A Registered Therapeutic Counsellor, or therapist, works with clients who are experiencing a range of psychological and emotional difficulties to help bring change in a person’s life or to enhance a person’s wellbeing. They are licensed mental health professionals that help clients develop cognitive and emotional skills, reduce mental health symptoms and help their clients cope with various life challenges. The main difference is a Psychologist is have the ability to make a mental health diagnosis, while a Counselling Therapist typically does not diagnose conditions.

Absolutely! We believe that counselling should be accessible regardless of your location or circumstances. We offer counselling services to anyone in Canada and the United States, both in person at the Tideline office within Spokes Clinical Naturopathy in Penticton, BC, and online via video chat. When you book your session, check your Counsellors location and availability to customize your sessions.

Our sessions are completely confidential! All communications with me and all records relating to my provision of psychological services to you are confidential and may not be disclosed without your written consent. In marital/couple counselling confidentiality is held jointly. In the event that sharing information would represent a clear risk of harm to either partner or unnecessary or unwarranted damage to the relationship, this joint confidentiality would require revisiting. It is our policy to destroy therapy records after holding them for 7 years.

Professional ethics place certain limits on confidentiality:

If you present an imminent danger to yourself or others, the law requires me to take steps to prevent such harm

If a child needs protection, I must file a report with the Provincial Ministry responsible for child protection

If a vulnerable or elderly adult is abused or neglected, I must file a report with the Provincial Ministry of Health

If a Court orders the disclosure of records, we must do so.

It truly depends on the person, that is something that we can discuss together and you can have active participation in determining. Ultimately, it is up to you.

Not if you don’t feel comfortable doing so, you have the ability to discuss anything you would like within a therapy session. If you do not wish to discuss your childhood you do not have to.

Yes! A therapist often gives exercises to be completed outside of a session in order to improve your experience and help you to get the most out of the working relationship.

Often questions to ask yourself are, do you feel comfortable revealing personal details with your therapist? Do you feel your therapist cares about you and your issues? Do you feel like you are heard and understood? Do you feel safe in the environment? The most important part is finding a therapist that you feel comfortable with and connect with.

Not only is it completely normal to be scared or anxious before attending a counselling session, it’s expected, especially your first one. When you think about it, it is a pretty strange relationship, you’re coming in to see a perfect stranger and expected to discuss all of your issues, struggles, and problems. But the strange thing about it is… it works. A great way to start the first visit is discussing your fears or concerns regarding therapy, asking questions about the process, and discussing why you decided you felt it was time to come in. The beauty of this journey is that it is all yours.

Yes! Natalie Macdonald, Owner of Tideline Wellness, provides Performance Coaching to individuals. She also provides in-house workshops and speaking engagements on various topics pertaining to personal and organizational growth and interpersonal relationships.