Show overview
Counselling Insights has been publishing since 2022, and across the 4 years since has built a catalogue of 47 episodes. That works out to roughly 40 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 48 min and 56 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Education show.
There hasn’t been a new episode in the last ninety days; the most recent episode landed 4 months ago. Published by Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute.
From the publisher
Looking for inspiration and insights to help you with your counselling work? Listen as Vicki Enns interviews experienced counsellors and professional helpers to explore a variety of counselling topics. Through these conversations, listeners will hear the unique perspective of the guests, as well as Vicki’s insights on the topic. Vicki is a therapist with over 25 years of experience, the Clinical Director of the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute, and editor and a contributing author of Counselling Insights and Counselling in Relationships.
Latest Episodes
View all 47 episodes
De-escalating Violence in Health Care Scenarios
Vicki and Wilma Schroeder discuss a new CTRI workshop, De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations for Health Care Workers. They review de-escalation as primarily verbal intervention aimed at calming escalation before it becomes physical, and note violence in health care has increased dramatically since the pandemic. Wilma outlines challenges specific to health care, including patients arriving with already elevated stress baselines (especially in emergency rooms), family distress, system and environmental “enablers”, and cognitive impairment factors such as dementia, ICU psychosis, or substance effects. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
A Conversation About Embracing Our Woundedness as Helpers and Healers
Once again, Vicki and Joddie sit down to explore a topic together. This time it’s the familiar concept of the wounded healer. They explore some variations of this idea, from Carl Jung’s archetype to psychological links to vicarious trauma, and consider whether this is a strength or a hurdle to counsellor development. They also discuss an Indigenous authors’ view of interconnection with healing of the land and the reciprocal role of healing in a helping role. Inviting listeners to muse about their own connections to this topic, Vicki and Joddie find common ground in embracing the strengths from acknowledging and honouring our own wounds. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
A Conversation About How Place Attachment Can Strengthen Wellness
For something a little different, Vicki and Joddie put their heads together to explore a topic new to each of them: place attachment. They unpack the links with relationship attachment, building a sense of belonging, and identity formation. They each share strategies they found helpful that listeners can use for strengthening their overall wellness. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Social Circus for Positive Mental Health
Vicki and Hayley explore the magical world of Community and Social Circus. Hayley describes the unique opportunities that “circusing” provides for growing confidence, connection, and strength – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through stories of her own transformation alongside her peers, Hayley offers a creative peek into many parallels with counselling. These include increasing safety to increase risk-taking, exploring meaningful consent, and the power of mentorship. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Decolonizing Our Minds and Roles as Helpers
Jolene and Vicki walk in a circle together, in their conversation about decolonizing ourselves and our helping work. Jolene unpacks colonization and decolonization so that listeners can see their own participation. Through ideas and stories, Jolene invites us all – whether Indigenous, non-Indigenous, [settler guest]https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/cpi/index.php/cpi/article/view/29452) – to strengthen our capacity to listen with reciprocity and humility. Learn more about our newest workshop: Decolonizing Your Helping Practice – Weaving Indigenous and Western Healing Approaches For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Giwiidosendamin – Decolonizing How We Walk Together
Jaicee returns for a second conversation about the exciting development of the Giwiidosendamin (we walk together) Certificate Program. Vicki learns about a heart-centred approach to training that starts with relationship to self, the land, and others, before getting into the hard topics of addiction, suicide, and grief. Together, they explore what collectivist training can be like. You can find more info on the development of decolonized training and the Giwiidosendamin Certificate Program here. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Leading with Insight
In this special crossover episode, Vicki Enns joins the ACHIEVE Workplace Culture Podcast to explore what leaders can learn from the world of mental health and counselling. Together with co-hosts Eric Stutzman and Wendy Loewen, the conversation covers how therapeutic principles—like empathy, boundaries, and curiosity—can transform leadership and workplace culture. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Autism Through a Trauma-Informed Lens
Vicki and Kathleen unpack what it means to consider autism through a trauma-informed lens. Kathleen shares specific examples of attuning to a person and really experiencing their language and way of expression. She shares key strategies for a relational approach that values the power of slowing down and building connection. She also highlights how this work can push us all to become the best version of ourselves. Everyone is invited to the free book launch on November 27, noon-1PM CT! For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations With a Trauma-Informed Lens
Vicki and Sheri Coburn delve into the newly revised De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations workshop from CTRI. This cornerstone training features a four-step de-escalation process designed to equip participants with empowering tools to support others during episodes of escalated anger. Sheri highlights the importance of a trauma-informed approach within this process, emphasizing how it builds confidence and success for helpers. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Building a Foundation of Multicultural Competence Part 2
Vicki and Krystel return for part 2 of their conversation on building multicultural skills into any counseling approach. In part 1, they explored cultural humility and intersectionality. Now in part 2, they continue with culturally relevant assessment and intervention, creating inclusive language, addressing systemic inequities, and cross-cultural training. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Anger Management – Building a Toolbox
Vicki sits down with Janelle Jackiw to explore anger and the new CTRI workshop providing tools for counsellors. They unpack the power of anger as a natural and righteous emotion that can also leave big impacts. Janelle describes the importance of learning the story behind anger and the cyclical patterns that can leave people feeling out of control. She also provides several immediate and long-term strategies that can help people take back control and develop the tools they need to repair relationships. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Carrying a Toolbox and a Bundle
Vicki explores Patricia’s lifelong journey of self-discovery, highlighting how Patricia integrated the heart-centred wisdom and healing from her Indigenous ancestors into her own path. Patricia discusses balancing this with Western Eurocentric academic approaches to mental health, creating her unique method of “carrying a toolbox and a bundle” to support others. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Changing the World One Girl at a Time
Vicki and Kim McCabe explore Kim’s passion project, Rites for Girls, which is changing the world one girl at a time by supporting the rite of passage into puberty with safety and connection. Kim shares stories of girls becoming true to themselves through ongoing groups and deepened connection with the adult women around them. She describes her passion for inspiring women and supporting parents to be the best version of themselves, and extends an invitation to get involved in mentoring the next generation For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Restoring Healers’ Hearts
Vicki sits down with Dr. Lorre Laws to explore her passionate pursuit of understanding what really can help restore and heal nurses and other healers from the unresolved trauma from their work. They unpack how these unhealed “bits of wisdom” can guide healers to develop their own Innate Care Plan, as described fully in her new book. Dr. Lorre also gives examples of micro-practices as short as 10 seconds that can be woven into any day at any time. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Leading Workplace Wellness – Preventing Burnout
Vicki sits down with Manitoba Blue Cross Manager, Leader, and Therapist Jodie Voth to explore blending clinical and leadership skills to foster organizational wellness. They discuss common signs of burnout and key steps for avoiding the deep end of the “burnout pond.” Jodie describes her favourite strategies for both individuals and teams to build resilience and sustainable wellness. And she shares her joy at building accessible steps for community access to systemic relational counselling. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Music for Connection and Metaphor in Counselling
Vicki and HARC Research Manager Lisa Striegler explore how creative and expressive arts provide metaphor and connection in counselling. Lisa describes the process of running a drumming group in her small town setting. Her and Vicki also discuss the framework of combining talk therapy with rhythmic music to explore topics such as boundaries and forgiveness. And she teaches Vicki a regulation activity with a demonstration and lesson using just their hands and a drum. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Giwiidabindimin – Sitting Together With Two-Eyed Seeing
Vicki and Jaicee explore the evolution of the Giwiidabindimin Certificate Program at CTRI. In the context of a two eyed seeing approach, Jaicee describes her journey to become part of this program and the deepening development of her own two-eyed seeing. Drawing on her heart space and Indigenous lens alongside Western Eurocentric mental health models, Jaicee shares her passion and hopes for this growing way of learning and healing together. She describes the new Giwiidosendamin Certificate Program coming in 2025, and how everyone can grow their curiosity, cultural competency, and two-eyed seeing. More info on Jaicee can be found here. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Interconnection and Trauma From a First Nations Perspective
Vicki shares space with Tanya Dawn McDougall from St. Theresa Point Ansininew Nation, who shares her deepening understanding of the legacy of trauma and resilience in the children she supports in her community as a mental health advocate. Tanya discusses teachings and three key areas she considers that leave her hopeful about the possibilities of engaging with trauma as a teacher and catalyst to intergenerational resilience. She also describes the foundation of building the muscles of relationship from the perspective of a First Nation practitioner. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Practice Deep Listening Like a Clown
Vicki dives into the unique world of therapeutic clowning with Angola Murdoch. As an aerialist, circus performer, and theatre director of Lookup Theatre, Angola describes her passion for creativity, movement, and serving people through therapeutic clowning. Together they explore the unique client-led process that unfolds in a hospice setting, where “Mabel” the clown connects, sings, and explores emotions with clients who are dying. Angola shares the wisdom of deep listening that we can all learn from a clown. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com
Building a Foundation of Multicultural Competence
Vicki and Clinical Psychologist Krystel Salandanan explore a multicultural approach to mental health counselling. Together they explore ways to build a strong multicultural foundation into any counsellor’s practice, emphasizing the ethical importance of making this an everyday and ongoing part of learning. And they discuss concrete strategies linked to cultural humility and intersectionality that will get you started. Stay tuned for part two of their conversation. For more resources in the areas of trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention visit ctrinstitute.com