About Junction
Meet Erin
MACP, RCC
I am a Master’s level, Registered Clinical Counsellor that has been providing mental health services in Victoria, BC since 2018. I have supported people from a variety of backgrounds with many different goals and concerns.
I love what I do. I consider this role to be such a privilege. It truly is an honour to hear someone’s story and accompany them as they pursue their goals. I believe that the passion I have for connection makes me an effective counsellor. You can tell when someone genuinely cares about you. That is what my clients experience.
I have a background in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. I incorporate these into sessions not as a strict framework, but rather as a source for practical tools when relevant to your goals and priorities. DBT has four components - Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness - and each of these components has several tools associated with it. Some people struggle in these areas and are hoping to learn many of these step-by-step tools. Other people are interested to learn one or two of them to take one of these areas from good to better. Either way, these concepts are an asset to the support I provide.
What to expect
People are often nervous or eager for their first counselling appointment. This is normal. It can be intense to start a new process, with a new person, especially if you don’t know what to expect.
Truthfully, the first appointment is not my favourite. I am very excited to get to know each new client, yet there are a few formalities to start with. I will collect some basic information, go over consent, privacy, answer any questions you have, and then identify what brings you in. The length of this process varies person to person.
For those who are nervous to get started, it can be nice to ease into things. For those who are very eager to open up and walk away with something tangible from their therapist, this might be less appealing. It is important to understand that not only are there logistical reasons that we need to take our time at the beginning, but it is also for your benefit. Your story is valuable. You deserve to
have some trust established before someone has the privilege of hearing your story.
Throughout the counselling process, appointments look a little bit different person-to-person, and week-to-week. What remains consistent across clients is that you have the opportunity to use the time the way you want. It is your hour. If there is a day when you’re “drawing a blank”, then it is my job to bring more structure. I take brief session notes to keep us organized.
If your idea if therapy comes from what you see on tv, I promise it is better than that. I will not analyze you or tell you what to do. We will collaborate to make the sessions what you need them to be, and you are the authority on yourself and your story.