Get to Know Me

Hello, my name is Brent Thiessen. I live in Winkler with my wonderful wife, Carlena, whom I met while attending university in Alberta. I have lived in the Winkler area for most of my life and have been a member at WMBC for about ten years. Attending WMBC has been very fulfilling, however I have never been very involved with the church community. The further I got in my schooling, I felt compelled to use the skills I was acquiring to serve the church in some capacity. As this internship has become a reality, my excitement about serving my church community has increased immensely. Utilizing my skills and the passion I have for helping people walk through difficult life experiences is something I have been working towards for the past 7 or so years. Being able to do my practicum in the church community I love is such a blessing.

The Internship

The main purpose of this internship is to provide opportunity for my growth and development as a counsellor. This means that I will be accepting all types of clientele with no limits on the concerns they present. Whether you think your problem is big or small, it is worth discussing with a counsellor. Since I am surrounded by professors and supervisors that are counsellors themselves, significant tools and good advice will be at my disposal to help your concern. All of my discussions with supervisors and other student counsellors in my cohort are guided by strict confidentiality rules that will protect your identity throughout the process.

The Counselling Process

Once initial contact has occurred, preferably by phone, an intake form will be provided that covers general information such as age and marital status, while also asking some basic questions about the concern you want to bring forward. At this point, a counselling session will be booked, and the counselling process begins! Each session is 50 minutes long and will occur at WMBC. The type of concern, the progress made, and the needs of the client/clients will determine the number of sessions. All of this will be determined collaboratively between myself and you as a client.

Counselling can look very different, depending on the theories that guide the counsellor. In my view, neurobiology, thoughts and behaviours, perspective, emotions, and our close relationships all intermingle in ways that God intended, and in some ways He did not intend. In the counselling room I hope to approach the entirety of the individual (body, mind, and spirit) by focusing on the client’s past and present relationships, their emotional and mental health, and their thoughts and behaviours, while remembering that each person finds their identity in God. While this may sound intimidating, I ensure you that the counselling process will rely on building a strong relationship between you and myself so we can work together to address the concerns you want to confront.

A quick note about the role of theology within the counselling room: my main mandate is to provide mental health counselling. Theology and spirituality may be topics of discussion within the counselling room; however, direct theological and spiritual guidance is best addressed by the wonderful pastors we have at WMBC. They have spent many years studying to help guide you while you seek these answers. If you are unsure of whether your concern requires such guidance, I would love to help you sort that out, or work in collaboration with our pastors, with your consent, to help you find these answers.

The Referral Process

If you would like to receive counselling with me through this service, you can ask to be referred by one of our pastors, or you can contact me directly. My contact information is provided below.

Email: brent@winklermb.com
Phone: (204) 332-1055