Sometimes, you just need to talk to someone.
That's the mantra behind Renewed HOPE Counseling Services that just recently opened its practice at PARTNERS in Humboldt.
Founded by the husband and wife team of Sharon and Randall Harriman, both certified registered chaplains with the International Association of Community Service Chaplains (IACSC), their objective is to fill a void that they see in Humboldt.
"We were contacted by a few organizations in the area to set up a counseling service," Sharon said.
With 40 years of counseling experience under their belt, the Harrimans are more than qualified to lend an ear, and advice, to Humboldt residents undergoing tough times.
Both registered professional counselors, Randall served as the regional coordinator for IACSC from British Columbia to Saskatchewan and is currently working toward his Master's degree in counseling from Victory College International. It'll make for a boastful degree to accompany his wife's, who is presently working on her PhD in theology with a major in counseling, also at Victory.
The Harriman's have been living in Humboldt for about a year now, after stints living across both Saskatchewan and Alberta, but aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
"There's a big need for what we do here in Humboldt," said Sharon.
She's referring to the fact that presently, she and Randall are the only private counselors in the city, which is part of the reason why local organizations, such as Partners Family Services, were eager to have them on board.
And also because, well, they defeat a common, misunderstood stigma with seeking counseling, which is that there must be something terribly wrong with a person if they're getting professional help for their issue.
"We just want people to ask themselves 'Listen, do you need a place to come talk?' Then we're here to listen," Sharon said.
What used to be a taboo topic, therapy and counseling is gradually becoming a more acceptable response, in the eyes of the general public, for a problem at home.
Even Bell's "Let's Talk" campaign, a movement to break the silence around mental illness, has seen a massive increase in popularity and success with each passing year, although the Harriman's are quick to point out that although they're trained in cognitive psychology, they are not licensed therapists and do not deal with cases of mental illness, although they can certainly make referrals to a licensed practitioner.
Instead, Randall and Sharon focus on what they know and what topics they've become experts in throughout their decades-long career as counselors.
Sharon prefers to deal with cases involving family matters, so someone needing advice on domestic issues such as marital or family problems should contact Sharon; Randall focuses his counseling toward more traumatic issues like addiction, suicide, depression and similar problems.
But despite their differing expertise, both agree that the best interest of their clients comes first and foremost, bar none.
"We're not here to judge or critique," says Randall. "We're here to listen above anything else, so people can express themselves and what they're going through in a safe environment," he added. He mentioned that more often than not, people are deterred from seeking counseling for fear of embarrassment or being judged.
"Really, there's nothing we haven't heard before," said Randall. "Everyone goes through their own troubles in life, no matter what they are, but talking to someone who doesn't know you from Adam really makes a difference; it helps people to open up and realize it's OK to express themselves."
Randall and Sharon are also emphatic that no matter how small or trivial the issue may seem, Renewed HOPE is there to help out.
"Even if someone is just having a crappy day at work and feels they really need to vent about it or get some quick advice on what to do, we're here to listen and help," said Sharon. "We just want to encourage people to know that they don't ever have to go through things alone."
As Sharon mentioned, another common problem that dissuades people from therapy or counseling is the feeling of isolation; believing that no one can even begin to understand what you're going through, so you might as well just suffer through it alone.
Not so, said Sharon.
"Regardless of what the issue is, the very first step is to just talk about it. Get it out there," she said. "Relieving yourself of that hovering burden is very important and then we go from there."
As well, the counseling services at Renewed HOPE are recognized by employee assistance programs (EAPs), an added benefit for employees seeking help for an issue that may interfere with their work capabilities.
Asked why the word "hope" is capitalized in their title, Sharon said it's an acronym for what their counseling service strives to achieve:
"Helping Overcome Problems Effectively."
Counseling from Renewed HOPE is available by appointment only at 306-231-6828; they're located in the Partners Family Services building on 5th Avenue in Humboldt.
