WELCOME, WE’RE GLAD YOU’RE HERE!

Hello my names is James Vickers, owner of Counselling Associates. I would like to officially welcome you to Wise Counsel - the official blog of Counselling Associates. We are a group counselling and psychotherapy practice proudly serving the residents of East Toronto, Scarborough, West Durham and Markham since 2008.

Wise Counsel - the name we have chosen for our blog - not only reflects the experience and training of our therapists but the cumulative wisdom we have gleaned from the thousands of people we have met on our personal and professional journeys. You have contributed greatly to our growth as therapists but more importantly to our evolution as human beings. You courage and bravery are limitless and have served as inspiration for our continued growth and evolution.

While the therapists at Counselling Associates share important practice philosophies that inform our work with clients, we do not speak with one voice. Wise Counsel will reflect and by extension be enriched by our unique differences and points of focus.

Some of the issues we intended to address in the upcoming months include but are not limited to issues such as:

• Cultivating Healthy Relationships

• Establishing Healthy Boundaries

• Assertive Communication

• The Benefits of Psychotherapy

• Parenting in the Modern Age

• Self-Esteem, Authenticity, Confidence

• Navigating Life transitions

• Therapeutic Journalling

• and much more….

My contribution to the Wise Counsel blog is intended to highlight the different frameworks, principles and strategies that in my experience have yielded the most effective therapeutic results with the diverse range of clients with whom I work.

The models of therapy that I use such as cognitive-behavioural, dialetical behavioural, emotion-focused, solution-focused and narrative therapy to name a few- are enhanced by strength-based principles and practices. Strength-based approaches are collaborative and emphasize a person’s capacities, attributes and resourcefulness. Rather than focusing on deficits, strength-based approaches help bring hidden strengths into awareness where they can be harnessed and utilized in service of change.

Applying a strengths-based lens when working with clients struggling with issues like depression, anxiety and low self-esteem seems especially timely. We have observed in our practice a growing legion of clients questioning their worth, value and feeling good enough. How I incorporate strength based principles and practices into my work as a therapist will be a key focus of my Wise Counsel Blog contributions.

We welcome any questions, comments or suggestions you have to make Wise Counsel an engaging and informative blog. Stay tuned!