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Stewart and Associates Counselling and Consulting Services Inc. (SACCS)            

 

About: Carol Crabtree, MSW, RSW

Education Treatment Philosophy Your Rights
Experience Limits of Confidentiality  

Carol CrabtreeEDUCATION
I obtained my Bachelor's Degree of Social Work in 1990 and my Master's Degree in 1992. Since that time I have worked in the mental health and addictions fields. In those positions I had the opportunity to do both individual counseling and to lead various support and therapy groups. During my years of social work I was active in learning new skills and gathering more information about counselling and optimum mental health. These included: Working with Trauma, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, Dialectical Therapy, Relaxation Techniques, Working with Complicated Grief, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.

EXPERIENCE
Clients I have worked with have faced many different challenges such as: depression; anxiety, grief, overwhelming anger, healing from trauma, relationship issues, issues of vocation and occupation, and addiction issues as well as living with the conditions of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Before practicing Social Work, I have had former careers in small business and medical research. Working in these other fields has given me added perspectives on work and life.

TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY
My practice is informed and influenced by concepts from various theoretical approaches including client-centered, cognitive-behavioural, narrative, mindfulness, feminist, family systems, and existentialist. Often, my approach is guided best by you. Your needs and concerns, as well as your unique qualities and characteristics will guide me in the best approach. It is not unusual to experience some unwanted feelings or occasional discomfort. It is important to understand that these are often helpful signals for points of discussion and not necessarily signals to withdrawal from the counselling process. Therapy may provide you the opportunity to discuss with a therapist, in confidence, about personal problems, interpersonal difficulties, difficult thoughts or feelings, life transitions, efforts toward personal growth or other challenges you may be experiencing. The goals of therapy are to help you gain greater awareness and understanding of your thoughts and feelings, as well as to reduce any feelings of distress. While these benefits can occur, they are not guaranteed.

Your individual goals for therapy will inform the direction of our process. To facilitate success, it is most useful for you to be as honest and open as possible, to discuss any reactions or questions you may have, to attend regularly, and to follow through on assignments between sessions, severity and duration of the problem and the motivation and cooperation of the client.

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YOUR RIGHTS
Clients always have the right to request a change in the counselling approach, a referral to another counsellor, or a termination of therapy. I am accountable for my work with you, and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to discuss these with me at any time. Your input is a necessary and valuable in ensuring positive outcomes in the therapeutic process. It is also an essential part of building and maintaining our therapeutic relationship. If after such discussions, you still have concerns, please contact my Clinical Director, Ruth-Ann Stewart at (604) 687-7171.

I have an obligation to you to understand and recognize the limits of my abilities. Likewise, I am obliged to openly inform you of these limitations, if it seems that more specialized training is required to best address your needs..

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STATEMENT ON THE LIMITS OF CONFIDENTIALITY
All counselling is strictly confidential except for under three circumstances. The following circumstances are the only times that I have a legal or ethical obligation to break confidentiality.

  1. If there is an admission or suspicion of child or elder abuse (verbal, sexual, physical

  2. If you are an imminent threat to yourself or others, meaning that you are suicidal or homicidal

  3. If a court of law issues a subpoena for our records

I participate in private supervision and regular group supervision with the clinical staff here. During our supervision, your case may be reviewed in a confidential and non-identifying manner. This is done strictly to ensure that I am providing you with the most effective psychological services.

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APPOINTMENTS
Individual appointments are 50 minutes in length, unless we agree on another time. It is important to be on time because your appointment will not be extended beyond your scheduled time if you arrive late. If you do not show up for your appointment, you will be charged the full fee, or one half fee will be charged if there is less than 24 hours notice of cancellation when speaking.

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