"Life is a journey; Happiness a way of travel; There is no destination."
"One's life has value as long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation, and compassion." - Simone de Beauvoir
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Qualifications:
- Baccalaureate degree (BA) in Psychology from Trinity Western University
- Masters degree (MA) in Counselling Psychology from City University
- Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
- Member of the BC Association of Counsellors of Abusive Men.
Scott has experience assisting individuals, couples, and families in navigating through, and finding solutions to, many of life’s challenges and problems including:
- depression
- anger management
- family violence
- developmental disabilities
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- marriage/relationship
- loss & grief
- sexual difficulties
- life transitions
- spiritual growth
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- Addictions: substance misuse, gambling, internet, sexual.
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Scott weaves the science and art of clinical counselling into therapeutic conversations that focus on solutions and strengths rather than the oppressive “play by play” of the problem story. Clients report that their conversations with Scott assist them to reconnect with their hopes and dreams, remember their wisdom and dignity, and strengthen their sense of courage and competence. As a result they move closer to their goals.
Background:
Scott is in his early forties, has been married for twenty years and is the father of 4 boys, 3 of which are in their teens. He worked for over a decade in the warehouse trucking industry while at the same time being very involved in his local church as a leader and volunteer pastoral counsellor.
In the early 1990’s Scott found himself in the grip of depression, questioning his values, spirituality, goals, talents, and the vocational track his life was taking. He explored many of these issues in counselling and after a lengthy, and intense, struggle he decided to pursue training as a professional clinical counsellor. This was a life changing decision resulting in a profound midlife transition. As I am sure you can guess, this is a much more involved story than the few sentences above suggest.
With over 8 years of experience, pre and post masters degree, in providing counselling and related services in a variety of settings with diverse populations, Scott is competent to assist individuals, couples, families, and groups in creating desired change and finding solutions to a wide range of problems and life challenges.
Both his personal and professional journeys have brought Scott face to face with depression. This is an area of human experience that he delights
to engage with, as people liberate themselves from depression’s grip or learn from the dark night of the soul.
Scott has specific training in assisting people in finding freedom from addictions including substance misuse and behavioral “addictions” such as problem gambling, internet, and sex. He is familiar with the 12 Steps but also supports people in finding freedom through the use of other creative ideas and practices that reconnect people with their own knowledge, wisdom, and preferred ways of being.
He has also worked extensively in the area of family violence, providing group therapy with men who have used violence in intimate relationships and, what is most often referred to as, anger management. This training has sharpened his awareness for domination and control dynamics in relationships. Feminist ideas form the lens through which he works to create space for the unique experience of women and to expose hidden assumptions about power and privilege, and gender inequalities and differences. Both men and women report that they find this approach helpful and truly empowering. Scott brings respect, accountability, and compassion to his work with men and is committed to assisting men in liberating themselves from the patriarchal ideas and practices that constrain men’s lives and bring hurt to the women they care for.
Scott’s experience in supporting adults with developmental disabilities also makes him well suited to assist families and couples in finding their way through the challenging adjustments and, often burdensome, cultural expectations for being a “normal” family. (As a friend says, normal is just a setting on the dryer!) Family development problems often consume substantial amounts of energy and focus from caregivers, burying the love and care partners and families have for each other, under a heavy weight of concern and distress. Scott offers a therapeutic opportunity for caregivers to focus on how they are doing, coping, thriving, and changing, assisting them to focus on their own relationships and wellbeing.
Scott’s work as a pastoral counsellor has brought him a keen appreciation for the way in which many people understand life, and construct meaning in their lives, upon a foundation of sacred beliefs and values. He also sees the incredible resource that communities of faith can be as sources of belonging and friendship. Whenever appropriate Scott brings these into the process of healing, and the co-construction of solutions and growth. He has also facilitated groups focusing on spiritual disciplines and growth.
Scott strives to provide services that are culturally competent, flexible, effective, and therapeutically accountable. He also participates in ongoing professional development and training in a number of specific areas of practice.
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