Clifton Pinder

About Clifton

My experience includes supporting those living through anxiety, depression, debilitating stress, grief, loss, trauma, addictions, lifespan transitions including end of life, as well as parenting and relationship concerns. I work with individuals of ages 12 to 60+ through an online video platform.

I work primarily within a mindfulness based, attachment and trauma informed, CBT framework using material, techniques, and methods from talk therapy, art or play therapy, outdoor therapy, and other therapeutic approaches as appropriate depending upon the needs of each client.

I enjoy working with couples. I ask every couple to complete a “Gottman Connect – Enhanced Relationship Checkup”. This is an online assessment tool used to determine a baseline, and a monitoring tool to determine progress along the way. There is no additional cost for this assessment outside of the standard session fee. I work primarily within a mindfulness based, attachment and trauma informed, CBT framework using material, techniques, and methods from talk therapy, while integrating material from ‘The Gottman Institute’ and other sources as appropriate.

CISM debriefings and defusings are provided as support services in groups. CISM intervention may also be appropriate for individuals in crisis. CISM interventions are not counselling services or operational debriefings.
CISM services can be an important first intervention following a critical incident such as a fire, violent crime, unexpected death, disaster, etc.

It is the position of Mindful Centre – Counselling Support Services Inc. that CISM services should be evaluated in terms of ‘first aid’, which may require further intervention. Greater harm can occur if CISM services are offered as an insufficient replacement for needed clinical counselling or psychiatric intervention. It is true that, for those who are severely impacted by a Critical Incident, an individual may experience delayed manifestation and subsequent worsening of critical incident stress responses. Mindful Centre – Counselling and Support Services Inc. encourages recognition of these potential responses, and encourages willingness to seek therapy if needed.

Consider this: First Aid, appropriately applied, does not tend to exasperate injury, it can delay or even prevent infection, and sets up best chances for effective advanced medical treatment. Withholding First Aid can also lead to irreparable harm or death. Withhold advanced medical treatment, then First Aid efforts can become environments for infection to grow, leading to loss of function, loss of wholeness, and possibly even death. Best practice for physical injury is a combination of first aid and advanced medical treatment when needed.

It is the opinion of Mindful Centre – Counselling and Support Services Inc. that best practice following the experience of critical incident stress reactions includes CISM intervention followed by advanced mental health interventions such as clinical counselling and/or psychiatric care when needed.

People are not sent away for surgery when a little cleansing and a band-aid will do. Band-aids should not be minimized in value. If a little First Aid treatment facilitates natural healing and prevents the need for greater/invasive intervention, then isn’t that valuable?

Mindful Centre – Counselling and Support Services Inc. takes the position that CISM services are valuable interventions that support and may even prevent the need for advanced mental health interventions such as clinical counselling or psychiatric care.

For more information about Clifton Pinder or Mindful Centre – Counselling and Support Services, please review our website at https://mindfulcentre.ca/clifton-rcc-ccc-acta.html