MCI Framework

MCI Framework

Background

Marcescence Counselling was first established under sole proprietorship in March of 2020 and became incorporated on January 1, 2021. Marcescence Counselling Inc. (MCI) is owned and operated by Tammy Oliver who has experience and education in both nursing and psychotherapy. MCI utilizes a wholistic inside-out approach to health and wellness with the primary focus being on mental health. Psychotherapy and the nursing process are integrated using evidence-based models such as those by Dr. Richard C. Schwartz (Internal Family Systems) and Professor Phil Barker, Poppy Buchanan-Barker and their colleagues (Tidal Model). Models such as these helps the practitioner deepen the person-centered wholistic approach with clients. One of our main goals is to build a team of health care practitioners that value collaborative and wholistic approaches in supporting the health needs of individuals, families, and communities.  

MCI’s Vision

At MCI we aim to change the mental health dialogue to one that fosters openness and compassion for Self (practitioners) and Others (clients). We see mental health as truly being brain and mind health because the mind and our thoughts reside in the brain. Our wholistic approach to health and wellness applies to both the practitioner and client. Both the client and practitioner’s physical, social, spiritual, and psychological well-being are valued and supported. Historically, professional helpers often took a somewhat saviorism approach to caring for others. This approach may have worked well in the past; however, in today’s modern society it has proven to be unsustainable resulting in stress-related injuries such as: burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, post traumatic stress, and even PTSD. At MCI we recognize practitioners are at the core of practice and we encourage, model, and support them in holding compassionate space for themselves so that they may continue holding compassionate space for their clients. MCI’s vision has established a framework that consists of four main branches that help guide, facilitate, and support the practice of professional helping. 

MCI’s framework consists of four main branches: 

First Branch: Leading with Love

Using a somewhat incubation process, we place practitioners at the core of practice and the promotion of professional growth is rooted in compassion for Self and Others. We aim to empower and support the health and wellness of professional helpers. Practitioners support each other in growing Self-Leadership within themselves that assists them in their leadership as a professional helper. They are supported and guided in their practice, so that they can learn how to become independent within their own practice, while still having the support of a team. The goal is finding and practicing connectedness and compassion from within, so that the energy they hold in practicing connectedness and compassion with their clients is balanced engagement. It is ongoing practice towards having balance between inner and outer compassion. 

Second Branch: Leading with Compassion for Others

To ensure practitioners provide safe, competent, and therapeutic alliances with clients, they draw from a variety of evidence-based sources as well as abide by and follow codes of ethics and standards of practice when working with clients. Some evidence-based therapeutic models include the nursing process for mental health practitioners, Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, and wholistic person-centered care models. We help people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-confidence, relationship issues, chronic pain, grief, and loss. We are open to working with people from all walks of life and work together with clients to help them gain more clarity of their emotional pain or struggle by getting to know the different parts of who they are and how their current mental health status and environment affects their health and well-being. We recognize and appreciate medical modalities that specialize in pathology as necessary in helping people heal and receive the proper treatment(s); however, MCI’s approach is nonpathological in nature. Clients at MCI are not seen as broken or weak, but rather they are recognized as a person with their own unique mental health struggles that have lost their way in life thus affecting their ability to recognize their own inner strengths. It should be noted, however, should a client present with a condition or situation that needs further investigation beyond the practitioner’s scope of practice, referral to an appropriate healthcare provider is recommended. We help clients manage stress, increase their capacity to cope, and heal from their emotional pain and suffering. Practitioners at MCI recognize that it is a privilege to hold compassionate and non-judgmental healing space for others and an honor to help people gain a deeper understanding of their inner self, so that they can heal, find balance, and inner peace. 

Third Branch: Leading for Longevity

By the end of 2021, MCI aims to play a larger role in population health by improving access to health and wellness support services for individuals, families, and communities. We recognize some health care services (such as mental health services) are not readily accessible to people due to costs, long waitlists, and location of services. Practitioners at MCI all contribute regularly to not-for-profit organizations that support and provide health and wellness services to those in need. At MCI we value our clients’ time and therefore provide both online and in-person services, so that people can plan their appointments around their life rather than plan their life around their appointments. Additionally, we hope to establish a professional community network that further refines serving the health needs of people more tangible, so that clients may receive affordable and accessible care in other aspects of their health (e.g., nutritionist, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, couples counselling, psychological diagnosis, etc.). Lastly, MCI provides case management and when necessary, coordinates and manages health services and transition care services for clients.

Fourth Branch: Education and Research

By the end of 2022 MCI hopes to have team members with expertise and experience in health research that will help create, plan, and implement a research study that looks at the effectiveness of a theory in progress that encompasses the health and wellness of professional helpers.