When I was ready to take this step and start Beam Counselling, it was a dark time.  Literally, living in Edmonton in mid-December means it is dark more of the day than not.  I was reflecting on recent challenges and wanting to make a change. I came across a clip from a show I loved; a clip where a northern community was gathered outside in the freezing cold, listening to an impassioned speech about “More Light” on the darkest day of the year. Hello, inspiration.

In my work as a therapist, I try to support balance throughout experiences of light and dark times. We are each deserving of the warmth, relief or inspiration light can bring. Yet too much focus on the light means we may miss out on vital feelings and lessons within the dark. Dark times give us opportunity to deeper understand ourselves, our needs and our capacity to endure. It can be lonely surrounded by darkness so it is natural to need support to seek more light.

This connection with support and light is at the foundation of the name Beam Counselling. We can learn to search for beams of light. We can rely on structural beams for support.  In seeking light and support we can create anchors for stability to help us navigate the storms in life.  The wider the beam of a ship, the greater the stability. All these connections with beams of light and support can leave us beaming with pride, joy, happiness, love.

Thank you for taking time to read our origin story and learn the intention behind our name.

- Carly