Anxiety and
WorryAbuse of all sorts, including sexual.
Anger and
Anger Management
Family Conflict including extended and in-law family issues
Body Image, Healthy Living and Weight Loss
Self Esteem
Grief and Loss
Trauma Relief
Goal Review and Setting, Life Change Planning
Addiction
Management
Forgiveness or self and others
Personality Disorders and Other Mental/Emotional Challenges
Dating and Search for a Partner includng discussion of match making services (on-line and personal)
Phobias, fears and compulsive behaviours
Dreams
Spirituality, values
Additional Information on Specific Counselling Concerns
Marriage and Relationship Counselling
Counselling can help with many relationship issues such as intimacy and sexuality, communication, anger and control, trust, betrayal, values differences, commitment and family life.
Some persons are seeking help to strenghten their relationship. Some want help to save a troubled relationship. Others are seeking help to end a relationship in a dignified way. Sometimes clients are not sure where they stand or if their relationship has a future. Counselling will help you figure out your best course of action and will help you move forward to achieve the best outcome for your relationship.
Loss and Bereavement
Bereavement is the process of accepting and adjusting to a loss, to an unwelcome new reality of life. The loss may be the death of a loved person, loss of health or ability through aging, illness or accident, infertility, loss of a relationship, loss of occupation through retirement or job loss or any other loss which leaves you in mourning and distress.
Janice Graham is a specialist is death studies and grief counselling. She is a graduate of the Death Studies programme at King's University College Centre of Death and Bereavement, University of Western Ontario. She has been regular participant in Bereavement Conferences and was a faculty member teaching courses in Death and Bereavement at King's University College.
Janice is a sensitive and compassionate grief counsellor. The death of children is a special interest and bereaved parents are particularly welcome.
Post Abortion Grieving and Healing
Have you or your partner experienced an abortion? Recently or many years ago?
Abortions are a solution to a problem pregnancy. A problem pregnancy is any pregnancy which is a problem for someone - for you or someone else.
For all kinds of reasons which make sense the pregnancy has been terminated. Sometimes the decision is your own; often the woman is pressured by others to have an abortion.
For some women, the minority, the abortion is an incident, over and done with. However, for the great majority there remain troubling suppressed unresolved emotions. It is never too late to resolve these feelings.
Typically the abortion experience is silenced and buried in secrecy.
Research shows that the abortion experience has long lasting negative impact, leading to self destructive behaviours such as eating disorders, relationship and parenting problems, low self esteem and sterility.
Many women experience lingering internal emotional strife, alternatively condemning and defending the abortion.
Many fathers of aborted babies experience these same feelings but society does not acknowledge their grief. It is never too late to resolve these feelings.
Persons who have received appropriate post abortion counselling report feeling more at peace with themselves.
Janice is an experienced post abortion counsellor and educator. She will offer you non-judgmental, sensitive, compassionate support using a structured approach whose goal is to facilitate reconciliation and forgiveness and to honour the life that ended. Dr. Graham has no connection with any political position on abortion but seeks only to provide support to those who request it.
Persons who are considering abortion now are encouraged to seek informed counselling to help them understand as fully as possible the implications of their choice.
Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Enormous numbers of men and women have been victimized by sexual perpetrators in their childhood.
This experience has the potential to severely damage one's life. Intrusive memories, flash backs, depression, relationship difficulties, anger, severe emotional pain, suicidal thoughts and helplessness are only a few of the experiences survivors report.
Some people who have been sexually abused fear that they will themselves become abusers because they have been trained in the practices of abuse. This is an important concern to be discussed in counselling.
Janice will work with you to help you overcome the abuse and legacy of sexual trauma in your childhood. You can feel comforatble and safe discussing these very personal experiences.
Pre-Marriage and Re-Marriage Counselling
Statistics show that marriage partners who attend some form of premarital counselling have an improved chance of achieving a lasting marriage.
Janice offers practical and supportive counselling to both first time marriage partners and unions in which one or both partners have been in committed relationship before.
Blended Families
Increased divorce and remarriage leads to many new families being formed by combining members of former families into new family units.
Most persons enter blended family formation with optimism and confidence that the members will bond and function well together as a family. After all, the new parents love each other. However, problems often develop.
Counselling will help you understand and cope with the difficulties of being a step parent or grandparent, step child or step sibling.
Internet Abuse and Addiction
Inappropriate and overuse of the internet damages many lives. Cyber sex can destroy intimate relationships. Internet gambling, shopping and game playing can lead to financial problems by encouraging unplanned spending.
A fantasy world can become dangerously real. People are attracted to the anonymity, excitement and ease of access of online communications but very often progress from internet to real life contact often with troubling outcomes.
Counselling will help you understand why you are attracted to or overusing on-line services and help you learn to overcome problem behaviour.
Telecounselling and Online Counselling
Traditionally, counselling sessions have been held face-to-face in the counsellor's office. However, for some people that is not practical or convenient.
Distance counselling is neither superior, nor inferior to traditional counselling in the therapist's office. Online or telecounselling is practical, effective and efficient.
Telephone or online counselling can be used alone or in combination with face-to-face counselling. They are good options if you are ill or cannot find a babysitter or transportation or if either you or your counsellor is travelling.
Janice is a certified online counsellor and telecounsellor.