604-259-1572 (voice mail or text)
Susan Morris-McEwan MA RCC Registered Clinical Counsellor
Providing virtual counselling to teens and adults across BC
I have over 35 years experience in mental health and counselling, working with children, teens and adults.
My goal is to help you identify and overcome your obstacles so you can better adapt to change and live a happier, more balanced life.
Counselling can help you become self-aware and to strengthen your ability to think and feel emotions with clarity and understanding.
There are times in our lives when we hit obstacles or feel overwhelmed—by change, loss, stress, difficulty in relationships or with work or school. At times like these it can be helpful to talk to a counsellor who can assist you to identify problems, feelings, thoughts and behaviours so that you can develop understanding, insight and skills to cope and adapt.
There can be a great benefit in sharing your worries and fears with someone who acknowledges your feelings and is able to help you reach a positive solution.
Susan Morris-McEwan MA RCC
I have a Masters degree in Psychology from Simon Fraser University and am Registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. I have worked in the mental health profession for over 35 years providing individual and group counselling to adolescents, children and adults. I have also provided consultation to mental health professionals and school personnel, as well as presented workshops to youths, parents and mental health professionals locally, provincially and nationally.
My therapeutic approach draws from psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, solution-focused and narrative therapies.
I use a collaborative approach building on the knowledge, skills and values you already have to help you to take control over anything that blocks you from your life goals.
Some of the things we may look at
- your patterns of relationships and attachments and how they affect you currently
- identifying ways of thinking that influence your feelings and behaviours, and aiming to replace them with healthier, more positive thought patterns
- practical ways of breaking down problems into smaller, more manageable issues
- identifying your strengths and reinforcing the coping strategies you already have
Areas of specialization include
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Feeling overwhelmed or stressed out
- Grief and loss
- Relationship difficulties
- Coping with life transitions (graduation, career change, retirement, relocation)
- Feeling disatisfied or "lost"
- Struggling with feelings of shame or low self-worth
- Bullying
- Trauma
- Adolescent issues
- Parenting concern
- Parent-teen conflict
When can counselling help?
- Loss of a loved one (through death or disability)
- Relationship issues, with spouses/partners, families and friends
- Separation and divorce
- Life transitions (graduation, career change, retirement, children leaving home, relocation)
- Illness (with yourself or a loved one)
- Stress
- Decreased life satisfaction
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma
My session rates are following BCACC standards at $160 for a 60 minute virtual session.
Payment is due in full at the beginning of each session, by e-transfer. A receipt will be issued upon payment.
You may be covered by an extended health benefits plan. Please contact your extended benefit plan insurer to find out if these fees are covered.
Take the First Step to a Better Life
Are you ready to take the first step towards a better life? Contact me today with any questions or to schedule a virtual session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at Smmcounselling@shaw.ca if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Counselling provides a safe, non-judgemental and confidential space where you can discuss your problems and any difficult feelings you encounter. It is a process people seek when they want to change something in their lives or simply explore their thoughts and feelings in more depth. The counselling process is very much a trusting relationship between the counsellor and the individual—it is important you feel safe and confident discussing your worries and problems.
A counsellor is not there to tell you what to do, rather to help identify specific patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that are causing concern. Together you and the counsellor will look at creating a plan to find ways of coping and managing. They will help you uncover your own insight and understanding of your problems so that you will have the tools to help you resolve them.
A good counsellor will focus on you and listen without judgement or criticism. They will work with you to find ways to deal with your problems and worries, but not tell you what to do.
Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) are professional counsellors who are registered with and accountable to the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). All RCC’s are required to adhere to the Code of Ethical Conduct and Standards of Clinical Practice, and to have also fulfilled the association's rigorous requirements with respect to education, supervision and clinical experience.
No, you can contact me directly--no referral is required.
Yes, as a Registered Clinical Counsellor I am required to maintain everything we discuss in the strictest of confidence, unless I receive voluntary, written consent from you to do otherwise. There are some exceptions to this rule:
- if I have reason to believe you are an imminent risk of harm to yourself or others
- if I have reason to believe a child has been or is in danger of being harmed
- if I or my files are subpoeneaed in legal proceedings
Everyone is unique and has different goals for therapy. Often people feel relief and have more clarity after only a few sessions. Other times there are more complex issues that require a longer period of working together. On average, specific concerns can often be addressed within 10 sessions.
At times there may be exercises or activities I will ask you to do in between sessions. It is important to generalize what we are doing within the session to other parts of your life, so brief activities and exercises can be very helpful in doing that. Changing behaviours and patterns takes practice!
I will try to get an understanding of what has brought you to counselling and what you hope to gain from it. I will ask about your current situation and the history of your difficulties. I will also ask you if there are times in the past when you’ve received counselling, and if so, what was helpful and what wasn’t helpful. I will review confidentiality and we will discuss an initial plan for working together, that we will both agree to. We will review this plan as we continue to work together.
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