A growing demand for accessible mental health support in the Interlake has inspired Stonewall Counselling Center to launch a new community-based workshop series aimed at making therapy tools more approachable.
Beginning June 18, the centre will introduce its “Therapy Talks” series, offering two-hour sessions designed to provide practical strategies and insight in an informal, welcoming setting. The first workshop, Self Talk & Self Confidence, will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Attendees are invited to arrive at 6 p.m. for refreshments and connection before the session begins.
The session will be facilitated by therapist Damaris Bredin and will explore how internal dialogue can shape confidence, relationships and everyday experiences. Organizers say the goal is to provide participants with tools they can apply in daily life.
“Not everyone is ready to commit to ongoing therapy, but many people are hungry to understand themselves better,” Bredin said. “They want tools. They want language for what they’re experiencing. These talks are a way to meet people right where they’re at.”
Bredin said the idea for the series grew out of conversations with people who were curious about mental health support but hesitant to pursue traditional counselling.
“Perhaps the cost felt like a barrier, maybe therapy felt too heavy or too clinical, or maybe they just didn’t know where to start,” she said. “I wanted to create a space that felt warm and low pressure, where someone could show up, learn something meaningful and leave feeling more equipped.”
She described the workshops as an “appetizer to therapy,” focusing on education, practical tools and connection rather than clinical treatment. Participants are not expected to share personal experiences, and an anonymous engagement platform will allow attendees to ask questions comfortably.
The launch reflects the continued growth of Stonewall Counselling Center, founded in 2020 by Erica Hildebrand during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a small practice has expanded into a team of four counsellors and social workers serving clients of all ages.
In addition to individual counselling, the centre offers telehealth services, therapeutic groups, workshops and community presentations, helping residents across the region access support closer to home.
Bredin said the Interlake continues to face mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, burnout, grief and relationship difficulties. She added stigma surrounding mental health support can still be more pronounced in rural communities.
“All of this is what we’re seeking to address with Therapy Talks,” she said. “We are trying to normalize these kinds of conversations.”
Staff say the series is part of a broader effort to reduce barriers to mental health support, particularly for those uncertain about entering traditional therapy or facing financial challenges accessing counselling.
“Wanting help and being able to access it are still two very different things for a lot of people,” Bredin said. “Insurance coverage for mental health is generally hit and miss.”
The first topic, Self Talk & Self Confidence, was selected after organizers surveyed clients about areas where they wanted more support. According to Bredin, self-talk was the top response.
“The way we speak to ourselves shapes so much: how we show up in relationships, how we handle challenges, how we move through the world,” she said.
Participants will learn about the origins of self-talk, how to recognize negative thought patterns and strategies for building more compassionate internal dialogue. The session will also explore the neuroscience behind self-talk and why “toxic positivity” is not an effective confidence-building tool.
Located within the community it serves, the counselling centre emphasizes a relationship-based, locally focused approach to care.
Bredin said organizers hope the series becomes a regular part of wellness routines throughout Stonewall and the Interlake.
“We’re just getting started, and we’re really excited about where it’s going,” she said.
The next Therapy Talks session, planned for fall 2026, will focus on anxiety, with future topics expected to include grief, burnout, relationships, communication and parenting through a mental health lens.
Early bird registration for the June 18 session is $20 before June 1 and $25 afterward. The workshop is open to anyone age 18 and older.
Registration and additional information are available at stonewallcounsellingcenter.com.
