Counselling & Mediation
Individual, couple, & family services.
Our Services
Northwest Change Agents provides counselling and mediation services on a fee for service contract basis. We take a solutions focused approach across a variety of modalities and the counsellor or mediator acts in collaboration with the client to target areas in need of change or consensus. Clients will experience a respectful and client-centered process with us.
Some of the issues that we specialize include:
First Responder Counselling
At Northwest Change Agents, Jim and Patrice each have decades of experience and training working with first responders including fire fighters, paramedics, nurses, police, and correctional officers. Additionally, they have completed advanced occupational awareness training in treating first responder trauma which is recognized by the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association.
Whether you are dealing with personal or relationship concerns, trauma, or other occupational injuries it is important to get the helpful support you need by therapists endorsed by the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association. See our listing on First Responder Health.
Loss or bereavement
Although part of life, experiencing the loss or death of a loved one or colleague can have a deep impact on our life. Many people are unprepared for this due to taboos from their family or culture. Traumatic loss, such as suicide, a motor vehicle accident, or work place fatality, creates additional complications. Survivor’s guilt is a common response.
Well-meaning friends may tell you to “move on” or “get over it,” but it’s not that easy. Counselling with Patrice or Jim helps to address the sensitive areas that others may not understand. Learning to live day to day and letting go of unresolved pain or guilt are important parts of healing.
Parenting Concerns
Jim and Patrice are parents to an adult son. They have fostered, worked in group home settings, as well as parenting international students.
- Learn to effectively communicate with your child
- Build the emotional bond which provides the foundation for the child’s self-esteem and personal security
- Understand the purpose of a child’s behaviour in order to respond in a manner that encourages co-operation and belonging
When a parent is experiencing personal challenges, meeting a child’s needs often becomes more difficult. In these situations, the child as well as the parent may benefit from counselling.
Relationship Enrichment
Developing effective communication skills is central to healthy relationships. Communication is more than just talking: it is learning to apply listening skills. Taking in the whole picture – body language, tone of voice, and context – facilitates greater understanding for the message receiver and the sender. Getting beyond the surface in order to share feelings, perceptions, expectations and longings are skills which can be learned.
Jim and Patrice Weibelzahl have advanced training with Michelle Weiner Davis, author of Divorce Busting®. They are approved facilitators of “Keeping Love Alive” developed by Ms. Weiner Davis. The principles of re-igniting the flame, getting out of ruts while learning to do what works, and ending the blame game can be learned and integrated into your relationship with Jim or Patrice’s expert help.
As a husband-and-wife team, Jim and Patrice will work with individuals or couples. However, they have found that individual work followed by joint couples’ work expedites the transformation process. Utilizing a family systems relationship enhancement model based upon the work of Virginia Satir clients connect deeply with their experience to create new avenues to change.
- Relationship Enrichment Through Counselling
- Develop effective communication and conflict resolution strategies.
- Clarify/identify expectations of yourself, what you want from others, and what you believe others want from you.
- Learn to articulate deepest longings for the self, one’s partner and your relationship together, and create avenues for these longings to be met in the context of a renewed and more meaningful relationship.
- Discover how to recover from affairs and emotional wounds.
- Understand and apply components of apology and forgiveness to get your relationship back on track.
Trauma Treatment
Patrice and Jim are experienced in facilitating critical incident stress debriefing with individuals and groups. Whether diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), exposed to traumatic events at work (occupational stress), or arising from life events it is possible to return to healthy functioning by learning containment and relaxation strategies to reduce symptoms, anxious thoughts, and feelings. Trauma informed cognitive behaviour therapy facilitates the processing and reduction of intrusive thoughts/images, re-experiencing, flashbacks, hyperarousal and hypervigilance. By discovering how our mind, body, and emotions work together individuals can understand their responses which sets the foundation for the healing process.
A traumatic event disrupts one’s belief that their world is safe. Trust can be difficult to maintain even in relationships which were previously supportive. Workers (such as first responders, paramedics, nurses, doctors) who are constantly exposed to trauma may find that at some point the cumulative impact of this exposure may trigger a critical incident or vicarious trauma response which needs to be addressed in counselling.
Anxiety & Depression
At some point over a life span 25% of Canadians will experience anxiety or depression. Understanding what is happening cognitively, emotionally, and physically becomes the basis for learning skills and strategies to manage symptoms and actively engage in life. Jim or Patrice can teach you how to stop negative thought cycles, develop relaxation skills, and identify alternate choices which will facilitate forward momentum using cognitive behaviour (CBT) strategies.
Separation & Divorce
Romantic relationships may come to an end. Adjustment and acceptance is integral to a healthy life and that of family members. Having a supportive network is important. But, having a neutral third party counsellor can help ease the stressors accompanying these processes. Explore how early family system patterns influence your past and future.
Step-Parenting & Blended Families
Navigating the role of step parenting can be challenging. Creating a map to guide your journey is essential. Jim or Patrice can help you anticipate what lies ahead or explore options to resolve concerns.
Mid-Life Concerns
Each stage of life brings both joys and challenges. Mid-life is often a time of self-reflection: what have I accomplished, what lies ahead, stay the course or change direction? Jim or Patrice can help you through this process. Learn to celebrate success and let go of regrets or guilt feelings to embrace the future that you envision.
Anger Management
Learn to identify your internal process, thoughts, and emotions to create strategies to recognize the buildup of strong emotions earlier and how to de-escalate your self.
Communication Skills & Conflict Resolution
It isn’t always what is said but how that makes a difference! Learn the how’s of communication which includes becoming a good listener. Discover strategies to reduce conflict and discuss sensitive topics without avoidance. Identify underlying expectations, hopes or longings so that they can be expressed and met.
Northwest Change Agents 