Dr. Sam's 1-Page Bio
Sam T. Reimer, Ph.D., R.C.C. #1031
Office Address: 1339 St. Paul St.
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E2
dr.samreimer@gmail.com
www.restorationcounselling.com
Phone: 250-868-2338
Dr. Sam grew up in Kelowna - his parents moved the family to the Okanagan in 1952; he received his education in BC, Europe, and the USA; he researched and wrote a 630 page thesis as part of his studies for his doctorate in Christian Counselling. While teaching at the Belgian Bible Institute in Belgium for 11 years he also served as a prison chaplain (from 1980 – 1989). In BC he has taught at the college level; he has co-produced 18 TV programs: 9 on Boundaries and 9 on Depression, and has been an instructor of counselling training for the Salvation Army. He has been a contracted clinical supervisor for counsellors working within community agencies. Dr. Sam has worked with individuals, couples, families, and groups in various settings, as a student and as a professional, for over 30 years.
He is trained and experienced in the use of multiple therapies including TIR & LSR (Traumatic Incident Reduction; Life Stress Reduction), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), TAT (Tapas Acupressure Technique), EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Guided Imagery, and Pastoral/Christian. Dr. Sam also has a certificate in Trauma Counselling from the BC Justice Institute, as well as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing training and extensive experience. He counsels people in a wholistic eclectic pragmatic manner, using spiritual principles (when requested) addressing a variety of issues including abuse, addictions, anger and stress, conflict resolution, depression and grief, eating disorders, fears/phobias, relationships, trauma - including PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and weight loss. He is a trained/experienced Communication Specialist member of the Okanagan Collaborative Family Law Group.
Other things that make Dr. Sam a one-of-a-kind counsellor are the following:
· he is mobile (going to wherever world-wide he is needed outside of the typical office setting); $1000.00 per day plus all expenses.
· he has an interest-free payment plan for those who need it (making his fees affordable for almost anyone seeking help)
· he has a broad range of knowledge and experience that includes 10 years of formal Christian education (7 years in class-room situation); dozens of secular courses, seminars, workshops and conferences over a 30 year period; impressionable life experiences having lived in five countries and having hitch-hiked approximately 100,000 kilometers in his life.
· he is familiar with more than 70 different therapies/procedures.
Happily remarried for over 25 years, Dr. Sam is a lover of life and enjoys helping others experience more peace and happiness. He founded and developed Restoration Counselling Services while employed by the Kelowna Salvation Army in 1993. Since 1995 he has directed his own private practice, offering flexible venues and accessible services. He co-facilitated “Parenting After Separation” sessions for 4 ½ years contracting with the Kelowna Family Centre. Dr. Sam co-facilitated the “Relationship Violence Treatment Program” in the Okanagan for 4 years; he also co-facilitated the “Responsible Driver Program” for a number of years. He contracts with numerous E(F)AP providers as well as third party payers including WCB, ICBC, and CVAP (Crime Victim Assistance Program). For a number of years Dr. Sam was a regular Columnist contributing articles for www.castanet.net on various aspects of counselling, including mental health, healthy relationships, addictions, stress, desired values/virtues, etc.; in these articles he frequently reviewed and/or referred his readers to helpful books and websites. His column was called “Rhyme & Reason with Dr. Sam”. He is also a co-author of the best-selling book Bouncing Back – Thriving in Changing Times.
Dr. Sam became a member of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) in July 1996; he devoted significant time volunteering in various capacities for 12 ½ years for this Association as the Regional V-P, on the Board of Directors, and the Registration Committee. He resigned due to his appointment as a part-time Board member with the Parole Board of Canada. He has also volunteered with the BC Schizophrenia Society in his community by occasionally co-facilitating their 12-week “Family-to-Family” course. Currently he volunteers with Bridges to New Life.
He is continually involved in helping people to discover, restore, and/or maintain a sense of wholeness, balance, and healthiness in their emotional life and in their relationships.
The slogan for Dr. Sam's Restoration Counselling Services is:
YOU CAN ENRICH YOUR RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCE
A MORE FULFILLING LIFE!