"Hi Kristen, I just wanted to thank you for your help. I have worked with a few different counsellors in private practice, but I have no that the level of assistance you provided. From the first time I contacted you, in a manner of days you addressed my insurance questions, found me an alternative, suggested options and helped to facilitate the appropriate support for my child. It may be the norm for you but in my experience it was exceptional. I love my daughter more than anything and just want her to realize like I do how amazing she is, and how much potential she has...since meeting with you I feel confident she will now have the help and support she requires. You are a special lady, Thank you." -(Parent of Client)
"When I first found Kristen last fall I was searching for exercises to help me deal with anxiety issues. Kristen took my complex patient history and by the end of our first session I was armed with skills to help myself start working towards a solution. Along this journey, Kristen was helpful, supportive and had the expertise to assist when challenges came up along the way. I can’t thank Kristen enough, as I couldn’t seem to figure out away to work through things on my own, and she was the voice of clarity and reason that showed me the way. I am thrilled to say that her ‘homework’ and ideas made a major improvement immediately, leaving me able to breathe freely for the first time in years. I continue to practice the skills she instilled to deal with things and am benefitting from leading an anxiety free life, enjoying each moment as it comes, and letting the future worry about itself. Thanks again! Me and my family are ever grateful for your help!"
-Female Client (35yrs)
"When I walked in to Restorative Counselling I was only doing it to prove everyone else in my life wrong. They were the ones with the problem. Society and the happenings in my world were to cause for my suffering. I told Kristen as much, and also let her know that I had been pushed to attend counselling and would do the three sessions I had agreed to and no more (thank you very much). I also told her that it wasn't going to help. I was I wrong, and I am so glad about that. She helped me see that in my desire to always be RIGHT, I sacrificed my own happiness. I would push in situations and in relationships until I proved myself right. I would have expectations of others and the world around me that were so unrealistic that they would inevitably disappoint me (just like I had expected). I had horrible insomnia. I smoked weed every night to get to sleep, and during the day every time someone or something pissed me off enough that I needed to chill out and restore my sanity. I had been smoking weed as a solution for almost 30 years, and I believed it was the only solution. Kristen proposed that I try some alternatives, if only for the brief time we were working together. I only agreed so that I could ultimately prove her wrong, and told her so! I knew I could take a 3 week break from pot and that matters would only get worse. We did an assessment of my life and how I was functioning. I was doing really well physically, my work kept me active and I worked out hard. But I had no value for engaging with others socially, and had very few skills for dealing with emotions. My solution had been to burn off my frustration through an intense work out or smoke weed until I couldn't feel my pain. When we talked about my spiritual health, I actually laughed. I am not religious and thought she was barking up the wrong tree! But she helped me look at the things I used to do that 'fed my spirit' like fishing, hunting and camping. I started to remember just how much I loved being outside and when I learned how to do that in a mindful way, it changed everything. These changes started happening after 3 weeks, and I decided to keep at it. I started doing hobbies that I had set aside. I joined a club (as a two week trail) and met people that like doing some of the same things I like. People started to comment on how there was something different. i started to look younger, and I actually started to look myself in the eye when I was in front of a mirror. The things that used to drive me insane don't even bother me anymore, and I do meditation every day because I don't want to lose what I've found. I feel happier than I had in decades and I sleep like a baby at night, without medicating. I've only smoked weed twice in the last 8 months and didn't enjoy it at all. I guess now I've officially become one of those nuts that recommends counseling to people. Try it out and actually do the homework just to see. Thank you Kristen, and I'm sorry I was so mean when we first met."