I Want to Help You Cultivate Your Comeback.
Whatever has derailed you or is the source of your struggle, I’m here to help you by:
- Providing a non-judgemental place for you to process your story. We’ve all made mistakes and messed up. Hidden, unprocessed events have the tendency to keep recurring. Let’s unpack and move through.
- Equipping you with tools that will not only help you get through the obstacles now but ensure that you are better prepared for whatever life may throw at you next.
- Working toward focus and clarity for your next steps so you can design a future you can look forward to.
Schedule an Appointment 
Qualifications:
Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association
#10004199
Master of Counselling Degree.
Narrative Therapy Training
I believe our lives are made of stories. There are stories about you that you have forgotten in light of your present difficulties. There are stories about you that need shoring up – like the one where you are incredibly resilient with unbelievable internal strength. It also means I want to walk with you to help make the outline for better chapters ahead.
APSATS Training
Association of Partners of Sexual Addiction Trauma Specialist. Not all addiction is created equal. Partners and spouses of those struggling with chronic problematic sexual behaviours have a particularly difficult road to walk. They have suffered a betrayal trauma that hits at their core. There are special skills needed to walk with these brave souls and I’ve been trained in the Multi-dimensional Partner Trauma Model and am currently in the process of certification. I do not believe partners are automatically codependent.
ASIST Training
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. Do you have suicidal thoughts? Talk to me. It’s not uncommon and it needs to be talked about.
What’s It Like Working With Me
I’m also empathetic, non-judgemental and compassionate. It’s part of being a Plan B or C person.
If you are looking for a professional to diagnose you – that is not me.
If you are looking for someone that knows firsthand how life can knock you off your feet. That would be me.
I am more of a knowledgable guide then a researched professional. Don’t get me wrong, I am an avid learner and will always dig deep to find the best resources for my clients. But I’ve lived life long enough to know things aren’t always cut and dried and humans will always surprise you.
I like to laugh. Life is hard. Sometimes all you can do is laugh.
I am faith-based but you don’t have to be. I can counsel from a Christian perspective but I don’t have to. I identify as being a follower of Christ but don’t fit neatly into very many faith boxes. I have the capacity to accept wherever you are spiritually whether firm in what you believe, questioning what you believe, or walking away from what you believe. You’re spiritually safe here no matter where you find yourself.
Let’s Get Personal
I didn’t set out to be a Plan B person. I thought I had my game plan firmly in place a few decades ago. Unfortunately for me, and may be for you, Plan A got railroaded by an unforeseen shift: Plan B – Life.
Life happens. Things change. You change. Plan B, for me involved putting education on hold so I could hold little hands. Tucking in tiny toes, mending scraped knees and taxi-ing kids with a silly song on auto-repeat, became what my life revolved around. Plan B’s are often thrilling rides where you learn more about yourself and are often forced to grow in ways you never suspected you needed to. I started a business during this time related to another passion of mine – animals
Then one day, when the children become slightly more independent, I was passionately working my business, when a nagging feeling took hold. I was dissatisfied. What?!?! That was crazy talk. I loved what I did. I was good at it. But as I worked I found my mind returning to Plan A.
Heading back to school in your 40’s isn’t everyone’s dream. I tried to avoid it for a bit. I worked harder at my business. I added a coaching certification…and the nagging feeling grew.
What was my purpose?
Why could I no longer just be content?
Why was I no longer jumping out of bed eager for the day?
I tried new hobbies and side hustles. Kayaking a new body of water every weekend became a goal and a distraction. But there’s nothing like hours on a quiet lake to bring you face to face with those thoughts you’ve been trying to bury.
There was something more I should be about. But what? When you find yourself feeling unfulfilled, unhappy, unmotivated or uninspired, like I was, it’s time to ask some hard questions.
Unfulfilled. Unhappy. Unmotivated. Uninspired.
It was time for Plan C. Is Plan C even a thing?
Life Coaching had revealed I really enjoyed walking with people through their struggles. It also showed me I needed more skills.
Plan C involved a few crazy years of running my business and heading back to graduate school. It was a crazy life juggle but I have emerged with a Master of Counselling Degree.
Coaching + Counselling = Perfect Combination for my Perfect Clients
Coaching and Counselling. To me the perfect combination. Sometimes you need a coach to help you move forward with your life and sometimes you need a counsellor to help you clean out the garbage that has accumulated along the way. Sometimes you need a counsellor to hear your painful story and sometimes you need a coach to help you write a new story. I’m happy to be both and feel it’s especially important with the people I want to work with.
I have been trained to deal with a wide variety of struggles. My main focus though is with helping improve the mental health of those who don’t seem to need it! They are showing up to work, mostly keeping up with their responsibilities but there are obstacles holding them back. Few other may know it, but they do.
My Favourite Clients:
It’s kind of like asking who my favourite kid is (and just so you know, you should always pick from your own when you’re asked that question!) Honestly, if you’ve read this far, and you’re still on board, you’re probably one of my favourites. But here are a few more things I like to work with:
– Plan B, C or even D people. Those wrestling through a life that has moved them into Plan B without their permission. And those trying to forge out a brand new Plan C. Don’t settle. Derailed people that are back on track are the best people in the world.
– Anxiety coaching: There are so many high functioning people that are working hard to push down that anxiety, or trying to deal with it quietly by themselves in the bathroom at work. If you’re googling help for anxiety and hoping for some quick trick, I can assure you the quickest path is to discuss this with a trained counsellor. There’s something about 2 brains in one room focussing on the issue that delivers results.
– Betrayal Trauma – I run a support group for spouses and partners that have been betrayed by their significant person. I do not embrace the codependent model. I also do coaching for those who have done the betraying to help them repair the damage they have caused.
– Families of those that are struggling with addiction. I’ve developed a dissatisfaction over how families – the lifeline and support team – are often treated. Spouses, partners, parents, coworkers, and friends desperately want to help and don’t know how. To make matters worse there are a lot of myths floating around that keep them trapped and unable to find a path of healing. Too often they are told they are sick too, and are part of the problem. Their lives are thrown into turmoil by an addiction not their own and then they are often beat up and traumatized by the system that is supposed to help. I offer support for the support team.
Addiction – Have you been through a treatment program and need support to adjust to your new normal. I can help you stay on track and continue towards a life free of the control of addiction. Addiction has stolen enough from you, let’s close that chapter.
My clients are warriors who are fighting hard to maintain their mental health. Day after day they have shown up. They get dressed. They work. They pay the bills. They face the lies. They keep their houses, jobs, and lives functioning…but inside they are aware it’s time to make some changes.
Some of you even know what changes you want to make but can’t seem to make the plan stick. It’s time to switch things up…do something different.
It’s Time to Explore: Uncluttered. Undivided. Unleashed. Unstoppable.
You aren’t sure if you need a coach or counsellor. That’s why I’m both.
Someone who understands. Someone willing to offer a hand.
Someone who wants to help you write a new chapter..
You’ve spent your life giving to your family, your career, your community
It’s time to take some time for you.
If you’ve been knocked down but want to rise up strong…
If you are stuck and know it’s time to do something about it…Let’s do this together.
Other Things You Might Want to Know:
- I’ve spent most of my life living in small prairie town. I have also lived in Toronto. Between that smallness and that largeness is the beautiful city of bridges, Saskatoon, SK, that I call my home.
- I have 3 fantastic grown children that return often bringing love and laughter.
- I love Kayaking. There is no better feeling…sun and buoyancy. Fighting waves or floating with a book…these are a few of my favourite things.
- I love knitting. It helps my scattered brain and twitchy body relax and focus. I’ve never been diagnosed ADHD but I can definitely relate.
- I’m pretty passionate about animals in general. Dogs are fantastic. Cats are amazing. Between them they make pretty much everything better.
- Plants. For several years I couldn’t keep them alive. I can now. I think that bodes well for you.
- I like to laugh…and I totally get sarcasm…but that wasn’t meant to be sarcastic. I do like to laugh. Seriously, life shouldn’t be that serious.
That’s Enough About Me. Let’s Talk About You
Phone: 1-833-630-2010
Or Email: trish@trishwhite.ca
