Fresh Hope Counselling

10/08/2026

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This problem impacts families and individuals of all walks of life and genders. It's important that we work to end intimate partner violence in all it's forms.

09/28/2026

Taking care of yourself does matter! You wouldn't attempt a cross country road trip without filling up your vehicle with fuel or recharging it. In order to function well, we need to take care of our 'vehicle.' Imagine coming alongside of yourself as you would a good friend -- how might you encourage, care for or support that friend? Self-care ensures that we are helpful and effective and able to care for those in our lives, including ourselves. Self-care is a wise decision that ultimately ends up helping those who do need something from you.

09/24/2026

We are pleased to announce that Luke Withers is joining our Fresh Hope Team at our South Side Office on October 6th.

Luke is in the final practicum stage of completing his Master's of Counselling through City University of Seattle. Prior to that, he finished a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, instilling him with unique knowledge in understanding mental and physical health.
Luke relates well with all demographics and walks of life, his experience makes him excellent in working with children, youth, young adults, and athletes. He is also passionate about supporting couples and families to find connection and restoration. Luke’s skillset is specialized in issues of anxiety, depression, overthinking, negative self-talk, relational conflict, burnout, and anger management.

Luke comes from a practical standpoint, implementing a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and solution-focussed (SFBT) approach to counselling. Luke is committed to holistic well-being, and collaborating with you to create an anchored life. He is a gifted Christian therapist who is willing to incorporate faith-based counselling at your request. His sessions will leave you with greater clarity, confidence, and emotional regulation as you journey through life.

Faith, family, and sports are very important to Luke. You can find him on the pickleball courts or out enjoying nature at the lake. Rumour has it that Luke has never lost a game of cribbage.
As our Counselling Intern, we are able to offer low-cost counselling with Luke for $75.00 per hour-long session. If you or someone you know would benefit from counselling with Luke, contact Fresh Hope Counselling as bookings are now available including some evenings and Saturdays. Call 780-487-3456 or email us at [email protected]

09/21/2026

09/15/2026

Did you know that your brain is 'plastic' meaning that it can actually adapt and change in positive ways (and wants to)? In the past decades we have learned so much more about the brain and it's 'neuroplasticity.' By paying attention to what we are thinking about or telling ourselves, we can actually refocus our brains to create new neural pathways or 'run new ruts.' By doing some mental work we can make a significant difference in how our brain functions and how we feel mentally and emotionally. It may seem weird to notice what you are telling yourself and then change it into a positive and helpful thought pattern. However, I think it's actually kinda weird to be telling yourself nasty, horrible things that are based on lies or old unhelpful damage. By picking up the toboggan and running it down a new rut several times, our brain creates a new, automatic thought pattern. We can bring healing to old wounds, recover from trauma and clean up negative core beliefs, replacing them with positive and helpful core beliefs. This is where counselling is a great resource! We can help to identify the unhelpful thought patterns and teach you how to run the new neural pathways/ruts. The end result being, a brain that is for you and not against you -- helping you to have a better quality of life.

09/11/2026

Did you know that one of the best ways to get a good lasting dopamine boost is through connection? It is one of the most reliable sources of sustainable dopamine. Get some deeper connection with someone you feel safe with -- it will improve your mental health and you'll feel better. (P.S. the therapeutic alliance -- the connection between yourself and your therapist/psychologist/counsellor is a very effective way to do this).

09/11/2026

Parkland Turning Points is an excellent non-profit organization that provides free counselling services for individuals, couples, teens and groups for persons who have experienced abuse. This is a very worthy cause if you are able to support them.

Help Keep Counselling Free!

Parkland Turning Points Society is facing an $80,000 funding shortfall, and we need our community’s support.

For more than 30 years, PTPS has provided free counselling and support to individuals and families across Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland County, and surrounding communities.

Your donation will help protect access to free counselling for people experiencing family violence, relationship challenges, emotional distress, trauma, parenting concerns, and other difficult circumstances.

Donate by Interac e-Transfer:
📧 [email protected]

Please include “Counselling Campaign” in the message field.

Tax receipts are available for eligible donations over $20.

Every donation, and every share, helps us keep the door open.

Learn more: www.parklandtps.ca

09/10/2026

Have you noticed a decrease in common decency and respect for each other? As a society, we have declined in many ways that used to be engrained in us. Formerly, we had typically more respect for other peoples' possessions, lives and safety. No upstanding citizen would steal from their neighbours or do harm to them. If we want our world to look different, we have to be different. How do we increase courtesy and respect and care and decency in our ever-changing world? Thankfully, it is not extinct! I just saw it play out yesterday where a stranger helped a young woman change a very flat tire (I stopped her in the parking lot to let her know her tire was very flat -- and while I ventured off to find someone to help, another man came along and offered to change her tire). The one thing no one can take from us is the power to choose our attitude -- our mindset. This is where we can shape our world going forward. Choose love and gratitude rather than hatred and indifference. Embrace life -- both the hard and the good. There is great value that comes from working through the hard times and seeing resilience grow. Notice each good thing. Hold onto hope and pay it forward by doing one simple act of kindness -- again and again.

08/31/2026

According to Mental Health Research Canada, stigma and uncertainty continue to keep people from seeking help in a timely fashion. The following statistics are so unfortunate -- we need to continue to break down the barriers surrounding mental health.

One in five (18%) Canadians view seeking mental health support as a sign of weakness. "Oh I don't need counselling...I'm fine." If you had a physical, medical injury or issue, would you just rely on your own ability to heal or would you seek out a professional who knows how to assess, expedite and promote healing and recovery?

Fear of judgment prevent 2 in 5 Canadians (39%) from talking about their mental health with others.

In some ways we have made a lot of progress in breaking down stigma. Some generations are more prone to see the benefits of therapy and promote them amongst their friends and peers. This second statistic concerns me in that it isn't just about counselling but the idea of talking about mental health issues period. This keeps a person isolated from potential supports and keeps them focused on their own thoughts, reactions and narratives, without consideration for other interpretation. Sometimes just saying our thoughts out loud to another person causes us to challenge our thought processes.

Let's continue to break the stigma regarding mental health and reverse the trend of worsening mental health in Canada.

08/27/2026

New research out of McMaster University states that "about one in six Canadians met the criteria for a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder as of 2022. Of these, two in five were living with two or more disorders at the same time and reporting greater distress, unmet care needs and likelihood of suicidal ideation.

Roughly half of people living with a substance use disorder also had a mood or anxiety disorder, the paper found. From 2012 to 2022, concurrent disorders in people who used alcohol rose from 21 to 50 per cent, cannabis from 30 to 51 per cent and other drugs from 50 to 58 per cent."

This increases the need for thorough assessment and professional treatment of depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. Those most hit hardest by these factors include teens, young adults, and women. The time frame also aligns with the advent of social media which has increased social isolation, less in-person connection and negative experiences online.

If you are struggling with these concerns, please reach out -- there is help and support available. Contact Fresh Hope at 7804873456 or email us at [email protected]