Jennifer Schaeff Counselling Services

A bit about me…

I work in a very personalized way tailored to the specific needs, desires, and experiences of each individual, couple or family. I believe that while we all share some basic needs and patterns no one modality of counselling is suited for everyone.

My training includes formal studies at McGill (Master’s in Counselling Psychology) and McMaster (diploma in addictions and substance abuse counselling; in progress) Universities. I have a diploma in hypnotherapy recognized by the Association des hypnologues du Québec. Over the almost 30 years that I have been in practice I have taken many courses, workshops and trainings in areas that include: grief management, Meditation & Counselling, Integrating Mindfulness into Clinical Practice; NLP, meditation, Buddhist philosophy, stress management, and multiple courses on specific therapeutic techniques.

I finished my graduate training at McGill University in 1995. After that I worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital providing counselling for patients from the Family Medicine Unit, Palliative Care, Out Patient Psychiatry and Pain Management Services and ran a small private practice. When the hospital closed I expanded my private practice.

I primarily work with individual adults. My youngest client was 4 when she first came to see me and my oldest was 84 when she started therapy. I work with men and women, straight and gay. I do not specialize in any one type of issue though I have done a great deal of work helping people recover from depression, burnout, anxiety-related issues, abuse and trauma. I also work with people dealing with pain related concerns, phobias and anxiety disorders using a combination of counselling and hypnotherapy.

Part of my practice is devoted to preparation for, and birthing using hypnosis. Typically I begin working with a pregnant woman 8 – 10 weeks before her due date. Together we explore the physiology of pregnancy and birthing. I teach about the historical components related to western expectations of birthing which opens the door to the idea that delivering a baby may be less painful and tiring than expected. I use hypnotherapy to help the mother-to-be learn to relax very deeply, to control discomfort and pain, and to remain calm and focused during the birthing process. I accompany the mother-to-be to the hospital and stay with her until after the birth of her child. I act as an advocate for both the mother and her partner during the birthing process which allows them to focus on each other and not worry about negotiating things with the hospital staff. I do not do anything medical, my part in the process is a birthing coach, and because of this I have been welcomed into more than more than ten hospitals both here in Canada and in the US.

I run two meditation and study groups. Both groups combine learning and practising various forms of meditation with study and discussion. The study material for the HHDL Study Circle Montreal (www.hhdlstudycirclemontreal.com) is “Ethics for the New Millennium” written by the Dalai Lama. The second group, whose members belong to the Sangha of Auspicious Companions (www.auspiciouscompanions.com), tends to use materials coming from Buddhist spiritual traditions written by teachers such as Thích Nhất Hạnh, Pema Chödrön, and the Dalai Lama.

My study and practice of mindfulness and Buddhist philosophy have had a gentle yet powerful influence on my counselling process. I have found that, as Karen Kissel Wegla Wegela explains in her book “the courage to be present”, applications of Buddhist practice can bring compassion, patience, generosity, and equanimity to both the therapist and her clients.

I look forward to having the opportunity to talk with you about how we might work together to help you make the changes you are seeking, to understand where you are and how you got here, and to explore your strengths and the areas where you are struggling and use that information to make your life and your relationships all that you want them to be.

*There are therapy animals, a sweet corgi named Lucy and two cats (Jeffery and Bean), at the office. The cats come and go and can be closed out of the room if that is more comfortable for you.* The dog is always present.

For more information or to arrange an appointment

Please feel free to call 514-699-5031.
Or email jscounselling@gmail.com

Take good care,

Jennifer

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