Grow with Us
welcome to our new homeWelcome to New Journey Counselling
Our therapists work with clients to address a range of issues in a supportive and positive environment. We offer both in-person and virtual sessions.
Marriage
Couple and Counselling
Loving relationships are one of the greatest sources of happiness and meaning for human beings, yet also the cause of lasting sadness and regret. When love relationships enter a state of decline, feelings of anger, hurt, and resentment move in. Wounds fester. Couples turn away from each other, and a sense of “we” begins to turn into “me”.
I believe each of us deserves to live a more joyful, happy, and beautiful life that can be part of a healthy married/couple relationship. I work to create an atmosphere where couples can come together in respect and safety to work through their differences
life transitions
We all experience many transitions in our lives. We move, engage in educational activities, enter or exit couple-hood, become parents, take on a new job or lose a job and people move in and out of our lives. Many of these changes or transitions are positive and cause for celebration. They can also bring new stresses and can sometimes lead to feeling overwhelmed. Other changes are not so welcome and can cause us to feel lost and sometimes a bit helpless.
With some guidance and support you can work through these challenging periods to restore balance to your perspective and your life.
sex addiction
Sex Addiction is Real
It is real and it can be successfully treated. The hopelessness, self loathing and harmful behaviors can end.
Sex addiction is a term that encompasses a range of problems and difficulties associated with a range of sexual behaviors. Those problems may be mild or severe, they may have existed for many years with no apparent cause or they may have been triggered by a particular event and be a relatively recent problem. Or it may be a problem that crops up in someone’s life only occasionally.
What Sex addiction is not
Sex addiction is not a moral failing. It often stems from stress, trauma, emotional regulation difficulties, or attachment issues.
What Sex Addiction is not
Sex addiction is not a moral failing. It often stems from stress, trauma, emotional regulation difficulties, or attachment issues.
The impact of the internet
The world wide web has made sex available and accessible to all, and accessible within relative anonymity, hence bypassing the usual social inhibitors.
Counselling provides a safe, supportive space to understand what drives the behaviour and to build healthier coping strategies. With the right help, recovery is possible.
Counselling for Spouses/Partners of Addicts
Living with an addict is perhaps one of the most difficult relationship issues to deal with. The multitude of emotions that a person experiences can include fear, anger, sorrow, loathing, and uncertainty. There can also be self blame and you start to question yourself as well as the whole of the relationship.
The first thing you need to know is that you are not to blame. The second thing to know is that you can come through this experience and be empowered and retain your sanity!
Whatever you are going through right now, know that there is help and support available to walk with you on this journey as you find your way to a place where you are comfortable with the decisions you make in relation to it.
boundaries
There are healthy boundaries and there are unhealthy boundaries.
Healthy boundaries enhance a person’s life and happiness and their relationships. When boundaries are limited or absent, it effects the well-being of the individual and can result in chaos in their lives.
Boundaries issues can be found in both our personal and professional lives.
Some examples of unhealthy boundaries are:
* The inability to say no
* Overly flexible to the point they are no longer respecting their own needs or values
* Interpret somebody telling them no as a rejection or a comment on their worth "whileness" and their person.
* Feedback that most would consider constructive criticism is personalized as a statement on their competence.
* Reacts overly strongly to other peoples opinions, their emotions and their thoughts
* Unopen to change and falls back to "this is how we have always done it"
Working with a skilled therapist you can learn to set boundaries that respects yourself and others.
aNGELA
I am a registered Social Worker and I have been working in the field of mental health, addictions and counselling for over 20 years.
I specialize in helping people identify the issues that are causing them distress and work with them to achieve their personal goals. I take a personalized approach to working with clients to find the strategies and therapies that will work best for them and their situation.
I have completed specialized training in Cybersex Sex and Pornography addiction.
I am reliable an experienced Marriage/Couples Counsellor, who specializes in working with couples who are experiencing challenges in their relationship. I take a practical, straight forward approach designed to address the issues.
Welcome dwight
New Journey Counselling is very pleased to welcome Psychotherapist (CRPQ) Dwight Syms.
Dwight brings with him decades of experience working with people suffering from relationship and emotional dysregulation.
We are excited to have him add to our group and our skill-set.
My goal as a therapist is to allow the people I work with to realize their full potential and help them navigate the obstacles and traps life has presented them in their journey.
You wake up in the middle of the night, unsure of what to do. You know there is a problem in your relationship. There is conflict and you want it to end. You still love your partner but you aren’t sure you can continue as things currently exist.
Or perhaps …
You experience sudden, unexplained anger. You look in the mirror and ask yourself - who is that, where did that come from. Why did you do that. You don’t like the way you behaved and want it to stop.
I am a dedicated professional, I gained admittance to the College of Marital and Family therapists, and licensed Psychotherapist Q. I have over 30 years experience working with people who suffer from Anger, Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety and depression. I am very experienced working in a relationship oriented mode while guiding people to excel. Among my accomplishments is establishing and managing a DBT focused clinic which trained a large number of practitioners who are actively involved in therapy now. Aside from training the practitioners, this group has helped hundreds of people discover the life the they deserve. It allows them to find new ways of relating their negative experience to their current situation and rewriting the conclusion. I am trained in EMDR and I focus on trauma and high conflict situations for people who want to become the person they were meant to be.
I have retired from my high level roles implementing practice wide change and mentoring and supervising practitioners working directly with the client and I want to become connected again in a more personal way with you.
My skill set is proven and effective and I want to contribute in a meaningful way to the Mental Health of my community.
I offer free consults to ensure we are a good fit.
I offer pro-bono, sliding scale and generous rates for people I work with.
Contact me and lets discuss we can work together for your better future.
dwight.syms@gmail.com or 519.829.0618
About Greg
New Journey Counselling is very pleased to welcome Greg to the practice. Greg has a Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA. His focus is on Addictions, and helping clients who experience difficulty with emotional regulation establish grounding and peace. Anxiety, depression, attachment concerns, family of origin and childhood wounding are frequent themes he encounters as are people exhibiting signs of ADHD, BPD and mood fluctuations. Using scientific verified techniques his approach includes screeners as well as assessments to ensure the appropriate methods are used to allow you to achieve the best outcome.
Master's of Science
Clinical Psychology
Greg practices under the supervision of a College-certified Psychotherapist who is independent of New Journey Counselling. As he completes his required clinical hours toward full certification, his services are offered at a reduced rate.
Greg’s areas of specialization include addictions, particularly process addictions such as Sex and Pornography, Gambling, Shopping, Gaming and digital/device usage. He also works with those affected by them (Family and friends).
With almost 10 years experience working with people who suffer unhelpful processes and behaviors, he has certifications in CPTSD, certificates from Emory University, University of Virginia and Simon Fraser University in addictions and the brain, as well as Motivational Enhancement techniques to assist those suffering addiction.
His clients find him helpful because of his thoughtful cognitive restructuring approach where he treats the addiction, the root causes as well as the triggers that lead to slips and relapse as well as the shame. There is no one single cause of addiction, no two people are the same and he believes there is no one approach that will work for all people. He uses a mix of techniques including Motivational Interviewing and Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Community Reinforcement and training (CRAFT), Attachment Focused IFS, Mindfulness, and Polyvagal among others and applies a trauma informed perspective to his work. He addresses his clients from an intellectual as well as emotional perspective.
He believes recovery from impulsive behaviors cannot be accomplished alone but requires support and assistance as well as trusted and safe people to confide in.
If you are interested in booking an appointment with Greg, he can be contacted using the contact form on the contact page.:
Many people reach out for help when compulsive behaviors begin to overwhelm their lives. Gambling, shopping, pornography, adult chat sites, or other activities can put relationships, work, and finances at risk. These behaviors often feel confusing and out of control, leaving people unable to explain “why” they happened.
Compulsive behaviors aren’t always classified as addictions, but they can cause real distress and be very hard to stop. What once felt exciting can become a source of shame, secrecy, and loss.
Issues like anxiety, depression, stress, and low self‑esteem often lie beneath sex, porn, gambling, work, or digital addictions. Counselling offers a supportive, collaborative space to explore these underlying causes and develop healthier coping strategies. New habits and ways of thinking can be built over time.
It can be difficult to acknowledge the problem, especially when others don’t understand. If you’re not ready for therapy, learning about the stages of change can help you treat yourself with compassion. When you feel ready to talk, you’re welcome to reach out by phone or email.
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A limited number of sliding scale and pro-bono appointments may be available. Please inquire.
Office Location
500 Willow Road Guelph in the Medical Centre in the Big Bear Plaza
Fully wheelchair accessible and plenty of free parking. Located on a bus line and convenient to the Hanlon roadway as well as 15 minute drive from Eastern Kitchener.
Schedule a Session Want to hear more about how I can transform your life? Contact me today to schedule a session.