Cheryl thompson, MSW, RSW
Counsellor for couples, individuals, families
Serving Kentville, Wolfville, New Minas… the Annapolis Valley and beyond.
In person, telecounselling and videoconferencing options.
ABOUT ME
I have worked for many years in the Mental Health field, as a clinician and manager. My passion is counselling, helping people improve their emotional wellness to become the best they can be. Life can be tough and we all need guidance and support to help navigate life challenges at times.
Services
Couples Therapy
Relationships can be hard work!
Intimate partner relationships must be nourished and rebalanced regularly in order to evolve and be healthy. A happy, healthy relationship is worth investing time and energy into. Sometimes couples become stuck, passion depleted, and hope for regaining equilibrium is lost. Couples Counselling can help move relationships towards a hopeful future; it can also help mediate reconnections or separations.
Parenting
The most important job we can have is parenting. It can also be the most challenging and exhausting job we can have. There are no manuals, but with guidance and support most parenting issues can be overcome.
Family Therapy
It has been said “the whole is the sum of its parts”. Each family member impacts the experiences of others in the family. Working together with a Counsellor can help improve the functioning of individuals in the family and the family unit as a whole.
Individual Therapy
I work with adults and youth who are experiencing Mental Health issues, anxiety and depression being at the forefront (exception: acute Psychotic Disorders which are better served through the Mental Health system).
I have significant experience working with those experiencing grief and loss, life transitions, relationship issues, stress, low self-esteem, burnout, bullying, addictions and coping with change.
UPCOMING EVENTS
There are no upcoming events at this time.
MY APPROACH
I will work collaboratively with you to find solutions that make sense to you. Through listening closely, I will help you to find your own voice and understanding of what will make the most difference and improvement to your situation. Our experiences, past and present, impact how we respond in life. I will work with you to improve self-awareness, learn new coping strategies while helping you to connect your thoughts and your emotions with your responses, to help move your life forward in healthier and more meaningful ways.
Professional Credentials
I have many years’ experience as a Mental Health Registered Nurse and for the past eleven years as a Clinical Social Worker, with my own Private Practice since 2015. My Private Practice has been general to date, meaning I have seen people for many varied issues and concerns.
My Professional credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Victoria and a Masters Degree in Social Work, Clinical Stream, from Wilfrid Laurier University. I have supplementary training in Solution- Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Incredible Years Parenting Facilitation, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
My Philosophy
I believe each of us is the expert in our own experiences and in knowing what we desire and need. Problems arise when these are denied. The Therapists’ role is to expand awareness, bring in aspects that may have been missed or misinterpreted, and create new meaning of the experience.
Our experiences and relationships with others impact how we function socially and individually. We are biopsychosocial beings; this means our genetics, our psychological health, and our social experiences come together to shape who we are and how we function in the world.
Life can be stressful and ever-changing. We can’t avoid stress or change but we can learn to adapt to it in healthy ways. Chronic stress, left unchecked, can deplete our immune system, leaving us vulnerable to health issues. Resilience is the ability and willingness to adapt to change. We can get stuck if we struggle to adapt to what life throws at us. This can be frustrating and exhausting. It can be challenging to become unstuck on our own. We are creatures of habit and have a tendency to repeat what we know and have done previously.
This is where counselling can come in.
I believe with the right help, when you’re ready, you can reshape your thoughts and emotions, and your experiences and reactions can become more balanced. You can find meaning, hope and solutions that work for you, in your particular situation. Being the best you can be for yourself and those you are in relationship with is possible. Rebalancing and healing can happen.