“I think the biggest reason for creating my own company was so I could be part of helping as many Prince Edward Islanders as possible,” she says. “I want to make going to mental health therapy as normal as going to physiotherapy for a sprained ankle.” Stewart launched her business in the fall of 2019 with the intention of offering remote virtual services for people who live in rural areas or busy professionals who have limited time in their daily lives to schedule counselling sessions. Since then, her company’s team has offered thousands of sessions for people during the highly stressful period of the COVID pandemic. Your Life Design’s original focus was on aiding helpers and caregivers, but has expanded to offer therapy to children age 4+, individuals, couples, and families. Your Life Design specializes in working with people with differing abilities and neurodiversity, and their families. Jill says her current and former students at Holland College for more than fifteen years inspire her to do this. “I want to stay connected to front- line work in my field which makes my teaching more relevant,” says Stewart. The Your Life Design team provides clients with online virtual remote counselling and training in both English and French. Clients can get matched with a therapist that aligns with issues they’re wanting support with, including ten therapists who are Registered Social Workers and Certified Canadian Counsellors. Your Life Design therapists also have access to regular clinical supervision by a Ph.D psychologist, Dr. Laura Campbell, and together, says Stewart, they have “over 100 years of experience in counselling people to be their best selves.”
The Your Life Design senior management team includes Magan MacDonald, who provides clinical support and direction. Magan’s mantra is “connection is protection,” valuing our need for connection as a means of managing our anxiety and stress especially during these difficult COVID times. “I want to make going to mental health therapy as normal as going to physiotherapy for a sprained ankle.” - Jill Stewart Magan provides the Your Life Design team with the opportunity to have a private practice with zero business headaches as well as clinical support and supervision. Her goal is for Islanders to have top notch clinical intervention and she works hard to be sure all processes are in place to make that happen. Your Life Design’s business manager, Melanie Faye, is new to the Island, having moved from British Columbia. An experienced business owner herself, and fluent in Japanese, Melanie says
that living on Prince Edward Island has exceeded her expectations. It means so much to Melanie to be a part of Your Life Design and make a difference to the lives of so many Islanders. “We will continue to grow so there are no wait lists for people wanting private therapy,” says Faye. As for what Stewart enjoys most about her work, she says it comes down to the people she works with, whether it’s her own team or clients. “I always want to be doing work that is making an impact on others. I like that Your Life Design can provide opportunities for all sorts of social workers and counsellors to join this online private practice. I like working with a fantastic team that supports people with differing strengths, and also the people that I meet who participate in our training. Most of all, I am inspired by clients that I work collaboratively with to redesign their lives so that they can be the best that they can be.” To book a free consultation, email info@yourlifedesign.ca or visit the website and use the self-serve option at www.yourlifedesign.ca.
Your Life Design 902.316.0745
info@yourlifedesign.ca www.yourlifedesign.ca
SUMMER 2022 www.pei-living.ca
35
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker