PTSD, complex PTSD, ADHD, autism, anxiety, borderline personality, depression… The list goes on and on. As a counsellor, I don’t need my client to have a diagnosis. If you have one, that’s great, but if you don’t and you’re struggling with various symptoms, that’s okay. I meet you where you’re currently at so we can make your life better and more fulfilled.

Many of my clients wonder about various diagnoses because there is so much overlap with the ones I listed above. For some clients, they are nervous about being labeled and have not sought a diagnosis. For others, the wait time and/or expense of an assessment is a determent. And all of that is understandable.

If you have what you consider, a long list of symptoms, I’m here to support you. We can talk about what you’re experiencing in your everyday life and take steps toward breaking unhealthy patterns and living a more fulfilled life. At the start of each session we will check in about how you have felt over the previous seven days and I will track your progress regarding feelings of anxiety, depression, being overwhelmed, lashing out, whatever it is that’s tripping you up. We’ll also take a look at your overall mental health. If we don’t see a pattern of improvement, we will make adjustments with your treatment until we do see improvement.

If you think you need a diagnosis to be successful in counselling, I’m here to tell you it is not necessary. I started my journey in the mental health field almost 30 years ago as a special education preschool teacher. At the beginning of the school year I was given a file on each child which often included any diagnosis the child had. I made it a practice to skip over the diagnosis because I wanted to get to know each child individually and personally learn how to support each child, not based on a diagnosis. I continue to work this way and get to know a client and how I can support them, not based on their diagnosis (if they have one) but on their concerns and where they want help.

Want to know more? New clients are welcome to book a complimentary 30 minute sessions so we can get know each other and see if we’re a good fit.