Our team at Journey in Balance offers counselling services to children, adolescents and adults in Peterborough, Ontario. We bring a caring non-judgemental approach, witness, and guide you on your journey to wellness.
We use an anti-oppressive, trauma responsive and feminist lens to support our work. We witness, provide information and guide you on your journey. What that means is that we believe that you have the knowledge and are the expert of your life.
Great question. It is understandable that they might be unsure to meet someone new to share worries and concerns. That’s why we encourage families to visit our space with their child prior to the first session. This helps with building relationship, feelings of trust and safety. There is no cost for this visit.
Let's also talk about confidentiality. If your child is 12 or older, they are their own client. They can sign their own consents. We endeavour to involve family and ask permission about what can be shared with parents as a helpful part of therapy. We have limits to confidentiality: if a person is at risk of hurting themselves, someone else or someone is hurting them. Or if our records are subpoenaed.
Another great question. There really isn’t a set answer for this. We take the child’s lead on this. Some children want their parents with them and can do the counselling work readily with their parents in the room. Other children and youth may want time alone or a combination of being alone and time with parents. We work with the family as a system, and within the bounds of client confidentiality to move towards healthy change and understanding.
As Allies, we are committed to being open, sensitive and affirming. We have experience working with youth as well as individual work with parents of LGTBQ -2, or questioning youth.
We charge 130.00 an hour or 65.00 for 30 minutes.
Some benefit packages do cover us. We do not direct bill. Please check with your provider to see if a Registered Social Worker is covered in your benefits. It’s tough to begin the counselling work and have this become a barrier.
We specialize in working with children, youth and individual work with adults. Trauma, grief, loss. anxiety and depression are our areas of focus.
Yes… we love being part of a team with written consent.