1 week Ago By [email protected] (Mark Newman)
Angela Kingma and her team want to help you. The Smithville resident, registered psychotherapist and owner of Arms Open Counselling recently opened her newest office at 5014 Serena Dr. in Beamsville.
“We offer counselling and psychotherapy to individuals, couples and families,” said Kingma, who noted she opened an office in Smithville earlier this year. She also has an office in Binbrook. Kingma, who has a master’s degree in psychology counselling from Yorkville University, said she saw a need for counselling services in west Niagara while working with a local agency to provide free mental health therapy.
“I’m an emotions-based therapist,” Kingma said. “I’m very much about the emotions and feelings.” For couples, Kingma said the business offers the Gottman method of therapy, which views a strong relationship like a house built on a series of solid floors in areas of managing conflict, having a positive perspective and sharing of fondness and admiration.
“I think a lot of people come to us because even if they have support in their life, they don’t feel they can talk about it,” Kingma said. “We’re a third party — we’re able to, kind of from the outside looking in, help them understand what they’re going through, provide that support, provide the tools that maybe they haven’t been able to access.” Kingma called her staff “down-to-earth” and said clients are seen in a bright, comfortable room that is more like a living room than an office.
“We see a lot of depression and anxiety and relationship struggles right now,” she said. Kingma said a staff member can help individuals who would like to speak to a counsellor but can’t afford to pay. “We have an intern here that can offer pro bono therapy because I don’t want anybody to not be able to access therapy based on social-economic factors,” Kingma said.
She said many people are no longer reluctant to seek counselling. “I think COVID changed all that,” Kingma said. “I think it normalized seeking help because people were going through things in such an isolated, lonely way; more men are coming for help and more couples.
” For more information, go to armsopencounselling.com or call Arms Open Counselling at 905-788-8171 ..
