Get Support to Discover New Perspectives With Registered Clinical Counselling in Kelowna

Accepting New clients!

Enhance Your Life

At Vantage Point Wellness, we believe that a good counsellor should work themselves out of a job! To do this, we work with clients to create a trusting and inviting space that facilitates personal growth, and development, and increases self-awareness.

Our Services

We offer individual clinical counselling sessions in person in Kelowna and online across BC to folks of all ages. Our specialties include supporting clients having difficulty coping after an accident, injury, chronic illness diagnosis, or sudden loss of function, as well as identity exploration and adjustment related to adoption.

Additionally, we support clients experiencing life’s challenges, such as work-related stress, interpersonal difficulties, making career changes and more!

What Clients Get

At Vantage Point Wellness, we are dedicated to providing clients with a safe and non-judgmental space to explore their unique narratives, whatever their challenges. We are committed to showing up authentically in sessions.

We believe in the healing power of laughter and incorporate humour when opportunities arise. Our counsellors are client-centred and goal-oriented, blending compassion and validation with accountability and honesty. Together, we explore coping strategies that enhance resilience and foster a positive mindset.

Benefits of Registered Clinical Counselling After an Injury

Emotional Adjustment

Injury counselling helps with processing the emotional impacts of an injury, such as frustration, anxiety, or depression. It also assists clients in adjusting to the changes in their overall capacities.

Identity Shift

After an injury, counselling helps clients navigate the shift in identity that accompanies a change in functional ability. Clients receive professional and personal support in rediscovering their strengths and resiliency.

Relationship Dynamics

Counselling helps address relationship changes that may arise from injury or illness. Clients must learn to communicate their daily life and caregiving needs with those around them.

Goals of Counselling After an Injury

Pet Therapy

Our Kelowna counselling office is dog-friendly! We understand the special bond between our pets and welcome the possibility of bringing your pup to your therapy sessions (on special request and approval). Research shows that the presence of a pet can enhance the therapeutic process and support self-regulation. If having your pup (sorry, dogs only) with you during sessions enhances your sense of safety and support, I encourage you to contact me!

Do you love dogs but don’t have one?

Joey is my office dog who loves people! He’s a small Aussie-doodle mix. You can request that he join us for your session (not guaranteed; he’s busy!). He usually sleeps in his crate but can snuggle up with you. While he’s not a service or therapy dog, he offers the unconditional love that everyone deserves!

*If you’re concerned about dogs in the office for sessions, please note that Joey (or any other dog) would only be in the office during your session if you’ve made prior arrangements with the therapist.

Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)

We are pleased to offer Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) at Vantage Point Wellness. PRT is a new, evidence-based method rooted in neuroscience aimed at helping clients overcome chronic pain. Our practitioners have earned their PRT certification through a training program delivered by the top pain clinicians in the world. The foundation of this effective therapeutic approach is the knowledge that most forms of chronic pain are not actually caused by physical injury but rather by the misfiring of pain circuits in the brain.

What is Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)?

By addressing the brain’s role in pain perception, Pain Reprocessing Therapy is an evidence-based therapy that assists people in reframing their experience of pain. PRT is a system of psychological techniques aimed at maximizing corrective experiences and minimizing retraumatizations to overcome chronic pain. This innovative therapy involves:

Psychoeducation

This involves providing information to clients about pain and how the brain can misinterpret safe signals as if they are dangerous.

Somatic Tracking

Retraining the brain to correctly interpret signals from the body by bringing awareness to physical pain sensations through a lens of safety.

Corrective emotional experiences

Gradual exposure to fear-inducing stimuli (i.e., chronic pain) while incorporating cognitive reappraisal strategies helps clients reconceptualize pain and neutralize the pain-fear cycle.

The PRT Process

Knowing how Pain Reprocessing Therapy works will make clients feel more prepared and assured when they set out on their journey:

First assessment: To fully evaluate the client’s pain experience, emotional condition, and general health, we begin with a thorough assessment that includes a comprehensive review of their pain history.
Therapy sessions: If the client is a candidate for PRT, they will attend a series of therapy sessions where we will address their pain by gradually rewiring the pain circuits in their brain that misinterpret sensations in their body.
Comprehensive care: To optimize the client’s rehabilitation results, we work closely with their pain treatment team while monitoring their progress and modifying the treatment plan as necessary.
Post-treatment adjustment: Following PRT and breaking the cycle of chronic pain, clients are faced with waves of emotion upon the realization of their improved functional capacity. We offer ongoing counselling support in order to assist clients in reintroducing meaningful activities, which can include returning to work.

How Can the Client’s Recovery Benefit from PRT?

Pain Reprocessing Therapy offers numerous benefits for clients struggling with chronic pain:

Reduction in pain perception: By reprocessing how pain is experienced and changing the relationship with pain, clients often report decreased pain intensity and frequency, often within the first few PRT sessions.
Improved emotional well-being: Addressing the emotional factors related to pain can lead to greater emotional stability, allowing clients to be more present in their personal relationships.
Enhanced quality of life: Clients frequently experience an improved quality of life as their pain levels decrease, and they regain the ability to engage in meaningful daily activities, including returning to work or other important life roles.
Long-term relief: By changing how pain is processed in the brain, PRT provides lasting relief to longstanding chronic pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few commonly asked questions about our services:

What If I Can’t Afford to Pay for Counselling?

Financial hardship should not be a barrier to accessing mental health services! Counselling is an investment, but we offer a “sliding scale” to a limited number of clients if you struggle to access counselling due to the costs. Inquire with your counsellor about some options that will be more manageable for you.

I Don’t Have a Mental Illness. Do I Need to See a Counsellor?

Individuals can be referred for Counselling for just about anything, and a lot of the time; it’s to help them get through a stressful event or period in their life. There is a difference between being diagnosed with a mental illness and experiencing symptoms of mental illness. For example, someone can be diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) while another person experiences symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Registered Clinical Counsellors don’t diagnose mental health disorders. A Registered Psychologist or Psychiatrist typically does that. However, registered clinical counsellors complete skilled training certifications to offer advanced therapeutic techniques and may treat clients with specific diagnoses. If you’re having periods of low mood after a relationship breakup or experiencing anxiety about an upcoming event, a Master’s level Registered Clinical Counsellor would be appropriate.

Do I Need a Referral for Counselling?

You do not need to be referred by another healthcare provider to start services. However, you should check with your insurance provider to see if services are covered. Some programs require a referral to be completed by your family doctor.

Do You Work Weekends?

Life is busy! Not everyone can take time away from their daily responsibilities to attend counselling. For folks with limited availability or who need help finding a time that fits their schedule, I offer Counselling sessions outside of my available times on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you work long hours or don’t have time during the week, I am happy to figure out a time that fits your schedule. However, I may not be able to accommodate all requests.

Why Choose Us for PRT?

If you are searching for registered clinical counselling in Kelowna for PRT, here is why you should choose us:

Expertise validated: Our practitioners possess the advanced skills and knowledge necessary to effectively provide this specialized treatment, as evidenced by their certification in Pain Reprocessing Therapy.
Personalized care: We adjust PRT to your needs, considering your pain's psychological and emotional components.
Holistic approach: To offer a thorough approach to pain management and rehabilitation, our therapists work collaboratively with your existing healthcare providers.

Our Commitment to Your Recovery

At Vantage Point Wellness, we’re committed to using cutting-edge treatments like PRT to help you live better. As part of our dedication to excellence, we remain at the forefront of therapeutic practices to provide you with the most suitable care possible. We are here to support you on your path to relief and recovery, whether you are new to PRT or have tried other techniques. We will walk you through every step of the process. So, contact us today if you want registered clinical counselling in Kelowna.