Divorce and/or Separation, Stress Management Motivational Interviewing

Divorce and/or Separation, Stress Management

Breaking the vow of "till death do us part" and getting divorced has been listed on the list of top things that people fear. The end of a marriage can indeed cause incredible confusion, sadness, grief, anger, guilt, fear, anxiety and shame. Not only does the end of a marriage affect a couple, but also the children.

Issues that can cause a marriage to fail include criticism, lack of respect, defensiveness, and aloofness, to name a few. Dealing with these issues might save a marriage. Mediation therapy can help couples even before a divorce, when the signs of marital disintegration starts to show. Couples therapy is an excellent tool at that point in a marriage to see whether saving the marriage is a viable option, and if it's not, it can help them find ways to reach settlements, move forward, and co-parent in a healthy and constructive way.

For children going through the divorce of their parents, therapy is critical. While parents are facing the realities of divorce and the emotional trauma, they often don't have the time or inclination to help their children deal with their sense of abandonment, pain, loss or guilt. Children may even feel that they are to blame for their parents' problems. Therapy can help children to come to terms with these issues and find strategies to move forward in a positive way.

In the case where couples counselling is not an option, a therapist can help the person who was left behind deal with the grief from the divorce. Therapy is aimed at empowering the individual to overcome grief and negative emotions and to move forward as a single person.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who addresses divorce issues you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

While stress is a normal part of our modern, everyday lives, it can also have dramatic side effects. Chronic stress can lead to behavioral issues, such as drug abuse that can harm relationships. However, most commonly, chronic stress can affect a person's physical health in a number of ways. Many people avoid asking for help in coping with stress management, accepting it as a common hazard of today's fast-paced life.

Yes, at some point everyone suffers from challenges with stress management, but if at any point in time you feel like you have trouble handling it, it is time to get help. Signs that you are not coping with stress management includes a change in your sleeping or eating habits, feeling physically unwell (headaches, ulcers, frequent colds and flu), reduced productivity and decreased pleasure in activities you enjoyed before.

Stress is common when dealing with life changes or situations such as job losses, getting married, breakups or divorces, discrimination, parenting, moving house, death of a pet or loved one, being diagnosed with a serious medical condition.  

Therapy can help you to better deal with stress management issues. Negative moods reduce the quality of several aspects of our lives, including productivity and interpersonal relationships. Through cognitive restructuring, negative thoughts can be challenged and rescripted to help you create a more positive mindset.

Stress can often cloud the validity of our interpretations of certain events and circumstances, and cognitive restructuring challenges those assumptions. In the case of invalid interpretations, the way we think about situations naturally changes, which has a positive effect on our moods and ability to handle stress better.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who will help you manage stress more effectively you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing is a short term treatment approach, which is specifically aimed at strengthening the client's commitment for, and motivation to change. This approach is widely recognized and is used in a number of applications, including substance abuse, rehabilitation, social work, criminal justice, schools, coaching and in health promotion.

During a Motivational Interviewing session, the therapist will make sure that the client feels understood and supported. The therapist will also assure the client that his or her emotions are normal and expected, in anticipation of the great changes ahead. The key to Motivational Interviewing is to juxtapose the client's goals and behaviours that may stand in the way of success. Motivational Interviewing  can help a client recognize behavioural issues that are not conducive to success.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Motivational Interviewing, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Sandy Hawkins

M.A., RCC
"Although feelings of stress, anxiety, depression or relationship conflict may sometimes seem all-encompassing, they do not define who we are. Therapy is a process, and I believe we are each the experts of our own... Read more

Bob Bircher

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Bob is a very experienced counsellor and has spent his working life helping people solve problems, make good decisions, set necessary boundaries, and improve communication. His counselling philosophy is very practical,... Read more

Kirsten Reid

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Would you like help to find some relief and an overall sense of lightness? Whether you believe your life challenges to be major or minor ones, including a specific event or a reoccurring problem pattern that you... Read more

Eileen Peterson

M.S.W., RCSW
    • Online booking
  NOTE: To provide support during COVID-19 precautions,  sessions may now be in person or virtual: video or by phone. Please call or email to book your appointment. Taking new clients. I'm a... Read more

Jeffrey Hoy

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
I am a therapist who wants to help you, in the way that works for you, and at the pace that works for you. I seek to create a safe, calm, and open place for you to explore what is really going on. I have lived a richly... Read more

Gretal Montgomery

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Gretal provides phone and video/virtual counselling to clients across British Columbia. She offers individual counselling to youth (12+) and adults. She identifies as a culturally responsive counsellor for BIPOC... Read more

Virlyn Collantes

M.S.W., RSW
    • Online booking
About Me I offer individual and couples therapy whether in-person or virtual sessions. I am a fervent advocate for addressing the root causes of individuals' and couples' issues and firmly believe that every... Read more

Kathryn McInroy

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Kathryn believes that counselling is a collaborative process between the client(s) and their counsellor, and treats the relationship as a partnership. She uses a strengths-based and solution-focused approach to help her... Read more

Elisa-Maria Chong

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Our lives each contain moments of great joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure, opportunity, and obstacle. At the center of these experiences is our innate search for connection. We need relationships, they are precious and... Read more

Ginnie Cramer

MC, RCC
**My practice is currently full. If you would like to be placed on my waiting list please e-mail me indicating this** ***Due to the Covid-19 circumstances I will be doing telephone and video... Read more

Maureen Lee

Ph.D., RCC
Dr. Maureen Lee is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who sees clients in North Vancouver. She practices a client-centred approach to therapy which means you, the client, decide the outcome, goals and direction... Read more

Kim Watt

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Everybody needs some extra support at times to work through the problems, hurdles, challenges, and chaos that we find ourselves experiencing. I have a strong interest in working with adults who are experiencing... Read more