Helping you get unstuck…
Johanna Abraham, MSW, RSW
Counselling for Individuals, Couples and Families
Counselling sessions are available in person, online, via FaceTime or by phone.
Hello and Welcome
Congratulations on finding your way here and asking for assistance with something personal. It is not something most of us relish doing.
I am a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s degree in Social Work and have a home-based counselling practice in Ladner, BC. Through my work in private practice and with government agencies, I have been serving individuals and communities in Delta, the Lower Mainland and beyond, for over forty years.
My job as your therapist will be to help you understand your situation clearly, underscore your own wisdom and, offer you new perspectives and tools. Together we will create a plan that will re-establish your confidence and hope.
Johanna Abraham, MSW, RSW
Consultation
You are welcome to call me for a 15-minute free consultation to see if I am the right fit for you.
Hello and Welcome
Congratulations on finding your way here and asking for assistance with something personal. It is not something most of us relish doing.
I am a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s degree in Social Work and have a home-based counselling practice in Ladner, BC. Through my work in private practice and with government agencies, I have been serving individuals and communities in Delta, the Lower Mainland and beyond, for over forty years.
My job as your therapist will be to help you understand your situation clearly, underscore your own wisdom and, offer you new perspectives and tools. Together we will create a plan that will re-establish your confidence and hope.
Johanna Abraham, MSW, RSW
Consultation
You are welcome to call me for a 15-minute free consultation to see if I am the right fit for you.
“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott
Experience and Approach
I have been in private counselling practice for 15 years and for the previous 25 years worked as a social worker with Vancouver Coastal Health, The Ministry for Children and Family Development, the Ministry of the Attorney General and for various Employee Assistance Programs.
My approach to counselling is professional but relaxed. At the center of my work are the beliefs that you yourself have a deep well of wisdom and that all of life’s challenges, even the most difficult, if met with an open, caring and skilled approach will eventually come to enrich our lives.
I am guided in each session by your specific needs and by various therapeutic frameworks including:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Brief Solution Focused Theory
- Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Cognitive-Behavioural Theory (CBT)
- Mindfulness, Intuition, and by life experience
“How we relate to another, inevitably follows from how we relate to ourselves.” – John Welwood
Areas of Care
I work with individuals (over the age of 14), couples and with families who would like help in the following areas:
Relationship Counselling
Reduce conflict and increase closeness with a partner, family member, friend or co-worker. Or, learn how to leave a relationship with grace.
Anxiety and Depression
Gain mastery over the hold anxiety and/or depression may have on your life.
Self Esteem
Minimize self-sabotaging behavior and maximize feelings of self-worth.
Grief and Trauma
Make sense of how trauma has affected you and bring peace to a traumatic event(s).
Chronic Illness
Maximize your quality of life while living with a chronic illness yourself or as a caregiver to someone with a chronic illness.
Coping with an Addict or Alcoholic
Learn how to cope with and support someone who over uses substances.
Stress
Learn how to manage excessive demands and stresses.
Identity Crisis
Understand and benefit from an identity crisis, such as in middle-age.
Transitioning Guidance
Find clarity in your personal vision and become excited about your direction at a time of transition.
Abuse
Heal from past physical, sexual or emotional abuse with the life changing aide of EMDR.
Parent-Teen Conflict
Increase the quality of communication and understanding between parents and teens.
Self Exploration
Increase your sense of aliveness through self-exploration.
“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddist Philosopy
Why See a Therapist?
Whether it is relationship difficulties, stress, grief or trauma, no one seems to get through life without being challenged by emotionally difficult circumstances. When challenges are addressed directly we can experience a sense of relief, renewed strength and the hope that comes with a clear direction forward.
If problems are left unaddressed, they remain with us in the form of feelings of hopelessness, fear, anger or addictions.
Unaddressed trauma or difficulties are like emotional slivers, influencing our lives in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, causing us to seek relief, often through unproductive behaviours. If we are fortunate, friends or family members can provide us with the support and perspective that help us to properly make it through a traumatic time or a difficult patch.
Through very difficult passages even the support of those closest to us may not be enough.
This is when the assistance of a professional therapist is invaluable. Therapists have the skills and experience to help you, you and your partner, or you and your family achieve well-being effectively and efficiently.
Although most of us think of seeing a therapist only at the most difficult times in our lives, regular visits to a therapist can also be useful. A visit with a therapist is like receiving ‘emotional chiropractic’ that helps to keep you on track in your relationships with your partners, your family members, your friends and co-workers and, most importantly, with your commitment to your own well-being.
“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein
What to Expect from Your Sessions (FAQ)
Whether you are trying to manage anxiety or depression or want to improve your relationships, I would like to you leave each session feeling some relief, increased clarity and tools that will help you address the problem in your everyday life.
How long will a session be?
The first session will be up to an hour and a half long. Thereafter, sessions will generally be 55 minutes unless we make arrangements for a longer visit beforehand. Sessions with couples and families will be 70 minutes long.
How many visits will I need?
The number of sessions you will require will depend on the severity of the problem you are facing and how long it has been running in your system. We will monitor how things are going regularly so that you are sure to get what you need from the sessions.
Who can I bring to the sessions?
You can come by yourself or with whomever you feel appropriate.
If your teenaged child is coming to see me, it is usually necessary for you to be at the session at least for the first few minutes to sign papers, etc. If you are able and your child is willing, it would be great if you could stay for the entire first session to help fill in some of the blanks that your teenager may feel unsure about. After the first session, it will be up to you and your child whether you attend successive sessions.
Couples counselling is best done when both members of the couple are present but just one member of the couple coming in for counselling is all that is necessary to get things started.
In every case my goal is to help you as efficiently and effectively as possible so that you can become self-reliant ASAP.
A new perspective creates renewed hope.
Testimonials
“Your plan for (my daughter) really took a bite out of her anxiety. She loves the visual of the pie chart and her attitude last night was a tremendous change for the better.”
“My anxiety is much better and I barely notice it anymore…thank you so much for providing me with the useful tools to battle the burden of anxiety … I cannot thank you enough.”
“Let me also thank you for all the guidance you have given (my daughter) and I this year. You have successfully been a support and advocate for each of us…..and that takes a very skilled counsellor indeed.”
“EMDR was life changing for me. My trust in Johanna made all of the difference in successfully addressing trauma from my past. EMDR helped me help myself, improve important relationships (starting with my wife) and be in a position to work together to deal with (our teenagers).”
“That was by far the best outcome possible. My daughter’s maturity and clarity of thought blows me away…I will be forever grateful to you for helping us through this time. She, and for that matter, I, will carry these lessons far beyond today.”
“We are doing great. I think our big blow up with you was definitely needed. Since then things have been great…Thanks again for all you wonderful sessions we had with you. It really has helped our marriage.”
“Through a life-altering tragedy and insurmountable depression, I am honored to have had Johanna assist me through the many layers of sadness, guilt, depression, anger, and at times failure. She has been a true and caring professional who helped me carry on when at times I thought all was lost.”
“I was skeptical when I first heard about EMDR but now it is a vital part of my healing process. Johanna is very skilled in guiding the process and because of that it has helped me to process difficult to resolve memories effectively and quickly! I highly recommend doing EMDR with Johanna.”
Rates
Individuals: $175.00 for a 55 minute session (includes taxes).
Couples and Families: $250.00 for a 70 minute session.
Please allow up to one and a half hours for the first session ($262.50).
Check to see if my services are covered by your insurer.
You can now submit your counseling sessions sales receipts when filing your income tax return under Medical Expense Tax Credit.
“Never worry alone.” – Dr. Hallowell
Contact
To make an appointment or for more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Also, please note that I have a six week waitlist at the moment.
Johanna Abraham, MSW, RSW
Counseling for Individuals, Couples, and Families
cel: 778-899-4998
email: [email protected]
Send a message
If you prefer to send me a message, fill in the form below and I will get back to you shortly. Strictly confidential.
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“Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.” – Brian Tracy