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Counselling Clients with Chronic Pain
No full textThis capstone explores the evolving role of counsellors in the interdisciplinary treatment of chronic pain within a biopsychosocial (BPS) framework. Despite growing empirical support for the BPS model as best practice in pain care, its application in clinical settings remains inconsistent. This paper investigates whether counsellors, through expanded training, particularly in pain neuroscience education (PNE), could broaden their scope of practice to contribute more effectively to pain management. It examines current gaps between evidence and practice, challenges in access and delivery of care, and the need for more integrated, person-centered approaches. Emphasis is placed on the counsellor's unique position to address the complex psychological and social dimensions of chronic pain, to promote coherence in interdisciplinary care teams and to respond to the need for more effective approaches to managing the problem of pain in society
Examining the Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Children's Grief
No full textAnimal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is an emerging field that shows promise in supporting mental and emotional health, particularly for children facing various challenges. While there is an extensive body of research on children’s grief, the intersection of grief and AAT remains underexplored. This paper examines the potential effects of AAT on children experiencing grief, synthesizing current literature on both topics. Through a literature review, the paper explores the theoretical foundations and practical applications of AAT, focusing on how interactions with animals may provide comfort, emotional support, and coping strategies for grieving children. Although research on AAT is still in its early stages, the paper highlights existing studies and clinical practices where AAT has shown promise in addressing children’s emotional and psychological needs. By identifying the gaps in current knowledge and suggesting areas for future action and exploration, this paper seeks to contribute valuable insight into how AAT could be integrated into traditional therapeutic interventions for grieving children, ultimately advancing the field of grief counselling and child therapy
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Police Officers: Impacts on Work Performance and Implications for Clinicians and Police Agencies
No full textPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) presents a critical occupational health issue for police officers, who are routinely exposed to traumatic incidents. This paper examines PTSD in the policing context, outlining the key risk factors that heighten officers' susceptibility to the disorder. It delves into how PTSD can compromise work performance, particularly by impairing cognitive processes, affecting judgement, and contributing to harmful behaviours on the job. Additionally, the influence of police culture, especially the stigma surrounding mental health, is discussed as a major barrier to help-seeking. This paper reviews evidence-based strategies for addressing these challenges, emphasizing trauma-informed practices and peer-driven support systems. In exploring the link between psychological well-being and professional functioning, this paper underscores the need for proactive intervention, cultural change, and systemic support in promoting the well-being of police officers. This capstone project introduces a psychoeducational presentation that can be provided to police officers to help increase mental health knowledge among police officers
Ongoing and Enough: Reimagining Supervision Through a Shame-Sensitive, Neuroaffirming Lens
No full textShame is a pervasive but often overlooked component of the lived experience of ADHD, shaped by chronic invalidation, masking, and pressure to meet normative expectations around behaviour, productivity, and self-regulation. This capstone explores how shame-based coping strategies emerge and persist in individuals with ADHD and how therapy and supervision can either reinforce or interrupt these patterns. Through a literature review grounded in Shame Resilience Theory, neuroaffirming practice, and relational-cultural and feminist frameworks, this project examines the emotional and systemic roots of ADHD-related shame. Particular attention is given to supervisory dynamics—how masking, over-functioning, and emotional suppression often continue in the training and supervisory process, mirroring the conditions that created shame in the first place. Drawing on clinical reflection, supervision research, and narrative-informed models, this project offers a framework for shame-sensitive, neuroaffirming supervision. Six guiding principles are proposed to support supervisors in fostering relational safety, identity integration, and emotional sustainability. Implications for graduate training programs and supervisory culture are discussed, with a call to reimagine supervision as a site of transformation rather than performance. This project contributes to a growing body of work advocating for counselling approaches that are not only neurodivergent-affirming but also shame-literate, reflexively engaged, and emotionally sustainable for both clients and clinicians
Vicarious Trauma in Helping Professionals: How Can a Counsellor Help?
Get PDFVicarious trauma occurs in helping professionals that are exposed to the trauma of others. It can occur by seeing, hearing or being in the presence of others trauma which produces symptoms or changes in ways of thinking in the helping professional. Counsellors are in a professional position that may encounter clients or organizations affected by vicarious trauma. The goal of this capstone is to uncover effective ways a counsellor can reduce the impacts of vicarious trauma. This literature review will discuss past and current literature relating to vicarious trauma in helping professionals and the treatment approaches that a counsellor can engage in when working with vicarious trauma. The ways in which a counsellor can help with VT in individuals and at a societal or organization level is compiled in this capstone to help a counsellor access VT related approach information in one space. In conclusion, this capstone has recommendations for further research ideas that could contribute a counsellor VT treatment toolbox
The Ethics and Efficacy of Involuntary Treatment for Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use
No full textSevere mental illness and substance abuse are all too common in BC today. With the rise in popularity of involuntary treatment, policies are looking toward ways to use more involuntary treatment for substance use disorders in addition to other mental illness. However, with many studies having conflicting results or no definitive conclusions on the efficacy of involuntary treatments in these cases, more clarity on the efficacy and ethics is needed. The goal of this Capstone is to highlight the efficacy of involuntary treatment for severe mental illness (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis) and substance use disorders. Approaches that were successful and failed approaches will be discussed. There will also be a discussion on the ethics of involuntary treatments
Reframing the Narrative: Understanding Mothers Who Use Substances Through an Anti-Oppressive Practice Perspective
Get PDFIn response to the ongoing toxic drug crisis in Vancouver that has often been portrayed as an issue primarily impacting men, this capstone examines the intersecting gaps and potential barriers that mothers are experiencing with accessing supports. An anti-oppressive lens is applied to observe where mothers who use substances often experience the most marginalization within the harm reduction sphere, child protection agencies and substance use support programs. In particular, mothers with intersecting identities, specifically Indigenous mothers are discussed in relation to colonial forces obstructing Indigenous mothers from accessing supports. Through a literature review of articles examining mothers experiences accessing supports, whether for their substance use or support related to their children, it is clear that the fear of having their substance use reported to child protection agencies and having their children removed is the largest barrier towards accessing supports. This capstone attempts to familiarize readers, especially support workers with a greater understanding of the experiences and fears that mothers might have around accessing supports of any kind. In the final section of this capstone a reflecting teams activity based on a narrative therapy framework is proposed that could help facilitate insight and connectedness for both mothers who use substances and support workers
Cognitive Bias and Linguistic Mechanisms in Clinical Records and Reports: Implications for Client Care
No full textClinical documentation is an important element of client care. One of the purposes of clinical documentation is to record essential and relevant information to ensure continuity of care. Clinicians have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the language they use in clinical communications respects the dignity of the client and is non-maleficent. As such, many organizations have made efforts to guide clinicians to use wording that is inclusive and free of stigma and bias. While many guiding documents produced by government and corporate organizations highlight stigmatizing language to avoid and provide alternatives which are considered to be more acceptable, none of these documents draw specific attention to the linguistic mechanisms which create and perpetuate implicit bias and stigmatization. Implied biases can impact how a client is perceived, what information is documented about them, and the quality-of-care they receive. It also impacts a client psychologically. Cognitive bias has been identified as one of the major causes for diagnostic errors in clinical settings. In this project, I examine the underlying mechanisms that contribute to cognitive bias and stereotypes, as well as how biases and stereotypes influence clinical documentation. I explore how linguistic mechanisms create and perpetuate stereotypes and reveal cognitive biases, as well as how it impacts the quality-of-care clients receive and what protective practices can be implemented to mitigate the negative impacts of cognitive bias on client care
Navigating Stigma and Shame: Influence of Masculine Norms in the Disclosure Experience of Childhood Sexual Abuse
No full textThis capstone explores how masculine norms shape the disclosure experiences of adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Using a thematic literature review of peer-reviewed sources and additional relevant literature, this research synthesizes key findings related to shame, stigma, and gendered expectations surrounding masculinity. The review reveals that masculine norms frequently contribute to delayed or absent disclosures, reinforce internalized stigma, and shape the interpersonal dynamics of disclosure. Including responses from family, friends, and professionals. Some survivors report that even within therapeutic settings, support systems may inadvertently perpetuate harmful masculine stereotypes, creating further barriers to healing. Clinical implications emphasize the need for gender-informed, trauma-sensitive care. This capstone outlined a practical example of a group therapy model tailored to male survivors. The capstone concludes with recommendations for mental health practitioners and future research, highlighting the importance of shifting dominant cultural narratives of masculinity to support more accessible and affirming pathways to disclosure and recovery for male survivors
Mindfulness and Somatic Interoceptive Interventions: Impacts on Dissociation
No full textThis research explores the impact of mindfulness-based and somatic interoceptive interventions on dissociative symptoms in adults with a trauma history. Specifically, it examines the interaction between specific facets of interoception and dissociative symptoms, providing insight into intervention approaches for individual presentations. A thematic analysis of a literature review comprising 10 core articles was conducted, revealing significant themes and subthemes applicable to the use of these interventions with this population. While the findings indicate that these interventions have the potential to be effective, they also highlight significant gaps in the research, including a lack of cultural and gender diversity, which limits the generalizability of the findings. The study also includes an exploration of the clinical applications of the findings, including formal, general and ongoing assessment and treatment planning, as well as suggestions for integrating these findings into task-sharing frameworks to improve accessibility for high-risk and underserved populations. The research concludes with recommendations for further research questions that would improve understanding of specific applications of these findings