Newfoundland and Labrador

Martin Reid
20011-2013

Born in Corner Brook, NL, Martin left in 1991 but has recently returned to open Clarity Personal Management, a counselling service with offices in Corner Brook and Stephenville offering counselling for individuals and couples as well as EAP assistance.

 With an interest in the human condition beginning early on, his education, work and community experience have all been reflective of a desire to understand as well as contribute to our individual and overall well-being. As a practicing ordained minister for 17 years, serving in three provinces, his approach was a combination of spiritual, sociological and psychological; pastoral care and counselling were his preferred activities. Cooperation with other agencies and organizations to help address issues such as homelessness, poverty, hunger and disaster relief was a large part of Martin's work. The delivery of presentations and facilitation of small and large groups has been a constant means of educating and tackling various topics throughout his career. Martin hat served on numerous church and community boards/committees including a senior's home board and its admissions and pastoral care committees, a hospital pastoral care committee, two school boards and his theological school's Board of Governors. For two years Martin was the counsellor at a John Howard Society sponsored co-ed community residential facility ("half-way house") for adult offenders. The last year and a half was spent in the United Arab Emirates where he had many occasions to meet with counsellors and work with HR management specialists; this provided the opportunity to see and deal with the many differences between that country/region compared to the west as well as experience the often unrecognized or ignored similarities.

Martin looks forward to bringing these years of experience to the table both provincially and nationally in furthering the profession of counselling, raising awareness of mental health needs, decreasing the stigma of mental health issues, and educating the public of our place among mental health practitioners.    

Martin's education consists of a B.Sc. (Psychology) from Memorial University of Newfoundland, a M.Div. from Atlantic School of Theology, NS, and a M.Ed. (Counselling) from Acadia University, NS.

Directors's Report - November 2011

Newfoundland and Labrador Director Report

Martin Reid

November 2011

Abstract

• An overall increase in membership by 12 persons, mostly students.
• Three bulk emails from May to October have consisted of:

1. an introductory letter with a professional activities request,
2.  a collection of professional development and CCPA promotional materials,
3.  a request for comments on the revamped certificate of conduct procedure and addressing clients with insurance.

• I was unable attend the NLCPA Annual Conference though CCPA materials were delivered.
• I continue working with the CD Chapter and Governance Committee.
• Promotion and interagency cooperation are two main goals for 2012.

Connections and Communications

• Three emails have been sent to all NL members:

1. the first being an introductory message sent in May with request for information as to each members’ work status, area(s) of specialty, phone contact number and interest in assisting with professional development – there was a very limited response to these queries;
2. the second email in September was a collection of CCPA promotional material (an appeal to attend and the link necessary to register for the 2012 CCPA Annual Conference as well as the link to view material from this year’s conference; the CCPA poster meant to be distributed in each member’s community; and links to CCPA’s webinars and workshops) and conference and professional development information from various organizations all pertinent to the practice of counselling (Newfoundland and Labrador Counsellors’ and Psychologists’ Association, Canadian Mental Health Association, Critical Trauma Resource Institute and Newfoundland and Labrador Employee Assistance Program Association);
3.  the third email in October consisted of a greeting to new members and a request for accounts of those having issue with the process for attaining certificate of conducts through the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) as well as how those in private practice are addressing potential clients with insurance coverage.

• The sudden onset of winter during the last week of October prevented me from attending the 2011 Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Newfoundland and Labrador Counsellors’ and Psychologists’ Association (NLCPA). The CCPA brochures and pens mailed to me from national office for distribution at the conference were forwarded to the NLCPA President, Peggy Hann. With my cancellation at such short notice I was unable to reach our NL Student Representative, Leslie Pope, who I had hoped would have been able to send greetings in Lorna Martin’s and my absence. This lost opportunity also meant that I was regrettably unable to connect with other CCPA members who were likely in attendance.
• Though invited I was unable to attend the 2011 Conference of the Newfoundland and Labrador Employee Assistance Program Association.
• Being on the west coast of the island I asked Heather White to speak on CCPA’s behalf to the counselling students at Memorial University’s St. John’s campus.
• I have spoken briefly with last year’s student representative as well as this year’s about their program and future plans.
• No monies were spent during this year allocated for members’ services.

Contributions and Celebrations

• I have begun taking French classes with the long term hope of fluency and greater client service.

Concerns and Challenges

• Private practices:

1. promotion and establishing client base – discussion via email and phone has been made.
2. ongoing denial of insurance companies to accept CCC designation – information request from private practitioners as they are addressing requests from potential clients with insurance; formulating response to one insurance provider who continues to fail to inform their clients of which professional designations are acceptable.

• Certificate of Conduct: with changes to require finger prints when birth date indicates an offense somewhere in the country the time to receive the certificate has greatly increased. Conversations with RNC, RCMP and local MP’s office have only confirmed a general concern and frustration with process with no apparent recourse for improvement. Recommend letter to Minister of Justice.

Coming Attractions

• Continued involvement with the Career Development Chapter and Governance Committee.
• Promotion of counselling services by:

1. volunteering at MUN’s Corner Brook campus (Sir Wilfred Grenfell College) with the offering of topical sessions to the residents as well as instruction to the Residence Advisors who assist in their care;
2. connecting with the local CMHA to explore ways of working cooperatively for the promotion of mental health in the region and to carry this forward in the rest of the province if such an association proves worthwhile;
3. greater communication with NL members and investigate the potential for regional informational meetings;
4. further promotion and encouragement of career development among professional members;
5. explore the idea of an information sharing blog for education and troubleshooting in counselling.

Resources

• Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute Inc. (http://www.ctrinstitute.com/) holds workshops across the country.
• Currently seeking information on: victim impact, rape, sexual professional misconduct, teenage discipline and parenting skills.