About Us
Ruth-Ann Stewart
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Stewart and Associates Counselling and Consulting Services Inc. (SACCS)
About: Heather Jassy, MA, CCA
| Education | Treatment Philosophy | Your Rights |
| Experience | Limits of Confidentiality |
MISSION
To facilitate a
successful counselling experience, it is important that clients
understand what is involved in the counselling process and therapeutic
relationship. It is most helpful when both the counsellor and the client
have a good understanding of their rights and responsibilities. From
this mutual understanding, a comfortable working relationship and safe
environment can be created. This statement is to provide clarification
of what you may expect from a counsellor, and similarly, what may be
expected of clients. The primary goal of counselling is your well-being.
If you have any questions or concerns about the nature and course of
your counselling process, I encourage you to feel free to bring these to
my attention.
EDUCATION
& EXPERIENCE
I have
an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University, Seattle. My
professional training and past work experiences have given me the
opportunity to work with adults and children, from a wide variety of
cultural, socioeconomic and familial backgrounds. Likewise, I have had
the chance to work with a variety of concerns and I am looking forward
to broadening these even further.
Counselling Orientation and
Philosophy
My
practice is informed and influenced by concepts from various theoretical
approaches including existentialist, client-centered, art therapy,
narrative, cognitive-behavioural, body-centered, mindfulness, feminist
and family systems. Often, my approach is guided best by your concerns,
as well as your unique qualities and characteristics.
During the process of counselling, 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.
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 supervisor 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.
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.
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. Your
appointment is held exclusively for you. 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.