I started therapy due to my anger issues, it was affecting my family, friends, and work. I feel that I now understand my anger better, I understand my triggers better, and I’m changing some old patterns.

I was having trouble knowing what I wanted in life. I had the opportunity for a fresh start because I had lost a lot of the things that previously gave me purpose. I didn’t know how to get started and I was afraid of choosing the wrong thing. Therapy helped me reflect on my values and understand what was important to me.

Before coming to Couch of HOPE I was exhausted, alone, and hopeless. I felt like I was living through my day enough to survive, but I was disconnected. As I engaged in sessions, I explored patterns in the ways I interact with others, how to implement appropriate boundaries with individuals in my life, and how to intentionally engage in my self-care tactics.

I’d like to say that my experience has been awesome. I’ve only had a few sessions but just after the first one, I had clarity as to why I was dealing with emotions the way I was. I was given guidance on how to perceive things differently and to take a different approach with my emotions. I truly find that I am being heard and considered and that’s a rare feeling for me.

I appreciate my therapist and being a part of Couch of HOPE because it makes me hopeful. Having a space to speak about what I need to get off my chest and learning tools to keep my mental health in check makes me feel a lot less heavy.

I had a severe injury that left me traumatized. I was staying in the house and cutting off my friends and family, I just wanted to be alone. I was so depressed. My counsellor helped me to get back in touch with what is important to me and to live that way.

When I reached out to HOPE I was having trouble with my emotions, and I felt like I couldn’t control my reactions to things. Working with a counsellor at HOPE helped me understand why I was having these big emotional reactions and that it might even be linked to my ADHD diagnosis. Soon I began to recognize my triggers and teach people close to me what I was feeling and how I needed to be supported.

When I reached out for support, I was really struggling with my sleeping, eating and relationships. It was taking a toll. Talking to someone helped me realize I was overcome with negative self-talk. I learned some strategies and I am now more confident and comfortable in my own skin.

For years I wasn’t able to afford mental health help — I was starting to give up hope of ever getting support for my struggles. I was told about Couch of HOPE and immediately reached out — and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. My therapist is helping me navigate my way through life with a new positive outlook.

When I started at Couch of Hope, I was feeling stagnant in my life and felt negatively towards myself, judging myself for my failure to move forward. In counselling, I learned about the stories I was telling myself and how they were holding me back. By taking control of the narrative and working on changing it, I gained better self-awareness, increased my confidence, and built my self-compassion.

I’ve been experiencing stress and feelings of sadness brought on by social isolation. Coming to counselling has allowed me to connect with another person and explore coping mechanisms around my negative feelings. Having a trusted person to connect with and confide in has provided me with a renewed sense of energy. I look forward to our weekly sessions and feel like I have more energy for the things that I love in between.

My experience with Couch of Hope was life-changing. I have found accessing public healthcare in Nova Scotia to be most often stressful and intimidating. I was referred to Couch of Hope. The work of Couch of Hope is critical to Canada’s healthcare system, and most importantly to the vulnerable citizens who need it the most and are at extreme risk of being left behind.