Philosophy Psychology is a wonderful field of study that has relevance to every aspect of our lives. In the past, there has been fear associated with pursuing help in the area of mental health. Fortunately, this negative stigma decreases daily as the media focuses on personal stories. As individuals, we are touched by diverse and provocative topics covered by Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil McGraw and others. Emotional and mental health are integral aspects of our general health and functioning. The more comfortable we are with what happens when professional help is sought, the more likely we will choose to seek help for ourselves. The purpose of this website is to give the reader information about counselling - how to get started and what to expect. Normalizing One of the intrinsic benefits of working with a chartered psychologist is the wealth of strategies at the disposal of the client-psychologist relationship. Working as a team, the challenge at hand is first acknowledged, then seen as it truly is: a normal event not unlike what many others have experienced. Identifying the commonality of a painful experience is not meant to minimize its uniqueness nor the pain of it, but rather to bring hope to the client and help them take action. Restoring the Clarity Once the issues are identified, a technique can be chosen to bring about the desired result in an empowering way, benefiting not only the client, but everyone who interacts with him or her in everyday life. Helen MacKinnon has built her practice around tolerance, acceptance, and a consistently positive outlook, inviting her clients to cultivate the same feelings toward themselves. Her approach is proactive and solution-oriented right from the brief opening discussion to the last few minutes of a session when she asks, "What can you take away with you today that you can make use of in your daily life?" The HMC Logo When asked what her logo stands for, Helen replies, "It's a visual symbol of my practice philosophy: We are all diamonds, and the more we learn about our many facets, the more we can truly appreciate ourselves. "The diamond shape has, at its center, a source of light which represents, of course, the light within each of us. Life's many events can cloud the facets of our diamond, making it hard to find that inner glow. Depending on what has happened to us, we may even be left wondering if we've ever shone at all! The work I do is designed to help clients clear their many facets to access their inner beauty and strength. In the process, they usually develop a greater appreciation of themselves. "My initials in the diamond are stylized to represent people joining hands in agreement. I felt it was important to also represent couple and family or group work since it's an equally significant part of my practice." Helen welcomes enquiries about how her supportive practice philosophy can bring clarity to your life. Please call (403) 246-5018 or email in confidence.