Seek Help With
Chronic Pain Management
Have you experienced pain for at least six months in duration?
Is this pain persistent?
Has it been difficult to find a medical treatment that eases your symptoms?
Do you find yourself unable to attend work or social events?
Do you find yourself unable to live the life you want due to the pain?
Are you noticing that the pain has taken over your life?
People who experience chronic pain are not faking their pain, they are usually putting on a brave face and faking feeling well.
Chronic pain can be an incredibly frustrating experience for those who suffer from it. Chronic or long-term pain is also known as persistent pain. This means it has lasted longer than a period of three months and may not respond to typical medical treatment. This process is usually an exhausting one.
If you have felt misunderstood or ashamed on your journey of seeking relief from chronic pain, Birch Tree Counselling will meet you with compassion. We can work together to find some solutions that may work for your unique experience. Our hope is to provide you with a space of comfort, no-judgement, and safety.
Trauma
Have you experienced any of the following:
a motor vehicle accident, domestic violence, death, injury, loss of a pet, surgery, chronic or sudden illness, divorce, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, a break-up, separation, loss of a loved one, financial stress, disabilities, incarceration
This is a short list of what could be considered as trauma.
Trauma is not what happens to you, it is what happens inside of you. It is our internalized experience of a distressing event.
Trauma can be an extremely upsetting emotional event that completely overwhelms our resources and ability to regulate. This often creates lasting physical and psychological symptoms.
Remember, you are worthy of support while you navigate distress. You are not weak for reaching out for help. Your experience and emotions matter.
Grief and Loss
Have you experienced loss in your life?
Has life broken your heart?
Any time we experience a significant loss of any kind, we naturally grieve.
You might be suffering from life's most painful experience: loss. Whatever your loss might be, my heart goes out to you.
When you're sad about a loss, that's grief.
When you're mad about a loss, that's grief.
When you're fearful about a loss, that's grief.
When you're body aches about a loss, that's grief.
It is important that your unique grief is honored. Life can be full of joy and at the same time, it can break our hearts. Why? We are human. We are built to seek connection and attachments. If we are fortunate enough to love in our lives, we will likely also experience a broken heart. A broken heart means that we have experienced love.
There are many forms of loss: the death of a loved one, divorce, break-ups, illness, emotional estrangement from a loved one, the loss of a pet, betrayals, abuse, broken dreams, traumatic events, leaving a home, financial loss, the loss of career...
Does mending a broken-heart feel impossible right now? That is ok. It is important to honor where you are at right now.
Stress & Anxiety
Are you feeling overwhelmed?
Do you have difficulty sleeping?
Do you feel on edge and irritable?
Are you experiencing health problems?
Are you experiencing suicidal thoughts?
Do you engage in self-harm behaviours?
We don't want to get completely rid of Anxiety and Stress - they are part of our biology that are meant to help us survive in moments where our lives are in danger. When the brain perceives danger in our environment, this is what cues the stress response (fight, flight, freeze, fawn). We do want Anxiety and Stress to kick in when our lives are truly in danger! Anxiety and Stress are unhelpful when they become chronic. If the brain is detecting danger constantly throughout the day, in moments where our lives are not at risk, this can be debilitating.
Changing the relationship you have with Anxiety and Stress may help give some relief. We can work together and get curious about your unique experience. Finding tools that will work best for you will help you become more present in your daily life and relationships. This will help you find ways to kick Anxiety and Stress out of the drivers seat of your life.
Interpersonal Relationship Challenges
Is it difficult for you to make and maintain healthy relationships?
Do you find yourself unable to maintain relationships over time?
Do you find yourself unable to enjoy physical intimacy?
Is it challenging for you to make your needs heard?
Having trouble in your relationships can be a very frustrating and lonely experience. There is nothing worse than feeling like relationships don't work out.
The way we show up in our relationships is connected to our attachment systems. As humans, our brains and bodies are wired to seek connection in relationships. Our Attachment Styles start developing in early childhood (even before birth) and continue to be shaped throughout the lifespan.
Early forms of communication (for example: crying) are signals to caregivers for our needs to be met. If our needs were met when we gave signals, it teaches us that the world and relationships are safe and reliable. If our needs were inconsistently met (or not met at all), this can create the belief that the world and relationships are not safe and dangerous. The good news is that our Attachment Styles are fluid! There is opportunity for growth by learning to understand the root of why relationships might be challenging for you.
Parenting Challenges
Are your child(ren) experiencing behavioral difficulties?
Are you feeling overwhelmed with finding parenting strategies that work?
Do you feel like a bad parent?
Do you find yourself avoiding going in the community as a family?
There is no such thing as perfect parenting. Birch Tree Counselling uses many simple and uncomplicated strategies that we can fit into your routine and your family life.
Self Esteem
Do you struggle in relationships?
Are you experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches, insomnia or fatigue?
Are you experiencing body image issues?
Do you find yourself withdrawing socially?
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Depression
Are you experiencing feelings of hopelessness?
Have you lost interest in things that once brought happiness?
Do you have trouble sleeping or are you sleeping too much?
Do you have trouble concentrating?
Feeling “blue” sometimes is a normal part of being human. However, when these feelings are unbearable and last for a long time, it may impact our ability to function in our daily lives. Relationships may suffer, difficulty sleeping, decrease of appetite and/or sex drive, work or school performance may decrease, and you may begin to notice patterns of isolating yourself from friends or family. Living with symptoms of Depression can feel like trying to see through a fog, or maybe it feels like there is no color left in the world. It might be hard to feel connected to anything. Maybe the hardest part of your day is getting out of bed. If any of this rings true for you, Birch Tree Counselling can help.
Birch Tree Counselling
- Trauma and PTSD
- Anxiety and Depression
- Art Therapy
- Grief and Loss
- Family Therapy
- ADHD
- Attachment-based Therapy
- Parent-Child Conflict
Birch Tree Counselling works with children, adolescents, and families, offering individual counselling, family counselling or couples counselling. Our integrated approach includes Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Play Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapies, Theraplay, EMDR, Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy and Psycho-educational tools.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing. This therapy uses a patient’s own rapid eye movements to take emotionally charged memories out of traumatic events. Therapists can reprogram the memory of a traumatic event to more positive or neutral emotions.
Sandplay Therapy
A form of expressive therapy using figurines / miniatures to create stories in the sandtray. The stories reflect thoughts, feelings, strengths, or concerns. It gives the client power to visually show the Therapist what is happening in their own world.
Theraplay
A child and family therapy for building and enhancing attachment, self-esteem, trust, and joyful engagement. Based on the natural patterns of playful, healthy interaction between parent and child, it is personal, physical, and fun.
Claire Aries
Claire completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia in the Okanagan. She went on to receive her Master of Counselling Psychology through City University of Seattle, completing her Practicum at the Third Academy, a school for children and youth with Special Needs.
Claire has many years of specialized experience working with children, youth and families who have developmental disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disabilities, ADHD, Attachment Disorders and many others.
Claire has comprehensive experience in working with children and adults who have experienced complex trauma across the lifespan. Claire believes in a trauma-informed, client-centered approach to Therapy. She has specialized training in EMDR, creative approaches (including non-verbal and expressive arts therapies), play therapy, sandplay therapy, theraplay, and sensorimotor treatment interventions.
Claire's approach uses unique, creative interventions which include (but are not limited to): Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (with Mindfulness), DBT, CBT, and a strength-based approach to support her clients. She believes that the counselling process starts with the ability to connect to the person in front of her. It is important to her that your experience with counselling should be adapted to meet your unique needs. Claire wishes to act as a co-author and ally in supporting those who come to her for counselling. She believes that Therapy is not "one size fits all" and is flexible to what works best for her clients.
Claire is an EMDR Therapist and Level-One Theraplay Practitioner in Canada.
“Inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit, it has been a privilege to act as witness to the stories of the people I have worked with so far.”
The Birch Tree
A powerful metaphor for the human spirit, the birch tree represents strength, resiliency and growth. It is a symbol of birth and renewal and represents new beginnings.
“Be messy and complicated and afraid and show up anyways.”
— Glennon Doyle Melton
Mondays, 1pm – 8pm
Fridays, 1pm – 8pm