Synergy Counselling Associates Ltd.
605 Nicola St. V2C 2R3 Kamloops, BC, Canada

Fear and anxiety have a purpose. They are built into our bodies to protect us from dangers. They signal our brains to activate our body’s stress response or the fight/flight/freeze system. So, what happens to a community of people when they are all simultaneously launched into this stress response? And what happens to that community when this response lingers on for more than 6 months? You won’t have to doom scroll very long before you will witness these effects. Our latest blog post on the website dives into these feelings and how we can use empathy to help. https://www.synergycounselling.ca//shame-is-not-a-social-/

Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) can help understand the dynamics that block happiness especially during COVID-19.

Going back to school can be an anxiety-provoking experience for youth of all ages. A new grade, new friends, a new teacher, and possibly a new school is exciting, but that amount of change and anticipation can be scary. Add in the uncertainty of the new school year with the COVID-19 pandemic, and many youth, teachers, and parents alike may be experiencing heightened anxiety levels. With fully-remote and COVID safe in-person options available, message us to set up your appointment today. https://www.synergycounselling.ca/

Remember that Seinfeld episode where Frank Costanza is advised by his doctor to say serenity now every time he gets angry, as a way to help him lower his blood pressure? Frank is shown raising his hands to the sky, exclaiming SERENITY NOW! at all kinds situations. It’s funny, and yet, anybody feeling like this recently? A lot of us are feeling under pressure, trying to figure out Covid protocols, school re-openings and work/life balance in a pandemic. Trying to decide who... to see, when and where, how close to sit, whether or not someone is in our bubble, or should/shouldn’t be? Here is our look at a serenity now reflection strategy that may help you with decision-making! https://www.synergycounselling.ca//serenity-now-back-to-s/

Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) can help understand the dynamics that block happiness especially during COVID-19.

As British Columbia moves into Phase 3 of re-opening, many of us are starting to resume normal activities, and life is starting to look and feel a little more normal. Even though you are under fewer restrictions and have more freedom than you have had for months, you may find that you still don’t feel quite right. You may feel anxious, depressed, and easily irritated. You may notice that you are tired, that you have poor memory and concentration, and that you have brain f...og. You’re probably wondering what is wrong with me? If things are getting better, why do I still feel bad? https://www.synergycounselling.ca//why-am-i-feeling-this-/

"... but before COVID-19 hit the ground, I had recently taken a class at an artisan bakery nearby. As always, I took copious notes and tried to replicate the magic, but magic I had not. The potion required two ingredients I never wrote down: slowing down and surrender." https://www.synergycounselling.ca//life-as-a-loaf-of-bread/

As our province moves towards resuming in-person business activities, Synergy Counselling has taken steps to learn how to serve our community safely. For our team, safety comes first. We want to work together to keep our clients, our team and all of our families healthy. Currently, Worksafe BC recommends that counsellors reduce risks of infection by continuing to offer telehealth appointments whenever possible. The risk for COVID-19 transmission is reportedly increased by se...veral factors, such as sharing closed spaces with a single ventilation system, and the length of time people spend in close proximity, especially indoors. Our team is grateful to be able to continue to serve our clients and community via telehealth, as social distances remains the most effective way to decrease the spread of COVID-19. We have also been working hard to implement the Worksafe BC, Interior Health Authority and our professional associations’ recommended protocols to begin allowing in-person sessions. Over the next months, we hope to slowly phase into welcoming clients, on a limited basis, back into our office. We would also like to thank our clients and community for the support, patience and understanding as we have found creative ways together to continue to help you meet your goals. Stay tuned for future updates. We will get through this, one step at a time. Celeste Schell & Viviane Wingerak

Reality check we are living through a global pandemic. Everything is harder. Simple tasks have become mountainous. We are anxious, sad, frustrated, scared and overwhelmed. Most of all, we are triggered. We are experiencing collective trauma and we are so very tired. We do not need extra pressure and expectation. So what DO we need? https://www.synergycounselling.ca//learning-to-tolerate-u/

Looking for something to do while social distancing. Here it is...

https://cmha.bc.ca/news/managing-anxiety-covid-19/

Let's keep safe together... We are here for you to adapt together and offer you choices during this time of quarantine and social distancing. With the latest options for distance appointments, you can continue counselling or start it today from the comfort and safety of your own home.

COVID 19 UPDATE as of March 19, 2020 We’re here for you during COVID-19. Let’s stay safe together! As the world responds to the COVID 19 pandemic, our concerns around personal health and safety of our clients, their families, our team and the community are a priority. We continue to monitor and follow the recommendations of our Provincial Health Minister. We have now temporarily transitioned our services to phone and video sessions to promote social distancing and the safety... of all. We are finding ways to continue to support you during these difficult times. We are pleased to announce that we are offering phone and video counselling appointments. We encourage those who can join us in this technological journey to do so and our counsellors are available to help you get started. The video platform we have chosen is Zoom. It is known to be one of the most efficient and privacy complaint online venues and it can be downloaded onto any device of your choosing. In order to prioritize the safety of our clients, our team and our community as a whole we are only offering distance appointments for two weeks, from March 23rd, 2020. We will be re-evaluating this decision so that we can serve our community through face-to-face appointments as soon as we are safe to do so. Please like us on Facebook to stay connected and to read the most current updates about our services. For an undetermined window of time, we will continue to require that all clients who have returned to Canada from International travel follow the recommended self-isolation period of 14 days and conduct any business with us via phone, internet and Zoom. This will also apply to clients who are experiencing symptoms consistent with the COVID-19. If you have any questions, please contact your counsellor directly or our administrative team. For our current clients, anticipate that your counsellor will be in touch to share information, as we work towards the increased needed social distancing. We continue to be committed to providing you with the best service and support that we can offer. We also have counsellors available for new clients who are seeking service during these uncertain times. Stay safe and take care, Synergy Counselling and Administrative team

We all make mistakes and apologies are a part of daily life for many of us. Yet not all apologies are created equally. Sometimes, the apology roadblock exists in the receiver of the apology. Perhaps, he/she/they are not ready to forgive (for now or ever), not able to forgive completely, or perhaps he/she/they needs something more from the apology. Other times, the apology itself is the obstacle to forgiveness. Forgiveness can often be stilted by the apology itself. Sadly,... few people know how to offer a healing and sincere apology. Author and psychotherapist Hariett Lerner writes about the five ways to ruin an apology in her 2017 book Why Won’t You Apologize: Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts. Read our summarization of these 5 apology attempts on our newest blog post. https://www.synergycounselling.ca//you-call-that-an-apolo/

We are running this great program for insomnia. Pls spread the word!

We live in cluttered, rushed and over-stimulated modern societies where sleep hygiene seems like a folktale, like catching a cold out in the rain. We push our days to the last drop we can squeeze. Living with insomnia is very stressful and it can take you to the verge of desperation. Here is where we offer you some good news: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia, or CBT-I for short, may help you to put insomnia to sleep. CBT-I is a non-pharmaceutical treatment that i...s supported by research and can help you regain your restful nights. Please visit our website for more information on our programs. There is a new CBT-I 6 session program starting this month! https://www.synergycounselling.ca//cbt-1-this-can-be-your/

Congrats on the successful event!!!