COUNSELLING SERVICES
Contact Us
We are ready to listen and help guide you in your goals towards better well-being, with both in-person and virtual counselling services. We have counsellors available throughout the week to suit your schedule. Book a session today.
Meet the Counselling Team
Hi, my name is Aaron Roorda, and I am the Counselling Services Administrator at Columbia for this school year. I am a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and an Associate Professional Counsellor (APC) with the Professional Association of Christian Counsellors and Psychotherapists (PACCP). I also am the Lead Pastor of a church in Chilliwack, BC, and am Ordained through Mennonite Church British Columbia.
I have a developing and integrated trauma-informed approach to therapy that is rooted in person-centered theory and attachment theory. My therapeutic approach integrates a variety of theoretical modalities and works collaboratively with each client to identify compassionate and helpful ways of offering support.
I am a graduate of Columbia Bible College (from many years ago), and, alongside my work at Columbia, I do counselling in private practice and for Cascade Christian Counselling. I also continue to work as a Lead Pastor (part-time) and do some Teaching Assistant work for Providence Theological Seminary, in their Master of Arts in Counselling program.
I am blessed with a beautiful family that included my wife, our four great kids, and two dogs. I am a big Seattle Seahawks and Calgary Flames fan (sorry Canuck fans).
We are all here to offer compassionate and non-judgmental support when/if that need arises. We look forward to seeing you in the Columbia Counselling Centre. May you feel the Lord’s presence this year as you endeavor to learn, grow, and enjoy the school year.
Your safety is our top concern
Columbia does note tolerate sexual misconduct or harassment of any kind.
At Columbia, we strive to be a Christ-centered community. We are 100% committed to providing an educational experience in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We consider harassment and sexual misconduct in all their forms to be serious offenses and we do not tolerate any behaviour that undermines the self-worth, learning, or productivity of a member of our community.
If you feel you have experienced sexual misconduct or harassment as a student, you can submit a form through our secure online reporting partner, REES.
Relational Abuse
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. builds awareness about the realities and dynamics of abuse through storytelling and education. We offer support groups for women who have experienced abuse and distribute the book When Love Hurts to various institutions and service providers with the purpose of educating the public about abuse.
If you find yourself dealing with someone aged 0-18 who is experiencing abuse or neglect:
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- To report abuse or neglect of a child aged 0-18 in British Columbia, call 1-800-663-9122 twenty-four hours a day to report. A duty worker will talk with you about your concerns, even anonymously at first, and about the reporting process.
- If you are a child in an abusive situation you can call the children’s HELPLINE at 604-310-1234! This line is available for anyone aged 0-18 to call in for help!
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Counselling Services FAQ
What is counselling?
A counsellor listens to your specific situation and your needs. A counsellor guides you through a process towards understanding yourself better and exploring the things that hold you back from experiencing a healthy and fully engaged life. You are a crucial part of this process as you are the expert on you! Counselling is a place where you get to safely examine things that seem to be preventing you from living the way you would like to. Counselling looks very different for different people and counsellors can skillfully assess and guide this process for you.
What kinds of things do you deal with in counselling?
Counselling can handle any issue really, and it does not matter how overwhelming the issue may feel at first, or how small or trivial you think it sounds. If you feel held back from the life you want to live in any way, then it is valuable to come to counselling. You may not even know how to define why you feel the way you do, but you know you need help, and that is OK. Or, you may have an identified tendency in behaviours, or a relationship that causes distress, or perhaps a way of coping with life’s stressors that you would really like to change. There is no prerequisite list of issues and our team will be alert for any helpful additional supports and discuss those with you when appropriate to best serve you.
Will counselling resolve my issues?
Sometimes, issues are identified and much progress can happen in just a few sessions. The support of a counsellor can help prioritize and make changes in an area that can impact day to day satisfaction in our lives. For others, counselling may begin or continue a journey of healing that is part of a longer process.
How much does counselling cost?
Students receive counseling for a nominal fee of $20 per session. Please keep in mind that students who miss appointments, without notifying their counsellor at least 24 hours in advance, will be charged $20 for the missed session.
Is my information kept private?
Columbia respects the right to privacy, and keeps counselling appointments confidential. During the intake appointment, the Counselling Services Supervisor will discuss guidelines and limits of confidentiality.
How do I arrange my first appointment?
To book a counselling session,complete the online intake form as your first step. We’ll contact you as soon as possible (within a few days) to schedule your intake interview.
When is the Centre open?
Counselling is available weekdays by appointment. Friday the center is closed. If you want to get on the intake list, please see our booking form online. If you have any questions before booking, please email and the counselling supervisor will answer any of your questions.
Do you offer drop-in counselling?
We do not offer this currently.
How often can I come for counselling?
This varies based on your presenting concerns and our assessment. We try very hard to see all students who wish to see us, even if just once or twice to help work through an issue. Some students may be seen weekly or biweekly for a time, where appropriate.
What if I just want a couple of sessions?
Sometimes you just need someone to help you sort through a decision that seems hard, or you don’t forsee weeks of counselling happening so you are resistant to contact us. No problem is too small if it is bothering you. Or perhaps you just want a referral to a community support –we can do that here too. We help you figure out what support you want and where to get it. Depending on what you want, sometimes the answer is counselling, and other times it is a local community group or church.
What if I want to find a local community group, program, or church resource?
Yes, we can do that too. Just email us and let us know you just want a one-time resource and referral meeting. Or sometimes we can even answer your questions with a phone call. So give us your number if you would like a callback.
Who will my counsellor be?
We have a great team of counsellors! You can take a look at our names and photos below. After your initial interview, you’ll be assigned the counsellor we feel will be the best fit, based on many factors.
Web Resources
We’ve curated a list of online resources with solid information, trustworthy staff teams, and helpful action steps.