Jacqueline Strong, Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)
If I were in your shoes looking for a counsellor, I’d want to get to know a bit about what they are like as a person and how they interpret the way the world works. Let me help you fill in the blanks to see if we’re a fit.
Growing up on the east coast surrounded by the roar of the ocean lit a fire in me from a young age. I’ve always been a no nonsense person with a take no prisoners attitude. When it comes to counselling, that translates to me being the therapist who is here to work diligently alongside you in your journey, and I expect you to work just as hard.
Accountability is very important to me. My clients not only accept accountability but also look for where they can take responsibility. This is a key component to the success of our work together. Some may call me tough, yet in the same breath I’ve been told they’d also call me fair, loyal, dependable, and fiercely committed to helping you achieve whatever you set out to in your life.
I work primarily under the specialty umbrella of life transitions, not only because I have extensive training in ways to help those going through transitions but also because I have gone through many myself.
I have moved to live in many cities, gone to multiple universities, opened and closed the book on a few friendships and intimate partnerships, worked in countless different jobs, lost many loved ones and pets to death, grieved friends I’ve had to leave or who have moved away from me, gone through medical and physical conditions that have changed my identity as well as the potential future I could have, dealt with suicide attempts of family members, loss of income and housing security… and so with all of these transitions as well as my education I believe I’m well suited for helping others who are going through any type of transition.
I do believe it is important to know that although we may not have gone through the same thing, it is my belief that the underlying ways in which anyone can learn to cope successfully with transitions share some commonalities. In the 5,000+ hours I’ve spent counselling people, many similarities have popped up. Connection brings about commonalities and although we aren’t the same, I can most likely relate to a lot you are experiencing. I won’t fill your shoes the exact same way you do, but I will certainly step into them, work hard to understand your experience, and help you figure out the best way to deal with whatever you are going through.
My ultimate goal as your counsellor is to make you feel comfortable, to connect and empathize with you. I want you to feel as if you have someone to support you and fight for you. I want you to feel validated and heard. I want you to grow strong through our work together and to feel as if you can accomplish whatever you set out to. I like to view myself as a bit of a safety net: if you can envision yourself taking a leap of faith and trusting that I have your best interest at heart, I will commit to be here for you if you should need help through the process. In learning new skills and trying new ways of overcoming problems we all stumble. It is my belief that how we look at that stumble really matters. I’m a fan of the idea that we take two steps forward and then take one step sideways, never losing our progress just getting off-track occasionally.
Together we can get you back on track and taking fewer side steps