Veteran Counseling

Both Cissy, (Certified Clinical Traumatologist and Registered Provider for Veterans) and Dr. Gerry Weaver, (Psychiatrist), have training and experience in the assessment and treatment of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in Veterans.

Military Counseling

There are unique threats facing military families due to the very nature of their honorable service. These factors make it extremely difficult to sustain marriage and family relationships. The tendency to bring home the regimental nature of work often interferes with the member's ability to be sensitive to the emotional needs of spouse and children, and children often react to authoritative parenting styles with rebellion and other behavioral problems.

The following are some of the challenges facing military families:

• Adjustment to deployment and relocation
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from exposure to trauma while serving in combat
• Family and marital breakup
• Unhealthy ways of coping

The Centre has been serving military families and veterans for over 15 years. For details on coverage for military counseling services, please contact us today.

"I am a service provider for Veterans Affairs and the Military through Blue Cross."

First Nations Counseling

Problems facing native First Nations People are worsened by intergenerational trauma and sub-standard socioeconomic conditions, which in turm, take a toll on family, spousal and parent-child relationships.

"The Centre has been offering counseling services to the First Nations People and their families for over 15 years."

Couple & Family Counseling

Couples

• Although not all marriages are worth saving, many couples today expect their marriage to survive without making sacrifices. They often give up easily and view normal challenges as insurmountable barriers to overcome.
• We can assist couples re-learn constructive communication habits, assist them in letting go of old pain and unrealistic expectations, and help them get to the root of some of their own personal issues. Couple therapy/counseling will give you a much better understanding of your partner and yourself. It will help you know what the real issues are and how to address and resolve them in a productive manner. This is hard work but eminently doable for the willing.
• Ultimately, family counseling or couple therapy cannot save a marriage - only two people who are willing to forgive can. Cissy knows how to help you to rekindle your passion for each other and solidify your bond.

Families

The challenges facing today’s families are plentiful. With both parents usually working demanding jobs, there is hardly any time to enjoy a meal together as a family. Kids are given what they want, not what they need. Parents being busy and overwhelmed often do not have the energy to provide structure and boundaries that children require to function properly. The absence of structure leads to an excessive use of entertainment in the form of television and video games. This invariably affects attention span and school performance. Thus, higher incidences of rebellion and defiance result in parent-child power struggles, creating frustration and helplessness. Cissy has extensive experience in family counseling & therapy, which is one of the most effective ways of treating children with emotional and behavioral problems.

Post Traumatic Stress

During our lifetime, whether Military or Civilian, most of us experience one or more events that will shake up our sense of the world or ourselves. Some people can get through traumatic experiences without major set backs while others could develop a condition called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is a psychological response to the experience of intense traumatic events, and the response could range from intense fear to a feeling of helplessness. For military veterans the condition may arise out of combat duties such as being in a war zone or participating in a peacekeeping mission under difficult and stressful conditions. For civilians, the trauma can come from experiences ranging from physical or sexual assault to natural disasters.

The symptoms of PTSD are primarily divided into three main category; they are Intrusive symptoms, Avoidance and numbing symptoms and Arousal symptoms.

Cissy has 26 years of experience in helping those who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder conditions to recover. Cissy is a certified clinical traumatologist and a compassion fatigue specialist.

Mediation

Mediation is a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties with the assistance of a mediator; the mediator facilitates the parties to negotiate their own settlement. If and when the parties agree, (in writing) the mediator could suggest a view on what might be a reasonable settlement; this is called evaluative mediation.

Mediation is a structured, impartial process, which is goal-oriented and time sensitive. Mediators use various techniques to open, or improve communication between disputants, aiming to help the parties reach an agreement (with concrete effects) on the disputed matter.

Cissy is a highly skilled and trained mediator and has 18 years of experience in family mediation resolving disputes on matters related to custody and access. The process is private and confidential.

Clinical Traumatologist

Cissy received her certification in Clinical traumatologist and Compassion Fatigue Specialist from the Canadian Institute of Truamtology, in Toronto, Ontario, in May of 2010.

The course included topics such as Assessment, tools for stabilization and recovery, treatment modalities and approaches including relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapies (to mention a few) and the significance of exploring our spiritual dimension to find meaning and connection.