Trauma Therapy Program
email therapy@awrcsasa.ca or call 902-318-4188 for an appointment
Who This
is For
Therapy services provided by the Antigonish Women’s Centre are offered to all genders 16 years and older, who are seeking therapeutic support for emotional and mental health issues including anxiety, depression, grief, suicidal ideation, flashbacks and trauma responses, among others.
The Antigonish Women’s Centre therapist is able to provide therapy sessions for individuals who are seeking support in deepening their understanding of their experiences and learning to heal and manage their emotional and mental well-being. The Women’s Centre therapist follows a client-centred, collaborative approach and honours the wisdom and perspective shared by each individual. We also strive to create as much safety as possible so that the therapy process feels paced and workable.
Initial contact with the therapist may include discussing the current issues experienced by the client and to learn about our program. From there, every person can decide with our therapist if the program is a good fit. Our therapist works to centre people’s own decisions about their own therapy and healing.
What
we Do
Our therapist provides several choices for support that are up to you and your decisions for your therapy and healing, including:
- Narrative therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness Based therapy
- Or just conversation, listening, information, education, and more
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect in the first session?
The first meeting with a client includes completing a therapy contract that we will read and discuss together. Also, a Needs Exploration form, which includes basic information and discussing current concerns and hopes for therapy. The rest of the session will be a conversation to figure out the needs of the client and what will work best for them in their healing.
What will I have to share in these sessions?
The therapist has lots of skills and experience in listening to anything you want to share, but you will not be asked to say anything that doesn’t feel comfortable or safe for you. Your healing can happen by just working with the impacts you’re experiencing without having to go over your story or any details. We’re always happy to listen to whatever and however you want to share. The therapist has a lot of support and skills in place to be able to listen to what you need to share without concern for how it will impact her.
Will others know what I share in these sessions?
No. Our therapy program is confidential. Your confidentiality is a professional responsibility we take very seriously. No information or records are shared beyond our organization without your permission. Exceptions to confidentiality include: court orders and subpoenas, our legal duty to report current child abuse, or emergency help if someone is in imminent danger of suicide or violence against others.
What I am going through feels really intense and sometimes I feel ashamed. Will I be treated as strange?
No. Our therapist knows that there are typical responses and reactions to the things we experience. We work with people who are dealing with or who have dealt with: nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks, triggers, phobias, childhood sexual abuse, trafficking and other sexual exploitation, cutting and other self-harm, eating disorders, dissociation, identity disorders, and disruptions to our sexuality, and more. We support you and have walked alongside people recovering from any and all of this.