultural empathy with an ever-increasing diversity in our society, our workplace, our faith communities, and educational institutions. A competent multi-cultural counselor has often experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities faced by others. They can better navigate the intercultural adjustment. Acting as a cultural mediator and interpreter, they assist in the transition from culture shock to mutual accommodation and adjustment, as well as mutual acculturation during the relationship.
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              Online Counseling for Communication Issues and Coaching

              Communication issues are at the core of many counseling interventions. It affects all trusting relationships whether with friends, family, intimate partners, and professional ones. This is especially relevant due to the great cultural diversity we now face in our families and professional activities. A qualified therapist can help and coach how to transform this distressing challenge into an opportunity for many conflictive situations. Each person has their own unique personality, perception, verbal, and nonverbal communication style, needs and experiences, some of which maybe traumatic and that have molded their interpretation of other people’s communication expressions. This diversity can be an asset when we learn how to harness its benefits when seeking truth and unity.
              Among the skills needed are great respect and empathy towards those you seek to understand. They also include active listening, expressing your opinion not as the truth but how you feel about it, reflecting on what you have heard with an open mind, with serenity and composure,
              listening not just in order to respond, but to gain understanding. Another objective is to neither impose your views or to acquiesce to other people’s views but to search for agreement and unity. This requires a consultative attitude and willingness to accept the outcome, even if different than your original views prior to such communication.
              Furthermore, a therapist can help identify and heal the underlying causes of any unconscious communication difficulties. These difficulties may include past traumas, relationships or emotional distress creating aggression or passivity. Insecurity is often a by-product, feeling unsafe to communicate certain fears and resentments or dealing with cross cultural communication issues.
              Book Your Free Consult Today

              Online Counseling for Break-up and Infidelity Recovery

              Infidelity can be very hard to overcome but not impossible if both parties make the needed effort. The process requires one or often two trained therapists who try to determine if the relationship can be healed. If trust can be re-established, and help the couple recognize the love that brought them together, their desire to protect the family unit can assist them to move beyond infidelity.
              Even if one or both parties choose to not continue their relationship, therapy can be of great value. It can redefine their future relationships, help them to understand the reasons for the infidelity, and to process feelings of guilt. It can also lessen hopelessness, feelings of inadequacy, regret, betrayal, anger, self-blame, revenge, or a desire for a way out. It also helps with the grief over the loss of the relationship.
              All relationships are unique; many factors affect the recovery from infidelity. Among other factors. these include their respective cultural and religious background, their communication skills, sexual addictions, low self-esteem, capacity to handle conflict, their sense of responsibility, attachments to each other and their capacity for patience.
              Therapy can be effective in helping prevent infidelity if the couple engages in counselling when the relationship shows the first signs of trouble. Also, one may not know if they wish to reveal their infidelity or how to approach their partner in doing this. In other situations, the infidelity is discovered in a traumatic way. In all such situations the couple will benefit from the counseling in navigating the healing process, to determine unhealthy patterns in the relationship such as emotional or physical abuse, to forgive or be forgiven, to determine what they can do to reconcile or to consider a breakup.
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              Online Separation and Divorce Counselling

              Relationships and marriages benefit from therapy and counseling anytime it is in trouble and the sooner we seek help the better the chances for success. Unfortunately, many do not seek help until the situation has reached an almost irreversible stage or even after the separation or divorce.
              A pre-emptive stage counseling can be effective in reducing relationship stressors and nurture the marriage before things fall apart. It can help with change and disunity issues regarding careers, finances, raising of the children, or when they leave home, communication, intimacy, or retirement.
              If the relationship or marriage is already in trouble, when contemplating separation or divorce (even after divorce) counseling can help navigate these transitions. Counseling offers a more respectful and constructive way for support in this process; it helps you to better understand what went wrong in the relationship, how to learn from it and how to make future relationships more successful.
              Divorce is stressful. many questions arise that appear insurmountable: how to help the children with counseling, co-parenting after a separation, whether mediation can help, how to deal with the normal feelings of anxiety, grief, loss, or guilt and depression. Questions and emotions that affect most people even when the divorce was of mutual accord.
              It is not unusual to face a situational depression during divorce. The symptoms include changes in sleep and eating patterns, fatigue, irritability, loss of interest in activities, responsibilities, and social engagements, crying, feeling of hopelessness of lack of self-esteem, not being able to concentrate, pessimism, and even suicidal ideation.
              There are many advantages when doing counseling online. Some of these include confidentiality, easy access, no travel, no absenteeism from work and access to qualified therapists that may not practice in your area.
              Counseling can also provide coaching for ways to manage your self-care. It is important to learn about, and look after your health. Access to healthy ways of coping and recovery help you to discover your strength and balance.
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              Online Trauma Therapy
              Emotional and psychological trauma is the result of extraordinarily stressful events. Accidents, natural disasters, or sexual abuse are some issues that can shatter your sense of security. The result makes you feel helpless, hopeless and like you are living in a dangerous world. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives. Trauma counseling and therapy can help these individuals find constructive ways of managing their emotions.
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              Online Therapy for PTSD

              At times trauma symptoms don’t ease up or can become worse. While emotional trauma is a normal response to a disturbing event, it becomes PTSD when your nervous system gets “stuck”. You may remain in psychological shock, unable to make sense of what happened or process your emotions. The defining difference is based on the person’s response, more than by what caused it.

              Emotional and psychological trauma can be caused by many things. Events, such as an accident, injury, or a violent attack, especially if it was unexpected or happened in childhood, create emotional trauma. Ongoing, relentless stress, such as living in a crime-ridden neighborhood, battling a life-threatening illness or experiencing traumatic events that occur repeatedly also induces trauma.

               In addition, behavior such as bullying, domestic violence, or childhood neglect, even commonly overlooked causes such as surgery, the sudden death of someone close, the breakup of a significant relationship, or a humiliating or deeply disappointing experience, especially if someone was deliberately cruel, can all cause traumas.

              Experiencing trauma in childhood can result in a severe and long-lasting effect. When childhood trauma is not resolved, a sense of fear and helplessness carries over into adulthood, setting the stage for further trauma. However, even if your trauma happened many years ago, there are steps you can take to overcome the pain, learn to trust and connect to others again, and regain your sense of emotional balance.
              Emotional & psychological symptoms for trauma are many and varied. They can include shock, denial, or disbelief, confusion, difficulty concentrating, anger, irritability, mood swings, anxiety and fear, guilt, shame, self-blame, withdrawing from others, feeling sad or hopeless, as well as feeling disconnected or numb. Other symptoms include insomnia, nightmares, fatigue, being startled easily, difficulty concentrating, a racing heartbeat, edginess, agitation, aches and pains, as well as muscle tension.
              Healing from trauma benefits greatly from online counseling and therapy. It can be complemented by exercise, sleep, healthy nutrition, mindfulness and mediation. In addition, support from friends and family is important. Getting involved in community service has positive effects. Avoiding drugs and alcohol and limiting stressful situations is also helpful.
              However, talk therapy has proven valuable in helping people overcome the distress, pain, and dysfunction that come from having lived through the most overwhelmingly threatening experiences. In fact, there is evidence that CBT and other forms of trauma focused therapy can change the way your brain works after trauma, through Neuroplasticity.
              Many studies exploring the efficacy of online therapy for a range of conditions, such as anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, mood disorders, phobias, found internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) to be just as effective as in-person therapy. From the comfort of your own home you have an internet connection. This also helps remove some of the barriers in place with traditional therapy, such as social anxieties or negative stigma associated with going to therapy.
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              Online Intergenerational Trauma Therapy

              We can identify both historical and intergenerational trauma. These sometimes overlap and have similar symptoms but not always the same causes. Historical Trauma refers to traumatic experiences or events that are shared by a group of people within a society, or even by an entire community, ethnic, or national group. It is known to have widespread effects and caused collective suffering.

              Intergenerational trauma, sometimes referred to as transgenerational or multigenerational trauma, is defined as trauma that gets passed down from those who directly experience an incident to subsequent generations. Examples of this type of trauma can be the descendants of holocaust survivors, indigenous people of the Americas and Australia, the slavery of the African American ancestors, various historical genocides such as the Armenian people, Rwanda, Bosnia, or Darfur. 

              Other forms of this trauma yet to be understood are the effects of the recent health pandemic, widespread parental incarceration, large numbers of children in care of the state, the displacement of millions who have become refugees due to seeking security, the persecution of people due to their race or religious beliefs, and widespread substance abuse that is so prevalent today.

              Intergenerational trauma may begin with a traumatic event affecting an individual, traumatic events affecting multiple family members, or collective trauma affecting larger community, cultural, racial, ethnic, or other groups/populations.
              Yael Daniele proposed the following types of survivors of intergenerational trauma. Some become numb and seek silence by self-isolating. They have a very low tolerance for stimulation of any kind; they are minimally involved in raising their children. Others feel as victims and fear and distrust the outside world, trying to remain inconspicuous, yet are frequently depressed and quarrelsome. While others act as fighters and focus on succeeding at all costs, retaining an armor of strength, making them intolerant of weakness or self-pity. Some who can be referred to as those that “made it” are characterized by their pursuit of socio-economic success but also by the ways in which they intentionally distance themselves both from their experience of trauma and from other survivors.
              Indigenous communities in Canada suffered from sustained trauma. For generations, Canada tried to forcibly assimilate Indigenous people by placing them in residential schools, removing children from their families, and generally attempting to eradicate their culture and traditions.
              The effects of this prolonged trauma have impacted First Nations groups on individual and collective levels. This trauma includes markedly high rates of depression and self-destructive behaviors compared to the non-Indigenous population. It particularly created towards mental health professionals, a well-earned mistrust of outsiders. Furthermore, recent studies demonstrate that traumatic events can induce genetic changes in the parents, which may then be transmitted to their children with adverse effects.
              Some common symptoms of intergenerational trauma may include but are not limited to: depression, fixation on trauma, low self-esteem, anger, self-destructive behaviors lack of trust of others, depersonalization, isolation, anger, irritability, memory loss, nightmares, domestic violence, fearfulness, psychic numbing, hypervigilance, inability to connect with others, identification with death, unresolved grief, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
              Moving forward in a way that is healthy for families is important to stop the cycle of intergenerational trauma.
              The mechanisms of transmission of intergenerational trauma remain unclear. Traumatic experiences can be transmitted physiologically, environmentally, and socially. Children experience and understand the world primarily through direct caregivers and are, therefore, profoundly affected by their parents’ modeling. Children both mimic their parents’ behaviors and learn to navigate future relationships based on how they learned to relate to their parents.
              Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based treatment modality for children and adolescents who have symptoms related to trauma. This method of treatment combines psychoeducation and cognitive techniques to teach children and adolescents how to express themselves, learn cognitive coping skills to deal with stressors, develop relaxation techniques, create, and process trauma narratives, and manage behaviors that could be detrimental to their overall mental health. The goal of treatment for traumatic experiences is to reduce the overall frequency, intensity, and severity of symptoms so that one’s daily function is not impaired and to make the symptoms manageable.
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              Online Therapy for Dissociative Disorders

              Dissociative disorders occur more often in women and involve problems with memory, identity, emotion, perception, behavior and sense of self. Dissociative symptoms can potentially disrupt every area of mental functioning. Sometimes the diagnosis and symptoms can appear associated with disorders such as post traumatic stress, borderline stress, substance abuse, depression, and anxiety.
              There are three types of dissociative disorders:
              1. Dissociative identity disorder,
              2. Dissociative amnesia
              3. Depersonalization/Derealization disorder
              Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
              Also previously known as multiple personality disorder. About 2% of the population in the USA will experience DID and 90% of them are victims of childhood repetitive, overwhelming trauma and or sexual, physical abuse and neglect. Furthermore over 70% of those who suffer DID have attempted suicide.
              Symptoms of dissociative identity disorder include: The existence of two or more distinct identities each of which can have distinct behavior, personal preferences for food, clothing, language, memory and thinking, which can shift suddenly and then shift back, involuntarily. The signs and symptoms may be observed by others or reported by the individual. People with dissociative identity disorder may feel that they have suddenly become observers of their own speech and actions, or their bodies may feel different, they may suffer ongoing gaps in memory about everyday events, personal information and/or past traumatic events.
              Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder
              This disorder involves ongoing feelings of detachment from actions, feelings, thoughts and sensations as if they are watching a movie (depersonalization). Sometimes other people and things may feel like people and things in the world around them are unreal (derealization). A person may experience depersonalization, derealization or both. This rarely happens after the age of 20.
              Treatment typically involves psychotherapy. CBT therapy can help people gain control over the dissociative process and symptoms. The goal of therapy is to help integrate the different elements of identity. Therapy may be intense and difficult as it involves remembering and coping with past traumatic experiences. Recent studies show that online therapy can be a useful method of treating symptoms of trauma, one of the primary causes of dissociative identity disorder. Online therapy is a way of circumventing treatment barriers by increasing accessibility and providing remote counseling to those who need it.
              Left untreated, DID can last a lifetime. While treatment for DID may take several years, it is effective. Persons with DID may find that they are better able to handle the symptoms in middle adulthood. Stress, substance abuse, and sometimes anger can cause a relapse of symptoms at any time. As a good standard of care, persons with DID should be treated by a mental health professional with specialized training and experience with dissociation.
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              Developmental Trauma, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Abuse.

              Trauma from childhood or due to physical and emotional abuse are often showing similar signs in adults. Various therapies have helped when the patient realizes the need for counseling. However spiritual abuse or children who may be subjected to abuse show the signs which will often come to the attention of their loved ones, who will then consult with a trained therapist.
              Signs of trauma can include anger, aggression to self or others, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, fear, self-isolation, panic attacks, changes in eating or sleep patterns, problems of intimacy and normal relations, irritability, sadness, mood swings, guilt, hopelessness, headaches, substance abuse, dis-interest in social, school or work activities, among others.
              Childhood Trauma can have a lifelong effect and can be caused by disasters, serious illness, serious neglect, accidents, sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, and other life-threatening events affecting the child directly or those in their family.
              Among the most common forms of emotional and physical abuse, is that suffered by women. It is estimated that one in five have been sexually abused in childhood, often by a family member or friend of the family and half of all women report to have experienced attempted sexual assault as adults.
              Trauma Caused by Spiritual Abuse takes many forms and can be from an intimate partner, your family, a religious organization, your community, or the society where you live. It takes place when you are prevented through physical, emotional, or spiritual coercion to practice a spiritual path of your own choosing and are forced to do things that are against your free will.
              Trauma caused by domestic or intimate partner violence also affects women and children and is a pattern of abusive behaviors that include physical, emotional, and often sexual abuse and it is estimated to affect over 10 million people in the United States every year.
              Examples of such abuse are those we observe in cults, pseudo religious organizations and mainstream faith communities that include being silenced when you disagree or want to report an abuse, being shamed, intimidation, forced to attend or do some rituals against your will, being punished, when using scripture to justify the superiority of men over women or a harmful or abusive behavior, when you are isolated from those outside your faith traditions, sexual and physical abuse, when you are prevented from leaving your faith community, when an authoritarian leader tries to control or manipulate their members, when forced to pay to receive spiritual enlightenment, when diversity is not accepted or one is made to accept a hierarchical elitism.
              Extreme cases of societal abuse can also include the persecution of people due to their faith, such as for instance antisemitism, Islamophobia, the persecution and the cultural and economic genocide of Bahais in Iran, or the discrimination of Christians in some Muslim and Communist countries.
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              Online Therapy for Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma, Burnout

              It is estimated that between 40% to 85% of the “helping professionals” are at some point affected by secondary traumatic symptoms such as compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. The professions include social workers, mental health professionals, doctors and nurses, lawyers, law enforcement agents, members of the military, immigration judges, and child welfare and protection workers among others.
              The symptoms can include physical exhaustion, alterations in sleep and eating patterns, headaches, behavioral changes with substance abuse, addictions, anger, social distancing, absenteeism, and psychological changes such as loss of self esteem, anxiety, hopelessness, cynicism, problems with intimacy, irrational fear, lack of empathy, blaming others, impatience, apathy or lack of interest, among other such symptoms.
              Compassion fatigue affects those who have a strong empathy with their clients and refers to emotional exhaustion from repeated exposure to their traumatic situations and stories. Vicarious trauma occurs when the helper has a profound shift in their worldview because of a long term and repeated exposure to the first-hand traumatic experiences of their clients. Unlike the two previous situations, burnout need not be a consequence of secondary trauma and can affect anyone who feels overwhelmed, physically, or emotionally exhausted due to work conditions and can often be resolved by changing jobs.
              It is not always possible to separate these conditions. They can co exist and overlap. Therapy can help determine the treatment appropriate for each case. Those working in the helping professions need to take measures for self care, participate in wellness activities such as healthy nutrition, exercise, meditation, and mindfulness, as well as developing and maintaining a strong social support at home and at work. Most of such professionals at risk believe in the need for self care strategies but very few report actually practising such measures.
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              Mediation and Conflict Resolution
              Mediation is a consensual dispute resolution option often complementary to counseling and an alternative to arbitration and litigation.

              Mediation is helpful in family matters, in schools, business, and organizations facing an ever-increasing diversity of cultures, beliefs and personalities and who wish to find an acceptable and positive resolution to everyone’s concerns. This is practiced by professional mediators, lawyers, and counselors. When a therapist is also providing mediation, it can be very helpful in many situations. For example, when couples are considering separation or divorce and when looking for a non-adversarial resolution as compared to only using legal representation. The advantage of having a therapist act as a mediator is that all parties will have developed trust in the knowledge of the issues. For example, regarding the children, which is essential for such mediation work. However, it is also a challenge for the therapist to appear as impartial or neutral unless all parties have agreed on this role. If the counselor does not feel the right conditions exist for this perception of impartiality, they can consider a different professional to act as mediator.

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              Depression and Anxiety
              One of the most effective ways to treat depression is counseling. There are many causes for depression, and it is important to seek a clinical diagnosis if it lasts for more than two weeks. Some people suffer from mild versions that pass within a short time, but we need to be aware of its symptoms and manage them with the help of a therapist when they are severe or last longer. Women often suffer depression caused by their hormonal changes. Although it can affect all age groups and genders it is more often found in the very young and the elderly. Some of the common symptoms can be a sense of hopelessness, irritability, sleeping too much or too little, feeling sadness, persistent guilt, eating too much or too little, lack of interest in activities they had enjoyed before, moving, or speaking abnormally or thoughts of suicide. If you or someone in your care is ever experiencing suicidal thoughts related to severe depression, get help immediately!
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              Grief and Bereavement
              Grief Counseling is a type of therapy that can help those who have experienced a traumatic loss. The symptoms may include the following: when this grief is complicated and interferes with work and relationships, when it is dealt with by negative grieving patterns such as substance abuse, or when it disrupts our healthy sleep or eating patterns.
              The loss of someone we love is one of the most difficult hardships we will all face in our lifetime. This will vary depending on multiple factors: our relationship with that person, the circumstances and our response to the loss, or our spiritual and cultural background. We may need professional help with moving through the various stages of grief and the healing process.
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              Stress and Burnout
              It is important to seek professional help when someone exhibits the physical symptoms of prolonged stress. This can include increased heart rate which in acute stress can result in hear attack. Hyper-tension, decreased sexual desire and impotence caused by changes in the cortisol levels, as well as headaches, migraines and sleep or eating disorders are among the symptoms. Stress also affects emotions, behavioral changes, marital tension, communication with family and co workers. It can easily feel anger, anxiety, ability to concentrate and reduced efficiency. It can result in substance abuse, extreme sadness or depression, fatigue, irritability, lower productivity, and performance. Choosing social isolation is another of many symptoms.
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              Holistic and Spiritual
              Many of us believe in the transcendence of life, follow a religious or spiritual path and realize that some ailments and especially mental health can be affected by a holistic, integrative, spiritual healing from a professional that shares such beliefs and in addition to the science of their training, to treat the body and the mind, also include the treatment of the spirit.
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              Family Constellations
              Family constellations and systemic constellations therapy was, originated by German Psychotherapist Bert Hellinger and expanded by many others after his work. It recognises that individual exist within a myriad of systems. These systems are made up of other individuals such as in their family or workplace.
              The trained facilitator tries to bring out not only the facts but the emotions, feelings, intuition, sensations, imagination, deep sensing, empathy, and experience of the individual seeking therapy with the help of various tools and other members of the group who contribute to the unraveling of the above.
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              Online Mental Health Coaching
              Mental Health Coaching by a mental health professional is often of great value for patients who are reluctant to seek help from psychotherapists due to cultural stigma and when the patients may not be aware of the root causes for their mental health and emotional challenges. However, if they start their healing process with a health coach who is not trained and accredited in mental health, they may need to be referred after the health coach discovers that the complexity of the issues is best addressed by mental health diagnostic and therapeutic skills. Mental health coaching is appropriate in helping clients recover from many afflictions. Injury, trauma, chronic medical challenges, learning disorders, eating dysfunction, abuse experience, acute stress and somatic illness are but a few. Postoperative states, marriage, exploring and managing the intrapsychic connections of emotions, relationship issues can also benefit from MHC. Many other situations require mental health coaching: where there is intense affect and/or dysfunctional behaviors, past experience, beliefs and their impact on physical health, prolonged grief, acute lack of sleep, chronic anxiety and fatigue, substance abuse and addictions, all can benefit from mental health coaching.
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              Fees
              For Canadian Individual Counselling session rates – $175 plus GST (5% tax) per 50-minute session couples and family counselling session rates – $250 plus GST (5% tax) per 75-minute session. For U.S. and International Individual Clients Individual Counselling- US$175 flat fee per 50-minute session couples and family counselling session rates – US$250 flat fee per 75 minute session
              Ideal for family and couple therapy. Less time pressure when you feel that there is a lot of ground to cover. This session length allows more time for goal setting and planning, or if needed, crisis intervention.
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              Use this confidential form to let us know your hopes and goals for your work with us, as well as your preferences.
              Then we’ll follow up personally to discuss your options, help you get matched with the therapist best suited for you, and assist you in scheduling your first 15 minute complementary meeting by phone or video chat.
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