At Empower Counselling Services, our values guide everything we do. To help you decide if we’re the right fit for your journey, we share our core commitments and values here in an open and transparent way.
Our Foundational Commitments and Values
What does “affirming” mean at your practice, from LGBTQ+ identities and beyond?
To us, affirming means acknowledging and celebrating the entirety of who you are. This includes your sexual orientation, gender identity, relationship structures (like ethical non-monogamy), neurodiversity, diverse abilities, body size, chosen name, and chosen family.
How do you approach cultural diversity and humility?
We recognize that culture shapes every aspect of our lives. Our approach to cultural humility means:
- Continuous Learning: We commit to ongoing self-reflection and learning about diverse cultural backgrounds, knowing we’ll never “arrive” as experts.
- Respect for Your Expertise: You are the expert on your own lived experience, and we trust you to guide us in understanding what matters most to you.
- Addressing Systemic Impact: We acknowledge how societal systems and historical contexts impact individual well-being, especially for marginalized communities. We aim to support you in navigating these challenges.
What is your stance on sex and sexuality?
We are sex-positive and kink-aware. This means we approach all discussions about sex, sexuality, and relationships with openness, respect, and no judgment. We believe healthy sexual expression is a vital part of many people’s lives. Whether you’re exploring desires, challenges, or specific relationship dynamics, you’ll find a safe space here. We focus on consent, communication, pleasure, and safety as foundational elements in sex and sexuality.
How do you incorporate spirituality or religion into therapy?
Your spiritual or religious beliefs, or lack thereof, are deeply personal and important to your worldview. We welcome open conversations about your faith, spirituality, or even religious trauma. We respect your individual path and values, and we’re here to help you explore how these aspects impact your well-being, choices, and sense of meaning, without judgment or proselytizing.
Empowering Your Journey
What does it mean to be a “client-centered” practice?
We believe that for most people, there are very few spaces set aside, by design and purpose, to be all about them. At Empower Counselling Services, our client-centered approach is about creating that dedicated, supportive, and empathetic environment. You are the heart of your therapy, and our therapists work diligently to ensure you feel truly seen, heard, and understood. We trust your intuition and believe you possess the inner resources for growth and healing, empowering you to explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace and make choices that align with your authentic self.
How do you approach mental health with a “strengths-based” perspective?
Instead of solely focusing on problems or deficits, we emphasize your inherent strengths, resilience, and unique abilities. We work with you to identify what’s already working well, build upon your existing resources, and discover new ways to navigate challenges. We believe in your capacity to grow, adapt, and thrive.
What is “trauma-informed care,” and how does it apply here?
Trauma-informed care recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands that healing requires safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. This means:
- We prioritize creating a physically and emotionally safe environment.
- We are transparent about our processes and boundaries.
- We offer choices in your treatment and pace.
- We collaborate with you, recognizing you are the expert on your own experience.
- We focus on building your resilience and sense of agency. Our goal is to avoid re-traumatization and support deep, lasting healing.
What is your perspective on neurodiversity?
We are neurodiversity-affirming. This means we view neurodivergent identities (such as Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, etc.) as natural and valuable variations in human brain function, rather than disorders to be “fixed.” We celebrate diverse ways of thinking, communicating, and experiencing the world. Our approach focuses on:
- Understanding your unique way of processing, without judgment.
- Supporting self-advocacy and finding accommodations that work for you.
- Challenging internalized ableism and societal biases.
- Helping you embrace your authentic self and leverage your strengths.
Our Commitment to Social Justice
How do social justice issues connect to mental health in your practice?
We understand that individual well-being is deeply intertwined with broader societal issues. We acknowledge that discrimination, systemic oppression, and historical trauma (related to race, class, disability, gender, and other identities) can significantly impact mental health. We are committed to:
- Validating your experiences of injustice and marginalization.
- Exploring how these external pressures affect your internal world.
- Supporting your resilience and helping you find your voice.
- Advocating for equitable care and a more just society within our scope of practice. While therapy focuses on individual healing, we recognize the wider context in which you live your life.
Acknowledging the Land We Practice On
We acknowledge that our practice is located on Treaty 1 Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. We recognize that this land acknowledgment is a small step, and we are committed to moving forward in a spirit of truth and reconciliation.
Ready to connect with a practice that shares these values? We invite you to reach out for a consultation or to ask any further questions.
This is a living document. Our values continue to grow and evolve as we learn, listen, and deepen our understanding. Posted July 27 2025; last updated October 5, 2025.