Counselling Archives

Suffering from Eco anxiety and climate guilt?

April 26, 2019 By Sue Cook, RSW, CCC, MEd Counselling, BAFN, CYC anxiety Climate change Eco-anxiety

Welcome to the club. According to the American Psychological Association you’re not alone, as the effects of climate change are triggering both immediate and long-term psychological consequences for people all around the world.

Of course people want a healthy vibrant earth, a sustainable world for future generations, and for wildlife and nature to thrive. So if people are feeling this way, why is it difficult to take action? Because change is hard in any aspect of life. Maybe you have thought about adopting pro-environmental behaviors but some of these issues have come up:

• You don’t know where to start.
• You’ve started making changes but don’t feel like it’s enough.
• You have trouble sticking with it.
• You feel exhausted from trying so hard.
• Your relationships are suffering because loved ones don’t share your views.
• You feel paralyzed with fear when thinking about the future.

Believe it or not, these concerns are incredibly common because the time and geographic scales of climate change are just too big to relate to. When people are faced with challenges that they can’t comprehend, they react emotionally and psychologically.

Psychology professor Robert Gifford explains that many people put off adopting pro-environmental behaviors due to psychological barriers that fit into 7 categories called:

The Dragons of Inaction.

1. Uncertainty: People become uncertain because they are numb to hearing the same things or just can’t process such large concerns.
“It’s just another depressing story that doesn’t really have anything to do with me.”

2. Worldviews: Sometimes people limit their behaviors because of their beliefs.
“Technology or Mother Earth or Capitalism will save us.”

3. Comparisons: Social norms and networks have a big influence on what people do.
“Other people aren’t really changing their lifestyle, why should I?”

4. Costs: People are often driven by fear of losing what they have already invested.
“The costs of changing my whole life to go green are just too high.”

5. Discredence: Doubt in government and experts dissuades action.
“People have been wrong about this kind of thing before, why should we listen to them now?”

6. Risks: Fears of financial, functional, physical and social risks are often discouraging.
“Will I be judged for looking like a hippie? Isn’t it dangerous to ride a bike all the time?”

7. Limitations: Occasionally people will only make low-impact or short-term commitments
“I bought an energy efficient dishwasher so I can shower for as long as I want.”

The interesting thing is that these challenges are not specific to environmental action- they come up when trying to sustain any kind of behavioral change! Luckily the tools really do exist to ‘slay-the-dragons’. Working with a professional can help build resiliency to deal with anxiety and depression, and to make lasting change.

How Family TLC Can Help
To alleviate the debilitating effects of anxiety it is important for people to understand how anxiety works, what their triggers are, and what strategies they can use. Depending on the individual, we at Family TLC recommend and conduct progressive relaxation and mindfulness techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as well as Dialectic Behavioral Therapy. Implementing a combination of these techniques with a trained therapist, alleviates the paralyzing effect of facing overwhelming situations such as climate change.

Once individuals have developed confidence and resilience, Family TLC helps people to implement strategies for lasting change. Helping people with self-monitoring, goal-setting, and evaluation is an important first step, then the external accountability of regular sessions builds long term success. In addition, allowing clients to understand their personal values and motivations is a powerful facilitator of change. Lastly, Family TLC therapists remind clients to set realistic expectations and clear boundaries, in order to develop self-compassion and compassion toward others.

Co-authored by:
Kyera CookMA in Environmental Education and Communication and Sue Cook RSW, CCC, MEd Counselling, BAFN, CYC

How to Find a Therapist

September 19, 2016 By Sue Cook, RSW, CCC, MEd Counselling, BAFN, CYC

At Family TLC, we see our counselling clients as strong people who are investing in their own wellness and actively participating in their self-improvement – despite any stigma that still exists about asking for help.

Once you’re ready to seek that help, your next step is to find the right therapist for you. Here are some suggestions to help with that process:

Ask family and friends: Ask those who are in therapy how they were able to find a therapist and if they like their therapist. If they do, find out what exactly it is they like about them and see if their therapist would be willing to give you a list of referrals. If none of your friends are in therapy then you can always get referrals by calling institutes (e.g., Jungian/Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic) to find therapists in your area. Many of these institutes provide an intake to match you with a therapist in your area who can help you overcome the obstacles you are facing.

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The Benefits of Counseling

August 5, 2016 By Sue Cook, RSW, CCC, MEd Counselling, BAFN, CYC

No doubt you’ve heard that counseling has many benefits, but perhaps you don’t know if it can benefit you. There are many life transitions in which the help of a counselor can immensely lessen the stress and confusion. Some of the most common are as follows:

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Debunking the Stigmas About Counselling

October 14, 2015 By Sue Cook, RSW, CCC, MEd Counselling, BAFN, CYC

There is an unfortunate stigma that can surround counselling. Those who seek help are seen as weak or out of control. Even though few people would hesitate to go to the doctor or emergency room for a physical ailment, there can still be prejudice against those who are getting help for their minds.

Thankfully, with increasing media attention being drawn towards mental health, the power of these stigmas have begun to fade. Here are some common myths we can debunk about counselling:

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An Interview with Sue Cook

December 19, 2013 By Sue Cook, RSW, CCC, MEd Counselling, BAFN, CYC

Sue Cook is the owner and operator of Family TLC – Family Therapy and Life Coaching Group. Sue started working in this profession in the early 1980’s and has had the opportunity and privilege of assisting thousands of people. Learn more about Sue in the following interview:

Q: Which three adjectives describe your success?

Intuition, growth and belief. I have great intuition and I have learned to listen to it. When I am doing what I am meant to do, following my intuition everything soars. Growth is always a focus for me, I am constantly asking myself how can we grow, how can I grow? This does not necessarily mean bigger but it always means better. Belief is something you must keep at the forefront, belief to me is a positive attitude combined with the trust that all will work out.

Q: What would you do with unlimited resources?

I would expand my team of experts, surround myself with people who know more than I do in their specialized area. With a well-paid diversified team I know we could build the Family TLC vision sooner. That way we can reach so many more Canadian Families and help so many more people. [Read more…]

What to Look for in a Therapist

May 27, 2013 By Sue Cook, RSW, CCC, MEd Counselling, BAFN, CYC

What exactly is a therapist, what do they do, what kind of background do they have, and how do I know if they’re any good? If you’re considering hiring a therapist, you probably have some of these questions.

Let’s look first at what is a therapist. Right now, the term therapist is used interchangeably with other terms like counsellor, psychotherapist, social worker, psychologist, and marriage and family therapist.

Psychologists and social workers are the only regulated professionals, meaning they have a governing body, which is somewhere the public can report problems. In Ontario, they’re developing a college of psychotherapists and mental health therapists that will be a governing body and an umbrella for psychotherapists, chaplains, music therapists, art therapists and others, for the purpose of regulating those professions and providing more protection for the public. [Read more…]

Making the Most of Your First Counselling Session

April 8, 2013 By Sue Cook, RSW, CCC, MEd Counselling, BAFN, CYC

At Family TLC it is important to us that you get the most of your first and every counselling session. We encourage you to do the following five things to prepare:

Do your homework. Answer all questions on the Intake form in detail so your therapist can review in advance. Read through our “Information for Clients” and “Practice and Privacy Policies.” By completing all of this ahead of time, you can ensure that your counselling session can focus on answering your questions and commencing the therapeutic process.
Write down any questions you have. This will help you remember your priorities even when you’re caught up in the moment at your appointment.
Embrace your nervousness. It is normal to feel nervous when you meet someone for the first time, and it’s actually a very positive sign because it shows that you care about the process. If you are invested in your counselling you will be more successful. Be assured that your counsellor is highly trained and experienced in making people feel comfortable.
Congratulate yourself. At Family TLC our clients are all successful people who, like you, are investing in themselves by taking the time to get expert help and create a plan for success.
Ask yourself what you want to accomplish through counselling. Remember to frame it in the positive. Rather than saying, “I want to deal with my anxiety,” say, “I want to live each day feeling relaxed and calm.” If you know where you are going it is much easier to get there.

Congratulations on being motivated enough to take the first steps towards dealing with your concerns. We are confident that you and your specialist will work well together at creating long-lasting solutions.