Practica Experience

I completed my Master of Counselling practicum at East Kootenay Addiction Services Society (EKASS) in Cranbrook, BC. EKASS is an agency with six offices across the East Kootenay region of BC and is funded by Interior Health. During this time, I provided free confidential counselling to individuals concerned about their own or others' substance use, facilitated online “Pathways to Healing” group, offered referrals to residential treatment facilities and medically assisted therapy practitioners, plus facilitated community education and harm reduction initiatives. Through individual therapy and psychoeducational group sessions with adults, I witnessed clients' courage to begin their counselling journey. Most importantly, I gained a deeper understanding of myself as a practitioner and the continuing education I hope to pursue. I recognized my strengths in building relationships, cultivating empathy, practicing cultural competence, holding space for others, engaging in reflective listening, and validating each person’s experience. My greatest challenge was shifting from a teaching mindset to a co-regulating, therapeutic presence, which required practice. 

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I have always believed that individuals possess the ability to facilitate their own growth and change—I simply needed to support them in finding their own path. Additionally, I strengthened my skills in trauma-informed care, the transtheoretical model of change, and various therapeutic approaches, including abstinence vs. harm reduction models, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS).  

Working primarily with adults, I deepened my understanding of counselling skills, theories supporting comprehensive client care, and the complexities of trauma, substance use, behavioural addictions, and the transtheoretical model of change.  Final learnings included systemic barriers to care for many populations and developed a passion for advocacy work toward equity and change.  

 

This practicum provided exceptional supervision and mentorship. My supervisor specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is the agency’s team lead in collaborative online treatment with Dr. Manak of the Interior Chemical Dependency Office in Kamloops, BC. Her expertise in both practice and supervision allowed me to hone my own skills and my own style as a practitioner while offering guidance and reflective experiences that challenged and strengthened my own practice.  I appreciated the collaborative counselling experience and the exceptional learning opportunity I was provided.  In the future, once I complete my EMDR certification, she has agreed to be my supervisor, and I look forward to continued learning under her guidance.