Cathy Bidwell Support Services

Welcome to Cathy Bidwell Support Services.

I am a proud social worker with a Master’s Degree in Social Work.  For the last twenty years I have applied my sense of humour and clinical skills in equal measure, provide counselling and case management for children, adults and families.

I started my career in the field of dual diagnosis working with psychiatric outpatient  and inpatient services and developmental service agencies. I went on to work in children’s mental health field for 12 years. I was an instructor for Georgian College in the Child and Youth Worker Program and I am presently working in school’s providing direct counselling to students as well as working towards building the positive mental health of the school community.

I am passionate about supporting the helper. Having had a personal journey through compassion fatigue I understand the stressors and burden of the helping professions. I also understand how to restore hopefulness and meaning in our work.

Although this sounds like enough to keep me busy I have also found time to be happily married and I am the proud mother of a school aged son.

The job of a counsellor is to listen to other people’s stories; we encourage people to tell their story because it is essential for healing. Listening to stories of trauma, loss and heartache has a substantial impact on how we see the world, ourselves and those around us. Ironically, we seldom get an opportunity to tell our own story.

Many workplaces offer clinical supervision, however, this often has the look and feel of service management; and becomes us repeating our client stories. What about our story? Having a place to talk about what we have heard; how it has affected and changed us is essential if we want to grow in our practice and our lives.

Some people find it difficult to be open and vulnerable in their place of employment, and some people have no clinical supervision offered where they work. This all leads to a lack of space for us tell our own story. The very service we offer to clients, we often don’t prioritize for ourselves.

Clinical Supervision with Cathy Bidwell will focus on openly and compassionately hearing your story. This may include;

• Exploring how your work impacts you and your daily life
• Learning how to stay grounded and present during difficult sessions
• Developing strategies to leave your clients issues and concerns with them
• Understanding your transference

Having chosen a difficult career, we owe it to ourselves to take care of our personal and professional lives. This work influences our life story, which is worth paying attention to. There is something we can do for ourselves. To contact me about accessing clinical supervision click here.

I am available to meet in person within Simcoe County, Ontario. I can also meet virtually if you live outside of Simcoe County. I am registered with the Ontario College of Registered Social Workers and Social Service Workers, and will provide you with a receipt for our sessions, that may or may not be covered by benefit packages.

There is a cost to caring.

Surprising words, I know. Words we don’t often say to each other or acknowledge for ourselves. And yet, we have chosen careers that require us to care- care for others in the face of trauma and loss, care for others at the most difficult times of their lives.

This work is an honour, a privilege. It is beautiful witnessing people tackle the hard stuff. It is beautiful helping them. Until it isn’t. Until it’s draining, exhausting and scary. Until our compassion becomes depleted and we are distancing ourselves from our families, and friends. Until we can’t sleep because of intrusive images, until we look at a depression or anxiety checklist and see ourselves. And then this work is terrifying.

It is difficult to go from being the helper to the person in need of help. However, just as we coach others to reach out and ask for help so should we. With help we can understand our symptoms and develop a coping plan. We can learn how to replenish our compassion and find joy in our work and our lives.

To learn more about how your agency or organization can access training on this subject click here.

To learn more about how you can access support for yourself on this subject click here.

Whether you are already struggling with compassion fatigue or have never experienced it- this training can be a valuable component to your self care plan and to add to your professional tool box.

I can be reached by telephone or text at 705-229-HELP (4357).

To reach me by email click support@cathybidwell.ca