FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does being registered with an Alberta College mean?

Here at the Airdrie Counselling Centre we take confidentiality to be one of the most important components between a client and their therapist (psychologist or social worker). For therapy to be successful it requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but in the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement and discuss confidentiality as well as limits by law to confidentiality. In meeting with your therapist you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is part of what is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission. Your therapist will provide you with a written form to fill out in order to communicate regarding treatment with your healthcare team.

What are the benefits of counselling?

Although the benefits vary from individual to individual, counselling has been found to be consistently beneficial in helping people to work towards their goals. Some of the benefits that can come from counselling, include but are not limited to:

• Increased capacity to feel happy and to maintain that feeling

• Developing skills for improving your relationships

• Increased self-awareness

• Finding solutions to mental health problems

• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

• Developing skills to deal with anxiety, depression, and stress

• Emotional catharsis through sharing bottled up emotions and experiences

• Improving communications and listening skills

If I'm on anti-depressants or other psychiatric medications, can I still benefit from counselling?

Absolutely! In fact there is a fairly substantial body of research that suggests that the combination of anti-depressants and counselling therapy is better at treating depression and anxiety than either medication or counselling alone. In general, counselling and medication support each other and lead to more significant gains than either alone. However, in many situations symptoms are minor enough that they can be resolved with therapy alone, which has the added benefits of personal insight, increased personal strength, and self-efficacy without any of the side effects of medications.