Counselling

Counselling

Our Counselling services are offered in individual, group, peer, and family counselling sessions, where each counselling option allows for different client needs to be addressed at different stages in the recovery process. We provide our clients with information addressing sexual violence, healing from sexual violence, and various coping strategies. This information allows counselling to serve as a venue for changing problematic understandings about sexual violence, which helps decrease the shame, secrecy, and isolation that many survivors experience. These supportive and informative counselling environments help clients feel understood, supported, and less alone.

Adult Counselling

Our adult counselling is conducted by professionals trained in specialized services for survivors of sexual violence.

• Up to 12 sessions at no cost. The length of service is always individualized and assessed by you and your counsellor.
• Sessions are approximately 50 minutes long offered in-person, virtual or a combination of both.
• Appointments are scheduled during business hours.
  Treatment methods include Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness Approaches and other traditional models.

Child & Youth Counselling

We offer child and youth counselling to all genders ages 3 – 18 years.

• Any person 16 years old may access services without parental/guardian consent.
• Any person younger than 16 years of age must be deemed a “mature minor” by a professional or have parent/guardian consent for counselling. We encourage youth that are not aware of their privacy rights to call our office or use our anonymous chat for more information.
• We provide each individual with up to 8 counselling sessions, however services can be individualized based on needs.
• Sessions are approximately 30-50 minutes long (age and ability dependent) offered in-person, virtual or a combination of both.
• Appointments are scheduled during business hours.
  Our agency has partnered with many schools within the region and based on client needs, our services may be offered at the clients’ school during school hours.
• Treatment methods include Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Play Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Supportive Counselling, and other traditional models.

Group Counselling

Support sessions are available from time to time where there is interest.

Personal Safety & Wellness Program

Our Personal Safety & Wellness is a preventative program designed to increase children’s resiliency and establish a sense of safety and well-being.

This no cost program is for children and youth ages 3-18. Topics covered include age-appropriate information about body-safety and awareness, positive communication skills, identifying appropriate boundaries, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and consent.

Our program facilitators work with parents/guardians to tailor the program to meet each individual’s needs. This program is also appropriate for individuals with differing cognitive abilities.

Support Persons

Sexual violence impacts more than just the survivor. Often parents/guardians, spouses/partners, siblings, friends, and other family members struggle to cope with feelings and emotions following a disclosure of sexual assault or abuse. The Dragonfly Centre will provide counselling services to all those impacted by sexual violence directly or indirectly.

We also offer specialized psycho-educational sessions for support persons who would like information and guidance on how to help loved ones who have been impacted by trauma.

Virtual Counselling

Dragonfly Centre understands that living and working in rural communities can pose a barrier to accessing support services. In an effort to reduce barriers we offer distance counselling as an option. Save travel hours and get the necessary help!

Counsellors and support workers are able to schedule a time to connect with clients using the telephone and/or an internet communication application.

Distance counselling options include:

• Teleconferencing
• Video conferencing
  • Utilizes computer technologies and an appropriate software application, like Skype to provide face-to-face sessions.
• Hybrid In-person / Virtual
  • Sometimes a mix of in-person / distance sessions are appropriate. This option is the best of both worlds. Saving on travel while also connecting in-person.

Ensuring access is important to us. We work closely with community partners to ensure clients have the tools they need to access our services. Clients who experience internet and/or technology barriers are encouraged to contact us.

Contact the main office to inquire whether distance counselling is right for you.

Outreach Services

The Dragonfly Centre operates from the main office in Bonnyville and satellite offices in Athabasca, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, and St. Paul. Our support team, counselling team, and also our educational team, travels to communities throughout the North East Region to provide direct services; including First Nations communities and Métis Settlements.

We are currently developing services in Slave Lake, Smoky Lake and Wabasca-Desmarais and meeting clients virtually.