Trauma Counselling

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a term used to describe the challenging emotional consequences of living through an intensely fearful and distressing event(s). Traumatic events are beyond an individual’s control and can have profound ongoing effects. Trauma can be difficult to define because the same event may be more traumatic for some people than for others.

What is Trauma Counselling?

Trauma counselling involves working together with a counsellor to:

  • Learn and practice skills to manage the difficult emotions that result from traumatic experiences
  • Understand how you have been affected by trauma; this may include physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, social (relationships) and generational effects.
  • Reaffirm your strengths, self-worth and value
  • Make changes in your life that are important to you

How Can Counselling Help?

Counselling is a process of helping someone to make the changes they would like to make in their lives. Counselling can differ from talking to family and friends in that counsellors are trained to be neutral, keep information confidential and have skills to help people learn about themselves. In the non-judgemental environment of counselling sessions, people can receive the understanding and support that they need to clarify issues, explore options, develop strategies, practice new skills and ultimately, make change.

Trauma Recovery

In general, recovery is the ability to live in the present without being overwhelmed by the thoughts and feelings of the past. While recovery does not necessarily mean complete freedom from post-traumatic effects, clients report an improvement in their overall wellbeing and ability to manage their life. Recovery is an individual experience and will be different for everyone.

Program Information

  • No cost
  • Self-referral (referral from health care provider not required)
  • Up to 2 years or fifty sessions of counselling
  • Accessible for those who are 18 and older
  • Counselling sessions are available by phone, video and in person (depending on Covid restrictions).

Intake Process

If you are interested in accessing trauma counselling, please email us at counsellingintake@klinic.mb.ca or call our intake line at 204-784-4059 to book a telephone intake appointment. The purpose of this appointment is to discuss your current situation and goals for counselling and determine if this program is the best fit for you. Our intake worker can suggest other community resources if our program is not the right fit.

Information for service providers

To optimize the likelihood that clients receive the best possible referrals, please consider the following prior to providing this program information to a particular individual. Trauma counselling requires a level of stability, commitment, self-reflection, and therefore, is not for everyone. If you would like to discuss the suitability of this program for your client, please call Intake at #204-784-4059. We do not require a letter of referral.

Other Free and Low-Cost Counselling

Aurora Counselling Centre: 204-786-9251 (sliding scale)
Aulneau Renewal Centre: 204-987-7090 (sliding scale)
Centre Renaissance Centre 204-256-6750 (bilingual, sliding scale)
Family Dynamics: 204-947-1401
First Nation & Inuit Health Branch – Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) www.canada.ca Manitoba Region: 204- 983-4571 or 1-800-665-8507 toll-free

Fort Garry Women’s Resource Centre: 204-477-1123
Jewish Child and Family Counselling Services: 204-477-7430 (open to all faiths and cultural groups)
Heartwood Healing Centre: 204-783-5460
North End Women’s Centre: 204-589-7347
Wa-Say Healing Centre: 204-774-6484 (Wa-Say Healing Centre primarily (but, not solely) assists former Indian Residential Schools students and their families in accessing appropriate levels of emotional health and wellness support services)

Resources

Trauma Recovery
https://trauma-recovery.ca/ 

Canadian Mental Health Association – Learning Centre
https://mbwpg.cmha.ca/programs-services/learning-centre

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health APP
https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/managing-your-stress-anxiety/id1504005917

Manitoba Trauma Informed and Education Centre
https://trauma-informed.ca/what-is-trauma/defining-trauma/