Josie began working directly in the mental health field in 2004. She has over 20 years of clinical experience working with children, youth, adults and whole families. Josie has worked with clients in their homes, at schools, in specialized treatment centres, through government programs, and in mental health clinics. When not working with clients directly, Josie is a post-secondary instructor in mental health counselling and has worked as a clinical supervisor in mental health clinics.
Joise brings an extensive background in working with individuals, single parents, and families that are struggling with addiction, trauma, domestic violence, depression, general life instability, anxiety, and interpersonal challenges. She has a particular interest in helping parents who are struggling with parenting in general, parenting of special needs children, and with parents who are trying to guide their children through transition into the teenage and then adult years.
Josie is a highly experienced addictions therapist. She is skilled at working with people struggling with drug, alcohol, internet, gambling, spending, and other forms of addictions and addictive behaviour (shifting from one type of addiction to another). She understands that people use substances, or engage in addictions, for many reasons. A person’s story is unique to them. There is no ‘one-size fits all’ understanding of ‘addictions’ or singular approach to resolving the addiction. She knows that substance use often begins as a way to cope with emotional/life distress, trauma (past and present), and other issues. For some, what started as a stress management strategy, or way to have fun, or way to fit in, becomes a problem in and of itself. As the substance abuse grows it can lead to relationship breakdown, parenting difficulties, workplace difficulties/job loss, and degrade self-worth.
Josie starts working with clients by asking them to describe the events leading to their arriving in her office. She knows that some clients are coming not so much by choice, but because they have been told they have to by partners, employers or friends. She gets that this can create a lot of anger, confusion, and resentment. Josie also knows that others seek therapy because they have ‘tried everything else’, ‘don’t like groups’ (i.e. A.A., N.A.), or simply feel that things are spiralling out of control. She knows that some people take a very long time to reach out for help because of embarrassment, shame, and fear of rejection.
Josie’s goal with clients is not simply to provide strategies to manage the substance abuse/addiction/addictive challenges (the band-aide approach), but to help clients identify, and deal with the issues that leading to substance, and with treating the emotional and psychological challenges that are often associated with addiction (i.e. depression, anxiety, loss of self-worth, anger, loneliness, confusion, despair). She has the skills, compassion, and strength to help clients regain wellbeing in their life.
Anxiety, Depression and Stress are the three most common reasons for people to attend counselling. Constant worrying, having to check and double check, loosing interest in activities that used to be fun, not being able to sleep or focus due to constant “brain swirl”, over or under eating, difficulty focusing, low energy, low mood, social withdrawal, feeling overwhelmed, and or loosing hope are all symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or stress. Research shows that Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is one of the most effective means for treating anxious and depressive symptoms. Josie has helped many clients reduce or eliminate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Josie does not want to create ‘therapy dependent’ clients. Her therapeutic approach enables emotional processing in session, but also offers strategies for you to use outside of session to keep the gains coming.
Josie knows that every person moves at their own pace. Every person faces their own set of life pressures. Family demands, finances, work expectations, unexpected events (i.e., accidents, assaults, pandemics, deaths), and interpersonal relationships create a unique set of challenges. Josie helps people to sort through the multiple layers, moving from historical causes for the anxiety or depression, to the current events that sustain, increase, or help reduce those emotions. People who work with Josie gain insight into what has and is happening to them, how their mind, emotions and body has and is responding, and how to regain control over themselves. The goal is always to help you to ‘be ok’ in a true and genuine manner.
Josie is Certified in using Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to treat trauma. This approach has been recognized by various agencies (Veterans Affairs, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, etc.…) as a recommended approach for treatment trauma and commonly related issues such as depression, addictions, and low self-worth. Josie utilizes ART to assist clients who are dealing with flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, mood swings, social withdrawal, avoidance behaviours, memory and/or concentration issues, negative self-talk, sleep disturbance and general irritability that can be traced back to one or more traumatic experiences. She has worked with a variety of clients who have struggled with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder and generalized anxiety using ART and other trauma informed therapy approaches to help reduce their symptoms.
Parenting children who are struggling can take a toll on the parent. It may affect the parent’s mental wellbeing, their relationships to other family members, their partner, friends and work colleagues. Parenting challenges can last for years. While friends and family may be able to listen and help out for a while, after a time it is not unusual for the parent to feel like they do not want to keep burdening others, or others tell the struggling parents, that they can not help any more. Josie is skilled at helping the parent deal with their own concerns which may appear as grief, frustration, anger, confusion, loneliness, fear, resentment or chronic stress. With all her experience at working with struggling families, Josie is often able to help suggest parenting strategies and potential community resources. Josie may assist at reconnection work. Whether that is helping two parents with different parenting views find common ground, or assisting in repairing a damaged parent-child, parent-teen relationships.
Josie is a Registered Clinical Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Josie has worked in the award winning Edmonton Student Health Initiative Partnership (ESHIP)/Regional Collaborative Service Delivery (RCSD) programs. She has provided therapy for both inpatient and outpatient drug treatment programs. Josie has provided mental health therapy, and provided supervision for other therapists at various government funded community clinics. Currently Josie is an instructor at Norquest College in the Social Work program.
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