Mother-daughter counsellors Susan and Janelle Vanderwerff have teamed up to not only open a new practice, Encourage Counselling, but they are also offering an upcoming parenting workshop.
Susan has spent several years working in private practice in South Delta. Janelle grew up in Tsawwassen and took her first psychology course while attending South Delta Secondary.
When she was working on her undergraduate degree, Janelle decided to major in psychology and recently graduated from Adler University in Vancouver with a master's degree in counselling psychology.
"Growing up it was nice seeing my mom doing a job that she enjoyed," Janelle said of ending up on the same career path.
Janelle has now returned to live in South Delta and mother and daughter have teamed up to open Encourage Counselling, which provides counselling services to youth and families at locations in both Ladner and West Vancouver.
Janelle specializes in working with young people, ages five and up, and is currently co-facilitating a series of Teen Girls Wellness Workshops with a registered holistic nutritionist in Tsawwassen. The sessions provide education on nutrition and address issues related to body image and self-esteem.
Janelle and Susan are offering a parenting course, Respectful Parenting, in the new year.
"In my current counselling practice located in Ladner, I have had the privilege of meeting many local parents who are consistently open to learning respectful parenting tools to raise the self-esteem and social awareness in their children," Susan said.
The two women have first-hand experience with the respectful parenting method.
Susan learned the method when she was completing her master's degree and implemented the practice on her own two daughters, who were 11 and 13 at the time.
"I am excited to bring my counselling expertise to the town that supported me in getting me to where I am today," Janelle said. "Now it's my privilege to give back to our community. By providing parenting education, we are cultivating the soil to ensure that respectful parenting practices are deeply rooted in the positive development of our youth... My mom took this course when I was a teenager and I can genuinely say that it made a difference to grow up in a family where I felt encouraged to have a voice and my contribution was valued, and still is."
"It's a dream come true to be doing this with your daughter," Susan said.
Susan and Janelle are hosting an information night for Respectful Parenting at the Beach Grove Golf Club on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. Admission costs $15 with all proceeds going to Deltassist Family and Community Services. For more information or to reserve a spot, email janelle@encouragecounselling. com.
Respectful Parenting will run over six weeks starting in the new year. Visit www.facebook.com/ParentingCourses-Tsawwassen for more information and updates.
