The Red Spruce Mental Health Centre is poised for significant growth as it enters 2025, thanks to new funding that will allow the Centre to expand its services. After a successful pilot phase in 2024, the Centre is set to continue serving the Annapolis Valley community, offering vital mental health care to individuals who might otherwise have limited access.
A Successful Pilot
During its pilot phase, which spanned roughly four months, the Red Spruce Mental Health Centre provided over 300 individual and group therapy sessions to 52 clients from the Annapolis Valley. These sessions were held on campus, online, and at community partner locations such as The Red Door and The Portal. The Centre’s impact was profound, filling a critical gap in mental health services for rural Nova Scotians.
Dr. Tanya Surette, Program Coordinator for Acadia’s M.Ed. Counselling Program, and Dr. Kelly Brenton, Clinical Coordinator, were thrilled by the enthusiastic response from the community. The Centre’s reopening has been met with immense gratitude, particularly because it offers free services for those without access to mental health care.
Nurturing Future Counsellors
A key aspect of the Red Spruce Mental Health Centre is its dual mission: to provide mental health care to underserved populations while also training graduate students from Acadia’s M.Ed. Counselling program. The Centre serves as a hands-on training ground for budding counselors, who benefit from close supervision and guidance as they gain practical experience in the field.
The student-counselors are essential to the Centre’s work, bringing fresh perspectives and an ethics of social justice to their practice. According to Dr. Brenton, “Red Spruce has a bright future as a training centre for our M.Ed. Counselling students.” The Centre’s work ensures that both the students and the community thrive, creating a symbiotic relationship where students gain essential skills and the community receives crucial mental health support.
A New Key Member: Dr. Janis Dawson
In addition to the exciting growth, the Centre is welcoming a new key team member—Dr. Janis Dawson, who returns to Nova Scotia after 16 years working in Newfoundland. During her time on The Rock, Dr. Dawson honed her skills as a counselor, clinical supervisor, and educator. Her expertise in One-at-a-Time Counselling (OAAT) will bring a valuable new dimension to the Centre’s services.
Dr. Dawson’s experience and commitment to accessible mental health care make her an excellent addition to the team. “We are looking forward to Janis supporting the thriving and growth of the Red Spruce Mental Health Centre,” says Dr. Surette. Beyond her professional skills, Dr. Dawson is known for her diverse talents, including playing the violin and roller skating.
One-at-a-Time Counselling: A Client-Driven Approach
One of the standout features of the Red Spruce Mental Health Centre’s approach is its adoption of One-at-a-Time Counselling (OAAT). This model focuses on addressing a client’s most immediate concern in each session, making the most of the time when they seek help. At the end of the session, clients leave with an increased sense of hope and a clear path forward.
The beauty of OAAT is that it allows clients to return for additional sessions as needed, empowering them to determine what issues they would like to focus on. This approach is particularly effective in rural areas like the Annapolis Valley, where access to mental health care is limited. By offering immediate, client-driven sessions, OAAT helps remove barriers to care.
For the graduate students at the Centre, OAAT provides an excellent opportunity to develop and practice their therapeutic skills in real-time, preparing them for their future careers. “OAAT provides an excellent training opportunity for our students to practice and hone their counselling skills,” explains Dr. Surette.
Looking to the Future
As the Red Spruce Mental Health Centre expands, its goal is to become a recognized partner in meeting the mental health needs of rural Nova Scotians. Dr. Brenton hopes that the Centre will engage more community partners and further reduce barriers to care, ensuring long-term success.
Much like the red spruce tree from which it takes its name, the Centre’s growth relies on the support of a network of organizations. Dr. Surette expresses deep gratitude to the many entities that have helped make the Centre a reality, including Acadia University, which funded the Centre Coordinator, and the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, which has supported the Centre for two consecutive years.
As the Red Spruce Mental Health Centre continues to flourish, it stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and community care. The Centre’s future looks bright, and it will remain an integral part of the Annapolis Valley’s mental health landscape for years to come.
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