. . NEWS photo Paul McGrath

WEST VANCOUVER marriage counsellor Claire Sutton offers one-on-one counselling to peanle who are thinking about getting married or divorced, She also leads personal growth and com- munication workshops for the University of B.C.’s Women’s Resource Centre. and works part-time as a counsellor for the Columbia Contre for Integrated Health Services.

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COUPLES WHO are living together but are considering mar- riage should first seek the advice of a marriage counsellor, accord- ing to West Vancouver’s Claire Sutton.

By Surj Rattan News Reporter

Sutton’s new practice in West Vancouver specializes in separa- tion, divorce, marriage and couple counselling.

Separaticns and divorce, she says, can be very emotional but

‘life still goes after a relationship

falls apart.

“Divorce is pain. There are so many losses associated with such an ending. Each loss needs to be acknowledged dnd mourned be- fore many divorced people can move on in their life.

“Many women and men have likened the separation and divorce experience to an emotional roller coaster,’ says Sutton.

Sutton, who decided to study marriage counselling after she got

divorced, says counselling for couples considering marriage deepens the understanding be-

tween the two parties in the rela-

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Counselling helps deepen couples’ understanding

Counsellor Ciaire Sutton opens new WV practice wy to assist. people with emotional roller coaster rides

4&4 Divorce is pain. There are so

. many losses associated with such an

‘ending. #9

tionship.

Most women who are in abusive relationships, she , says, are not even aware that they are. being abused.

‘We explain the issues to them. Coming here is a safe place for them (women). All the informa- tion they give us is confidential. tm not part of their family so 1 can be objective," says Sutton.

She adds that she normally sces one person from a strained rela-

.Wonship on a one-on-one basis

but that she likes to see the couple together at a later date.

Sution says that legal pro- ceedings can ‘prolong: the’ emo- tional pain of divorce, while single-parenting can be physically and emotionally exhausting.

“Counselling through such a time can be critical for maintain-

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ing mental health, keeping focus- ed, parenting properly, prioritizing and being better prepared for legal meetings and possible court dates,”’ says Sutton...

She adds that often couples have simply lost focus and that counselling can be vital in helping partners reach a new under- standing of themselves and of each other.

In addition to her work as a marriage counsellor, Sutton also leads personal growth and com- munication workshops for the University of B.C.’s Women’s

Resource Centre and works part-.

time as a counsellor for the Col- umbia Centre for Integrated, Health Services.

For more information on her practice, call Sutton at 925-4295.

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