Elevation Counselling & Academy

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Elevation Counselling & Academy

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Founder of Elevation Counselling & Academy (MSW, RSW), offering trauma-informed counselling, relational education, community, and courses that empower people to strengthen connection and grow with purpose.

02/20/2026

Behind the scenes:

I’m being emotionally supported by a cat who screams at me for snacks and then heals my soul. 🫶🐾

Self-care is also:

Letting your cat reset your nervous system between sessions.

02/19/2026

Chronic stress doesn’t just burn you out , it disconnects you.

I learned that through my work with the military, and as a military spouse… twice.

Military culture asks people to be tough, independent, and keep pushing.
But over time, that kind of stress can quietly erode emotional connection.

And even when the stress gets better, a lot of people still feel lonely and lost the ability to find connection.

That’s why I teach relational skills.
Because connection doesn’t just come back on its own but it can be rebuilt.

02/18/2026

My work with military members, veterans, and trauma survivors has taught me something important:

Chronic stress changes how we relate.

When your nervous system has been wired for survival, hyper-vigilance, emotional shutdown, bracing for impact, dating doesn’t feel light or easy. It can feel confusing. Intense. Numbing. Overwhelming.

And trauma processing alone isn’t enough.

We also need relational skills.
We need nervous system regulation.
We need practice re-learning safety in connection.

Because loneliness isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s a mental health crisis we don’t talk about enough.

Reintegration into relationships requires more than hope.
It requires skills.

And the good news? Skills can be learned.

02/17/2026

Military life demands survival.

But survival mode doesn’t build secure connection.

Chronic stress shifts bonding patterns.
Relationships strain. Sometimes they break, leaving real loneliness behind.

And those patterns don’t just disappear when we start dating again.

This is why I teach relational skills.
Because connection after trauma requires intention, not intensity.

02/16/2026

Fun fact:

I didn’t even want the job.

We were posted to a Canadian Air Force Base, and as a military spouse I took a civilian social work position there because… well, that’s what was available.

I thought I was meant to work in children’s mental health.

Instead, I found my people.

I fell in love with military culture, the grit, the dark humour, the resilience, and the very real relationship stress that comes with service life.

And here I am today, still working with veterans, military families, and military spouses.

Turns out the detour was the direction.

02/15/2026

Believe it or not I get this question all the time? Can you set me up with a client or another client!

NOPE!! Not a matchmaker.

I teach relational literacy. I support people doing the deep dive into past trauma.

You do the reps.

02/14/2026

Turns out when you stop chasing intensity and start choosing alignment…you don’t lose passion.

You lose confusion.

Stable doesn’t mean boring.
Peace is hot.

Consistency is foreplay.

And thank you to my relationship with Cat Daddy for teaching me how to actually date later…and for proving that “stable” definitely does not mean dull. (He’s not boring. At all.) 😹

Slow is self-trust.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

02/12/2026

Dating later isn’t about pretending you’re 25.

It’s about having chemistry without chaos.

Attraction without self-abandonment.
Desire with dignity.

If you’re tired of repeating patterns,
confusing intensity for compatibility,
or losing yourself in the spark…

Join me on February 14th inside the Elevation Lounge.

I’m breaking down:

• why we get pulled toward uncertainty
• how the nervous system hijacks attraction
• and how to date with clarity, not just chemistry

Let’s do this differently. 💗

Invite:
https://elevationcounsellingacademy.myflodesk.com/junnwsalwe

02/11/2026

H***y, not hasty. 🔥🧠
Because the brain bonds faster than it assesses.

Chemistry triggers dopamine.
S*x and intimacy trigger bonding hormones.
And those hormones can make it harder to walk away, even when the red flags are already waving.

So if you’re dating for a long-term connection, the goal isn’t to shut down desire.

It’s to pace it.

Desire with dignity = letting connection earn intimacy.

Join me Feb 14 for more! Link in bio!!

or copy and paste to join the conversation: https://elevationcounsellingacademy.myflodesk.com/junnwsalwe
post:

02/09/2026

If you want to jump into bed and get your rocks off…Honestly? Respect. No judgment. 🫶

But if you want, something steady, safe, and long-term…you might need to embrace your inner old-school fuddy-duddy.

Because chemistry moves fast.
And bonding hormones move even faster.

And sometimes… we bond before we’ve even assessed the connection.

When bonding happens early, it can create attachment before trust has been built, and that’s where confusion (and messiness) starts.

02/08/2026

Chemistry gets the headlines.
Character builds the life.

Dating later isn’t about chasing sparks it’s about choosing someone you can be with when the glitter settles. 🌊🛴

Address

2206 Echo Valley Rise
Victoria, BC
V9BOY2

Telephone

+16136616926

Website

https://linktr.ee/gillianlgish

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About Gillian

"WE CAN NEVER OBTAIN PEACE IN THE OUTER WORLD UNTIL WE MAKE PEACE WITH OURSELVES"~ DALAI LAMA

I am dedicated to helping people move ahead by providing therapeutic services, specializing in PTSD, and chronic pain. In offering the best of evidence based practices rooted in neuroscience. I am devoted to integrating conventional therapy with the wisdom of mindfulness and yoga form eastern philosophies. My approach to life and work is one that embraces mindfulness, compassion and well-being.

As a Clinical Social Worker and Yoga Instructor, I empower individuals to take positive control of their lives by teaching them to become more resourceful and resilient. At Elevation Counselling Services, I give people the practical tools and skills to become more independent and proficient in navigating the challenges and obstacles that often prevent emotional healing and self-development. I am passionately dedicated to helping people live for the present and discover their true destiny. This is achieved by employing the best in evidence based practices in Yoga, Mindfulness, EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In a positive, confidential and empathic environment I will assist you in acquiring the skills that lead to a harmonized and joyful existence.