Counselling & Health Advocacy by Jenna Reed-Côté
Accessible therapy for individuals, family members, and caregivers navigating common to complex health issues including, chronic illness and disability.
Available throughout Ontario and British Columbia.
Therapy Services
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Anxiety is a normal emotion. It’s actually your brain’s way of reacting to stress and alerting you how to survive potential danger down the road.
Everyone feels anxious now and then.
Occasional anxiety is OK.
But anxiety disorders are different. They can cause constant and overwhelming anxiety and fear.
Too much anxiety can make you avoid work, school, family get-togethers, and other social situations that might trigger or worsen your symptoms.
Let’s work together to help you better navigate life without constantly being in a state of fight or flight.
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Living with a chronic illness requires making adjustments to many areas of your life. Being able to understand your condition, advocate for yourself, manage your symptoms - all while trying to maintain a quality of life - it takes a village! Here’s the thing though, YOU are the expert on you, who do you want in your village? I’d like the chance to help you thrive in spite of your chronic illness.
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Depression can cause symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and deal with daily activities.
Some times depression can be caused by brain chemistry, genetics and even situational circumstances.
Depression can occur at any age, and doesn’t mean you’re weak or need to think more positively.
You don’t have to know the reason why you feel depressed to get support, let’s work together to help you feel better equipped to navigate this journey.
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Whether you have a disability from birth or acquired an injury later in life, living in a world that wasn’t built for you is exhausting. If you have an acquired injury, you may struggle with grief for the life you used to live and what you could do before. I can help you understand, reframe and manage your thoughts, emotions relating to living life with a disability. I can also help you develop skills to cope with daily life
This is our first chance to meet and see how we feel working together. Do you feel comfortable? Do you have any other questions? I want to know.
I want to meet you where you're at so I will "check-in" at the beginning of the session. Afterwards, we can identify goals for the session. Counselling is a collaborative process. I will ask you to practice a new tool between sessions and ask for feedback to help me make it more effective for you and your goals for next time. $135
Getting Started
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Connect with us via the intake for, send us an email at jenna@counsellingandhealthadvocacy.ca or give us a call at 604-200-2927.
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You deserve to have whomever you need on your team and that starts with a free 15 min virtual consultation to ensure you find the right fit.
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Book your first virtual appointment.
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During sessions you can expect to discuss various aspects of your life. I’ll ask you questions, to help gain a better understanding, explore different perspectives and we will set up therapeutic goals.
About Me & My Practice
Hello! I’m Jenna, of Counselling & Health Advocacy by Jenna Reed-Côté, and I became a therapist to be one of the helping professionals I needed growing up with chronic health issues.
Navigating life and the healthcare system can feel overwhelming. Emotions pop up, seemingly counterproductive to what you're trying to do. My goal is to create a calm space to meet you where you're at, in any given session. Therapy can feel daunting, especially when you've rarely felt welcome to collaborate in your own healthcare…maybe you’ve even felt like a piece of meat? We’ll work together to help you reclaim your power.
I specialize in supporting clients with chronic illnesses. I can help you feel like the expert on you and find your voice. I can provide you with tools tailored to your unique needs, be it communication or advocacy.
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Psychotherapist/Social Worker
I know what it’s like when you're advocating at the top of your lungs but it feels like no one's listening.
I can help you feel like the expert on you and find your voice. I can provide you with tools tailored to your unique needs, be it communication or advocacy.
I want to help you learn tools to communicate differently with the people around you so you can see what you can really do!
I received my:
Masters of Social Work degree from Dalhousie University in 2018
Bachelor of Social Work degree from University of Victoria in 2012.
membership with Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers (#837982)
membership with British Columbia College of Social Workers (#13987).
Types of Therapy
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Helps clients see their problems are separate from themselves. This approach can help clients reduce shame, gain perspective, and develop new ways to relate to their difficulties.
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Encourages clients to explore their opportunities, learn to make their own decisions and assess readiness for change.
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Encourages clients to take more of a lead in their lives. You may even become your own therapist.
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Focuses on a client's strengths and resources to promote positive change and well-being, rather than solely focusing on problems. My goal is to empower clients to build on their existing abilities.
FAQs
Q: Are your services covered by insurance?
Before booking a session, please make sure that your health benefits cover services provided by a registered social worker (which I am).
Q: Where are you registered to provide your services?
Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.
Q: Where are your services located?
I only provide virtual services.
Q: What is your session rate?
An hour-long session is $135.
Q: What are your credentials?
I have my Master of Social Work degree from Dalhousie University (2018) and my Bachelor of Social Work degree from University of Victoria (2012).
Q: What is health advocacy?
If you have navigated the healthcare system, you know it’s not easy!
Whether you’re wondering if you’re allowed to speak up, how you’re supposed to manage your symptoms or medication, the anxiety of preparing for appointments or procedures/surgery - not only are you not alone, you are the EXPERT on you!
I can help you process what can be an overwhelming process - mind, body and spirit - how to find your voice to communicate with your healthcare team, family and friends and find ways to reframe and get creative to cope.
Q: Do you only support clients with chronic illness and disability?
No, I also support clients with anxiety and depression.
Q: What disabilities are your services geared towards?
Spinal Cord Injury, spinal cord defects, mobility disabilities.
Q: How do you support the family and friends of people with chronic illness or disability?
I find it important to acknowledge that your family and even close friends can also “have” your diagnosis.
How? Why? They are on this journey with you but are experiencing it from a different vantage point. If you are having surgery, your family and friends, who are there supporting you, are also watching you navigate it and - it ain’t easy to watch someone you love going through pain.
Your support system also needs support, though it may look a little (or a lot) different. They more they can get their own unique support, the better able they can be to support you.
Q: How do you engage in advocacy in the disability/chronic illness community?
I have been an ambassador for the Rick Hansen Foundation since 2017.
In that work I give presentations to (largely) kids and communities across Canada, educating the importance of accessibility and inclusivity. Furthermore, we talk about the steps they can be taking to be more inclusive of people with disabilities.
In 2021, I led the Vancouver team participating in the largest survey ever conducted on accessibility for Canada by AccessNow.
Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa teams came together - with and without disabilities - to map their cities for accessibility in local businesses and public spaces.