Topic: Bergen and Associates Counselling News

Our Smith Street location once again has openings available for new clients.

Nadia Sawaya has begun seeing clients at both of our locations, on Pembina Highway as well as the downtown location at Smith and York Streets.  Nadia is warm and engaging, and has an enthusiasm for her craft that makes her great to work with.  As we've been orienting Nadia to our processes and paper streams, we've noticed how she is always on top of what she needs to know, asks questions to close the information gaps, and generally is great at paying close attention to detail.  We're really going to enjoy having her around.

Today's edition of the Winnipeg Free Press has the announcement that Jennifer Lockhart and Stephanie Albiani are beginning to provide services at Bergen and Associates Counselling. 

Jennifer Lockhart began just a few weeks ago.  It has been great to have her gentle and professional presence around.  She pays attention to detail and works hard to figure out the administrative procedures.  That kind of dedication to being aware of what is needed is a huge "plus" factor for the clients who she is working with.  She is calm, engaging, and listens carefully to those of us around the office.  She has already developed a great start with a number of clients who are working with her. We're glad she's working with us.

Stephanie Albiani begins with us this week.  We're excited to have her energy around.  She's got a great sense of humor, thinks things through carefully and gives thoughtful responses as we get things figured out around here.  Can hardly wait for her to get settled in!

Grass generally doesn't have a chance to grow under our feet around here.  We run a high positive energy office around this place.  It's a fun happenin' place to be.  The pace just went up this week though!

Fatima is a graduating student from Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface in business.  She is working with us for a month to get experience working in a business environment.  Fatima is an international student, hailing from Senegal in West Africa.  She has an amazing "bring it on" attitude that has her asking to learn new procedures and tackle projects with enthusiasm.  Melanie's normal energy for high quality work is being stretched this week, as Fatima is tackling the projects we give her at turbo speed, and is completing the work we have for faster than we could have imagined.   Staying one step ahead of Fatima is gonna be a challenge for Melanie this month!

What is amazing is that she is doing all this work in her second language...can't imagine the extra energy it takes to be learning all this stuff in another language than what she is most familiar with.

We're glad to have Fatima with us, and hoping her experience with us will be helpful to her even a fraction of much as how much she is helping us!

I tell my students at the University, that when you really want to know about what a patient is up to in the hospital, the Occupational Therapists need to ask housekeeping staff.  The housekeeping staff know if the patient is really able to get up out of bed, how much they are talking, and if they ever leave the room.  Support staff really do make the world go round, and generally know more than anybody.  The case has never been truer than with Melanie (pronounced Mah-LAY-nee) at our office.  Thanx for your work Melanie!


Thanx for...

• enjoying each opportunity you have to answer an inquiry from a caller who is gathering information about our services.  You endeavor to give our callers the answers they need so they can make informed decisions.  You enjoy the task of helping each person as they call...and I think people can tell.  You are understanding and compassionate when people are a little nervous when they call...and they often relax over the course of the phone conversation.  That is fun to watch!
  
• handing me to over what I am coming to ask for before I even finish asking you to do the task.  Your anticipation of what needs to get done is amazing!
• making the water ready and hot for tea before I arrive in the morning.  That's a really thoughtful and kind gesture.
• chuckling with me over our silly mistakes or misunderstandings so we can gently laugh at ourselves, and then fix things and move on.
• working at Bergen and Associates!
  

I apologize for my lack of recent blog postings...I had some sort of viral bug last week.  Anything that absolutely didn't need to get done...didn't.  I'm back on the mend now...or at least I've decided that is going to be my approach this week.

Here is a picture of an orientation session that Melanie is having with Carolyne, our newest addition to the Bergen & Associates Counselling team.  Melanie, our office manager, works four days per week, allowing her to take her parents to appointments and generally taking care of herself--lunch with friends.  She practices what we preach--self care.  We can all learn something from her. That left us without someone dedicated to answer phones...inquiries about counselling, appointment changes and so forth

We found Carolyne, a Winnipegger at heart who, after meandering with her family to live in various places, has found her way back to Winnipeg.  Carolyne has been with us for just over a month, with a lot of experience working with clients in various government and banking programs.  We are thrilled to have her.  Her last boss is not thrilled that we have her, but I think would be pleased that she has found a place to use her great skills. Carolyne Nickel is working Thursdays with us, and may pick up extra hours from time to time.  In an amazingly short amount of time, she has picked up on all sorts of details to provide our clients with the information they need.

In addition to work at Bergen and Associates Counselling, Carolyne is busy with studies on a part time basis, as well as having an active family.

It's been a little interesting for me to have Carolyne around.  Though she has an extra "e" on the end, our names are pronounced the same...I can't remember ever having worked so closely with someone with the same name.  I'm suspecting there will be the odd confusion as we sort out which Carolyn/e people are looking to speak to.

Welcome, Carolyne!  I trust that your time at Bergen and Associates will be ones in which all involved are richer for the experience.  May it be life-giving for you!

Bergen & Associates Counselling is 10 years old today! Brian, Lynn and Gary surprised us with cake to celebrate.  A day with a Jeanne's cake is a good day! What a fun way to acknowledge the day!

Of course, it looked a lot different 10 years ago than it does today. September 29, 1999, there was one office, which I used only about 2 or 3 hours per week.  The furniture was different, the walls were bland, and I was new to being in private practice.  I was at a life stage where I had little time to let others know what I was doing.  I was working ½ time at Misericordia Health Center while the practice was building and busy in the rest of my life. It was a deliberately slow start.

Over time, my life has changed, and so has the practice.  We now have 4 offices to see clients in 2 different locations, with charmingly designed space designed to feel comfortable, cozy, and safe, yet fresh and light.  There are 7 therapists providing excellent quality therapy to our clients, including an intern in a program that we have had set up for 4 years now.  We have an office manager/intake coordinator who looks after the bookkeeping, administration, and client inquiries and bookings.

Our clients tell us that they are feeling more empowered in their decision making, less anxious, and better able to relate to the important people in their lives.  We work with numerous agencies with our anger management program, helping clients meet their court and employer mandated requirements for beginning to deal with their anger.  Transforming Destructive in Constructive program manages to educate people about their anger, challenge inappropriate behavior, and gently come alongside participants as they deal with some painful parts of themselves that they protect with anger.  The Family Violence Protection Program which facilitates the shelters, second stage housing, and resource centers in the province consult with us about clinical issues.  We provide workshops to them around topics which are of concern.  The work of helping those who struggle with violence in their lives is difficult…we seek to encourage and empower the staff of these programs as they continue to do this challenging work on an ongoing basis.
 

None of this would have been possible without the encouragement and support of our office neighbors at our Pembina Location.  Reimer Advertising is owned by friends of mine…they had an empty office that they let me hang out in the first years.  The rental arrangement allowed me to start a very part time practice. Toni was the receptionist for the other business and took the time away from her other duties to answer my phone when it would ring in those early years.
	Then, over time, as my space needs grew, and technology made their space needs less, Reimer Advertising let me begin to take up more space.  They have been absolutely fantastic to work with, and have, during times which I have had huge demands on me personally, been incredibly compassionate towards me.  They have demonstrated patience and commitment that will always be a lifelong example to me.  Thanx to Gary, Brian, and Lynn. I will always be unspeakably grateful to you for your kindness and support.

In addition to incredible moments of healing and growth with clients, I have other fond memories of this place from the last 10 years.  Here are just a few:

• the “mid-winter summer picnics” that we used to have, when we were so tired of the cold.  We would put out the gingham tablecloth on the floor, put the sound of waves on the beach on the nearest Mac, each bring cucumber sandwiches, devilled eggs, or potato salad, and enjoy the feast.  One year we even had plastic ants, and lit a citronella candle as we sat on the floor in beachwear.
• the celebration of Reimer Advertising’s anniversary where we went to Tavern in the Park and ate in the tower high above the restaurant in Assiniboine Park.  Others who arrived first decided they felt like royalty waving off the balcony as the rest of us came.  The dinner was so much fun up there.
• the Christmas potlucks where all bring an assortment of food native to their Christmas celebrations.  We close the office early on that day and together enjoy some fun and quietness after the rush of the Christmas preparations.  Oh…and then there’s a gift exchange that requires creatively recycyling something from home…the rules of the game are something that are debated and worked out—takes longer than the game some years!
• our therapist meetings happen on a Saturday afternoon every couple of months…over the years, in addition to ensuring that professional matters are attended to, we’ve had baby showers, bridal showers, good-bye and welcome celebrations.
  

We’ve come a looooong way in 10 years.  It feels really good to be a part of this place. I am humbled when I hear the stories therapists tell me about the change and growth that happens in our clients.  I love hearing how clients find a sense of safety and comfort as they interact with us as therapists, and how that creates room for greater insight.  That insight allows for peace of mind, release of painful feelings, and an ability to move forward with a greater awareness of one’s own potential and abilities. I am thrilled with what happens here.  I enjoy coming to work every morning and the people I work—clients and therapists—have a lot to do with that.

This morning, Melanie, our office manager, gave me some flowers in honor of the occasion.  The card said:  "Wishing you and your clients continued growth”.  Thanx Melanie, and may it be so.

I can almost smell the fresh wood shavings (off of newly sharpened Laurentian pencial crayons) this time of year as school starts as I remember the years of loving those brand new tall pencil crayons waiting for projects to color.  The smell of fresh plastic with the carboflourocarbons (or whatever they are called) wafting off a new pencil case as I loaded and reloaded it with pencils, pens erasers, and whatever else I could fit.  Ahhh…the smells of fall.

This week has been the start of new things.  Roshonna Plett started with us at Bergen and Associates Counselling.  She is an intern from Providence College and Seminary who is doing an SCE (supervised clinical education) with us this year.  She will be seeing about 6-8 clients per week.  I meet with her for one hour per week as she asks me questions that beginning therapists have. She’s off to a great start. We are fortunate to have her work with us.  Her work allows us to offer quality therapy at a reduced rate for clients who are otherwise unable to afford it.  I always appreciate the chance it affords me as she presents scenarios, trys out ideas, and challenges me on questions that I have to force myself to think through—it sharpens me.

I was at CMU  (Canadian Mennonite University) this afternoon for a couple of hours speaking with the staff of the Outtatown Program, a really cool program that allows students a year of university adventure that challenges body, brain, heart and soul.  Students spend the fall learning in Canada at various centers and then leave in the new year for several months in South Africa or Guatemala where they experience the culture, eat the food, live with and get to know and respect the people, and do some work to help out with projects that are ongoing.  I work with them as a clinical consultant—the program stretches students to grow.  Occasionally, the student can have difficulty with  a personal issue.  Though the staff is incredibly experienced and well equipped for their tasks, sometimes a conversation with a professional counsellor is helpful and that is where I came in.  Today I told them about some basic principals of relating to students in crisis, and how to handle their own souls in the midst of a challenging job that is 24/7.  I loved seeing their enthusiasm and energy for what was going to happen in their lives and the lives of the students as they seek the face of God.

What struck me about both of these beginnings is the questions that people have around boundaries—especially important when starting something off.  People who are naturally caring need to ensure that they are helping without taking over. Wanting to do a good job, and not letting the one’s own eagerness get in the way of the client doing good work.  Anxious to help a client, and being careful to focus on a client’s issues in counselling, not taking care of her own anxiety.  That’s a tough one—we all want to do a good job and see a client really succeed—the temptation can be to overfunction for a client and push them in a good direction to ease one’s own concern for needing them to do well.  That’s not fair to the client, nor is it respectfully allowing a client to move forward at their own pace. And the practical questions about sensitively asking about self-harm, allowing a client to get comfortable even if that means allowing the conversation to jump from topic to topic at a more superficial level than we often do.  Even how to take care of oneself as a caregiver when one is exposed to difficult painful stories of those we work with—compassion fatigue is something that we need to talk about so that people can be energized for this work in the long haul.

The work of facilitating growth in another is an awesome task that requires continual seasoning and careful care of one’s own soul.  Helping others begin well gives me a chance to be reminded of basic core beliefs, theories, and approaches that has me feeling more energized to do the work I do with clients.

I may not be needing pencil crayons or a new pencil case this year, but I am ready for the challenges in a new way!

Our official sign was posted on our Smith Street location.  It looks great, and we look like we officially belong.

Rod is working downtown and the new location is working out fabulous.  Our neighbors are fun and easy to get along with.  The room is relaxing and conducive to important therapeutic conversations.  We are thrilled with how it is going.  Parking is surprisingly accessible in that part of town, and we are only a few minutes' walk from the major office buildings, affording people to be able to walk over during the day to go for counselling.

We have Joy this month at Bergen and Associates Counselling. Literally. Biringanine Joyeux Bahizire is spending the month of May with us.  For those who are Franco-challenged, he has graciously permitted to call him "Joy".  Joyeux is a student at the College St-Boniface in their business administration program.  Lisa Roch was looking for placements for their students and so we volunteered to be a learning center for him.  He gets a chance to see a little of how one office operates. While he is learning about how our office runs, we get a chance to put him to work.  We are appreciating his work, and are grateful to have him help us catch up on our bookkeeping, work on little projects that have been waiting for someone like him to give them some attention. He's been good natured and patient with us, as we get used to his accent.  Melanie has been working with him as I have been off teaching and getting our second office completed and I appreciate the direction she has provided to him. Welcome aboard, Joyeux!

I'm excited to let the world know that the couch has arrived.  And no, for the jokesters out there, it is not a chaise lounger that clients lie down on and ramble on aimlessly and endlessly about their mothers.  It's a beautiful coordinating loveseat that completes the room, making it a pleasant and cozy feeling environment for counselling.  Take a look

	This is the couch.  The cushions are coming in July as they are on back order.  The building is a beautiful building that was constructed in 1906.  The brick wall at the back is one of those beautiful "they-don't-make-em-like-that-anymore" brick walls.
This is the other side of the room.  The blue color is gorgeous and I just love the feeling in the room.
	This is the view from the doorway. The shelf above the loveseat is missing a few things to complete the room.
This is the outside of the building at 143 Smith Street at the corner of Smith and York.  There's a huge sign right on the corner of the building advertising "Dental F/X" which is in the same building

While the real work of therapy occurs in the conversation with the therapist, and working with the changes that happen inside of a person during and inbetween sessions, I do feel strongly that the environment helps set the stage.  We work to create a positive experience for clients starting at the website, continuing through the appointment booking process, first impressions on entering the office, preparing the groundwork for productive work with the counselor. We're looking forward to working with clients in this new space as well as our other offices at 2265 Pembina Highway.