Sometimes Support Can Start Somewhere Different

Creating space for youth to pause, connect, and explore what matters — outside the traditional therapy room.

As I’ve been preparing for our upcoming Vision & Vibes immersive experience — creating the flyer, gathering materials, planning the activities, and thinking through how I want the afternoon to unfold — I’ve found myself reflecting on something I hear from parents and caregivers often:

“I know they could use some support… but they don’t want therapy.”

Sometimes a parent can see that their teen is overwhelmed, anxious, uncertain, disconnected, or simply carrying more than they know how to manage.

And yet, the suggestion of counselling is met with a very clear:

"No!"

For some young people, sitting across from a therapist and talking about how they feel can seem intimidating, uncomfortable, or simply like something they are not ready for yet.

And that got me thinking:

What if support doesn’t always have to start there?

There Can Be More Than One Way In

Sometimes support might begin while walking outside.

Sometimes it might happen through creativity.

It might start by noticing something in nature that you would normally walk right past.

It might come from discovering a word that describes something you didn’t realize mattered so much to you.

Or maybe it happens while sitting around a table with magazines, scissors, music, conversation, and a blank board waiting to become something uniquely yours.

These kinds of experiences are not a replacement for therapy when therapy is needed.

But they can offer young people opportunities to experience many of the things we hope to create within good therapeutic relationships: curiosity, reflection, connection, supportive guidance, self-awareness, and the freedom to explore who they are without pressure to have everything figured out.

That idea has become an important part of how I’m thinking about our new Create PAUSE Counselling & Wellness Immersive Experiences.

More Than a Vision Board

At first glance, Vision & Vibes might look like a vision board workshop.

But as I’ve developed it, I’ve realized that the vision board is really only one part of the experience.

We’ll be outside.

We’ll walk.

We’ll notice.

We’ll explore what matters.

We’ll create.

And hopefully, we’ll have some fun along the way.

There won’t be an expectation that anyone disclose something personal or talk about difficult experiences in front of the group.

There isn’t a “right” answer.

And nobody needs to arrive knowing exactly what they want their future to look like.

The intention is much simpler:

Create enough space to slow down and notice.

What Do You Notice When You Know What You’re Looking For?

One of the activities I’m most excited about is incredibly simple.

Participants will begin by taking a short walk through the park with very little instruction.

Just walk.

When they return, we’ll talk briefly about what they noticed.

What caught their attention?

What stood out?

What did they walk right past?

Then they’ll head out again.

This time, each participant will pull a prompt and have something specific to look for in nature.

Maybe they’ll be looking for:

Something changing.

Something strong.

Something easy to overlook.

Something that represents connection.

Something peaceful.

Something growing.

They’re walking through the same environment.

But I suspect they’ll see it differently the second time.

And that’s the point.

Our Values Can Work a Little Like That

What we pay attention to changes what we notice.

Two people can walk through exactly the same park and come back having seen completely different things.

Neither one is wrong.

They simply noticed the world through a different lens.

Our values can work in a similar way.

The things that matter to us influence what captures our attention, what feels meaningful, the choices we make, the relationships we build, and the direction we want our lives to take.

After our walk, participants will explore a wide range of values and begin narrowing them down.

Not:

What should matter to me?

But:

What actually matters to me?

Maybe it’s connection.

Adventure.

Creativity.

Family.

Freedom.

Kindness.

Growth.

Authenticity.

Belonging.

Fun.

There is no perfect set.

The exercise simply creates an opportunity for young people to become a little more curious about their own internal compass.

And Then We Create

From there, we’ll move into creating our vision boards.

But we’re not trying to develop perfect five-year plans.

At 14, 16, or even 19, you certainly don’t need to know exactly where your life is going.

Instead, the vision board becomes a way to explore questions like:

What do I want more of?

How do I want my life to feel?

Who and what matters to me?

What am I curious about?

Where might I want to grow?

Images, words, colours, ideas, places, relationships, experiences — anything that feels meaningful can become part of the board.

It becomes less about predicting the future and more about creating a visual reminder of the things that feel important right now.

Maybe Support Doesn’t Always Have to Look Like “Support”

As adults, we understandably want to help when we see a young person struggling.

Sometimes that means counselling.

Sometimes counselling becomes an incredibly important part of their story.

But there may also be value in creating different entry points into wellness.

Places where young people can move.

Create.

Explore.

Connect.

Learn something about themselves.

Be around a therapist without necessarily being in therapy.

Experience supportive messages without being asked to disclose their most difficult experiences.

And perhaps leave thinking:

That wasn’t what I expected.

I actually liked that.

Or simply:

I learned something about myself.

Sometimes, that is enough for a beginning.

Vision & Vibes

Our first Vision & Vibes immersive experience is designed for youth ages 14–19.

Saturday, September 26
1:30–3:30 PM
St. Thomas location
$20
Limited spaces available

We’ll spend the afternoon outdoors combining mindful movement, values exploration, creativity, and vision boarding in a relaxed and supportive environment. All vision-board materials are provided, and no artistic experience is needed.

Most importantly, participants can simply come as they are.

Pause. Create. Connect. Grow.