Helping the Helpers
Supporting First Responders, Healthcare Workers and their Families achieve optimal mental, spiritual and emotional health.
Where we can help
Depression and Anxiety
Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives, especially if our occupational roles require us to be strong, dependable, and tough. Through counselling and evidence based skills, we will work together to help you recover motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had in your life.
Trauma, OSI, PTSD, and Compassion Fatigue
Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Trauma reactions are normal reactions to extremely abnormal circumstances.
Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger post traumatic events. We can help you overcome these symptoms and guide you through the process of grief and healing by first understanding the neuroscience behind psychological trauma and working with mindfulness-based practices to achieve a sense of grounding.
We will also work on resourcing your strengths and supports as a means of resilience and help manage from turning to unhealthy coping methods, such as misuse of alcohol or drugs.
Relationships
Relationship counselling can be beneficial to couples who are looking to strengthen their emotional connection, in all stages of their relationship.
We will work together to find a common language towards understanding and compassion. Therapy sessions are held with both couples and is a supportive place to discuss issues and solutions to better strengthen your relationship.
Gemma Isaac, MA, RCC, MTA
Gemma is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) and a member of the BC Professional Firefighter's Association Mental Health Taskforce. She provides counselling, EMDR, and music therapy services for people who are committed to making change to achieve a fuller, peaceful, and satisfying life.
With over 10
Gemma is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) and a member of the BC Professional Firefighter's Association Mental Health Taskforce. She provides counselling, EMDR, and music therapy services for people who are committed to making change to achieve a fuller, peaceful, and satisfying life.
With over 10 years of experience working as a therapist in a high acuity, burns and trauma Unit, she understands the unique occupational stressors and culture that come with being a first responder and a frontline healthcare worker. Gemma's therapeutic approach is client-centred, narrative, and strength based frame with a focus on the mind and body connection to support clients heal, find peace, renewal, and balance in their lives.
A graduate from the University of British Columbia's Masters in Counselling Psychology program, Gemma's research examined firefighter occupational stress, social supports and attitudes towards seeking psychological help for behavioural health, and her recommendations are currently being used to inform veteran transition programs .
Gemma pioneered the music therapy program at Vancouver General Hospital's Burns, Traumas, and High Acuity Unit, and it has become an effective program in supporting patients and their families through traumatic life transitions since 2011, through verbal and non-verbal practices such as music and art. For clients who have not had much success with or feel uncomfortable with the idea of "talk therapy", music therapy is a great place to pick up where the words leave off.
It is Gemma's hopes and dreams that Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) within the helping field become an obsolete term by shifting the culture and creating a common practice for helpers to process traumatic events (verbally or non-verbally) getting timely help and support in order to prevent normal stress reactions from getting worse and developing into PTSD.