Calming Tree Counselling

Calming Tree Counselling Calming Tree Counselling is an inclusive and experienced counselling practice in Doon South, Kitchener, Ontario.

Calming Tree Counselling is an experienced social work practice where everyone; regardless of race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or age, will be met with warmth, empathy and confidentiality. Counsellors employ a personalized, holistic and client-centred approach that ensures clients feel safe, respected and understood.

Most people don’t come into therapy and spill it all right away.They circle it. They soften the actual message. They jus...
03/16/2026

Most people don’t come into therapy and spill it all right away.

They circle it. They soften the actual message. They justify it.

They say, “It’s not that bad” or, “I know they didn’t mean it” or, “But, I love them.”

And all of that can be true because you can love someone deeply and still be hurt by them. You can have empathy for them and still need space for yourself. You can understand why they are the way they are and still acknowledge the impact it has had on you.

Talking about this in therapy is not disrespecting them; it’s sharing the truth about your experience.

Their hesitation - it comes from the fear that saying it out loud will make it real.

But therapy is a place where you are allowed to explore it slowly, without judgment, without pressure, and without having to decide anything before you are ready.

You’re allowed to love them when they have a human moment and say something crappy, and you’re also allowed to be honest about how it feels to be you and to be in a relationship with them.

Healing can only happen when you’re honest with yourself.

If this resonates with you, reach out to book a relationship session!

Social Worker or Psychotherapist. Which is better?The honest answer: neitherThere is a common misconception that Psychot...
03/11/2026

Social Worker or Psychotherapist. Which is better?

The honest answer: neither

There is a common misconception that Psychotherapists are more trained or more qualified than Social Workers. This is not true.

Many Registered Social Workers actively practice psychotherapy. In fact, psychotherapy is part of their scope, education, and training.

Both Registered Social Workers and Registered Psychotherapists:
→ Provide counselling and psychotherapy
→ Are highly educated and clinically trained
→ Are regulated by professional colleges
→ Follow strict ethical standards

***The primary difference is the regulatory college they are registered with.

Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and Registered Psychotherapists are regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.

Neither designation is “better.” They are different pathways into the same work.

Often, the deciding factor is simply your benefits coverage. Some plans cover one, some cover both.

What matters most is not the title; it’s the relationship, the trust, and the safety you feel in the room.

Both Social Workers and Psychotherapists are fully qualified to provide psychotherapy.

If you have questions about what is covered under your benefits or who would be the best therapist for you, we’re always happy to help you understand your options.

In the study of addiction there’s a theory called the Stages of Change.It identifies what happens long before action eve...
03/09/2026

In the study of addiction there’s a theory called the Stages of Change.

It identifies what happens long before action ever occurs.
The first stage is “precontemplation”. This is when you may not fully recognize the impact your behaviour is having, even if others around you do.

So, you might notice people hesitating to invite you out. Maybe your behaviour is perceived as being out- of-hand or there might have been an incident in the past that is steering people away from you. You might feel tension, distance, or conflict, or you might sense concern, even if no one expresses it directly.

The next stage is “contemplation”. This is when part of you starts to wonder - you’re silently questioning your behaviours. You see it, but you may not know what to do about it yet.

This part matters a lot because acknowledging “something” is often the beginning of change.

Myth: You have to feel “ready.”

Readiness is not a switch that flips. It’s something that builds through small, honest moments with yourself.

You don’t have to solve everything today. You can start by asking yourself one question:

If someone I loved were struggling in the same way, what would I hope for them?

Change happens in small steps: a conversation, a Google search, reading this post, booking a consultation, walking through the door.

You deserve support in every stage, even the first one.

Some of you may already know Jeff and, if you do, you know how lucky we are to have him.Jeff joined Calming Tree within ...
03/06/2026

Some of you may already know Jeff and, if you do, you know how lucky we are to have him.

Jeff joined Calming Tree within the first 6 months of opening our doors, and his presence has helped shape the heart of our team ever since.

With more than 20 years of experience, Jeff supports children, families, couples, and individuals with a rare combination of deep expertise and lighthearted ease. He has a way of making people feel comfortable quickly, whether that is through his warmth, his playful sense of humour, or simply his ability to meet people exactly where they are.

He is endlessly team-oriented, always showing up for both his clients and his colleagues, and yes, you will most often find him in a plaid shirt.

We are so grateful he is here, and so grateful for the care he brings to our community every day.

Jeff is currently taking new clients and his schedule is open to book starting March 9th.

03/04/2026

He’s back!! 👋🏽

And he’s living proof that it’s ok to try something new, and continue to reinvent yourself!

Jeff’s presence at Calming Tree adds energy and fun, and we can never get enough of that! Welcome back Jeff!

If you’re looking for a therapist that doesn’t take himself too seriously and knows how to support you therapeutically, Jeff’s your guy!

Head to our website and book a session with Jeff.

We, as therapists, we feel angry.We sit with people every day who share stories of harm, betrayal, abuse, and injustice....
03/02/2026

We, as therapists, we feel angry.

We sit with people every day who share stories of harm, betrayal, abuse, and injustice. We witness what it has affected you and the way it’s shaped your nervous system, your relationships, and your sense of safety in the world.

And then we step outside the therapy room and see the same systems that failed you continue to exist (often unchanged and unaccountable).

It’s hard to witness, because what’s happened to you never should have happened in the first place.

If you carry rage, grief, confusion, or disbelief about what you have lived through, we know there is nothing wrong with you; you’re reacting to what’s happened to you.

➙Your anger makes sense.
➙Your pain makes sense.
➙Your nervous system adapted in the ways it needed to.

And part of our humanity is feeling the weight of it alongside you.

➙You deserve to be believed.
➙You deserve to be supported.
➙You deserve a world that does better.

At Calming tree, we hold space for every emotion you have because we’re here for you AND with you!

🤍

02/27/2026

But not everyone who hurts or frustrates you is a narcissist.
When we overuse clinical labels, we lose the nuance of what is actually happening. People can be selfish, immature, avoidant, unhealed, or harmful, without meeting the criteria for a personality disorder.

And while the label might bring temporary clarity (because it’s fair to search for the “why”), it can also keep you focused on diagnosing them instead of caring for yourself.

The more important question is not “what is wrong with them?” It’s “how did this impact you?”

You deserve to focus on you!

Hey! Chels here!A chosen family is one of the most beautiful things a person can create.It’s the family you build yourse...
02/25/2026

Hey! Chels here!

A chosen family is one of the most beautiful things a person can create.

It’s the family you build yourself, from the ground up. The people who show up on purpose. The ones who see you, support you, and love you for who you are, even if you’re not biologically related.

Many of the q***r and trans folks I work with have built these families over their lifetimes. And, while chosen family can be deeply healing, it can also exist alongside grief.

It’s okay to wish your biological family could be there in the same way. It’s okay to feel the loss of what you hoped for. And, it’s okay to hold both gratitude and sadness at the same time.
We’re often taught that “blood is thicker than water”. But, for many people, love, safety, and belonging are found elsewhere.
Chosen family can be the people who sit beside you in the hardest moments, and the people you sit beside in theirs.

Both the grief and the love deserve space.

if this is something you find yourself struggling with, reach out to Calming Tree to book a session.

Chels

Address

10 Pioneer Drive, Unit 109
Kitchener, ON
N2P2A4

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 9pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 8pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 9pm
Thursday 9:30am - 9pm
Friday 9:30am - 12:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+15192082256

Website

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