Aarintaro Counselling

When I became aware of the cruel, libelous online attack against Aarintaro Counselling that forced Nola to shut down her practise (hopefully only temporarily) I felt I needed to voice my opinion. Nola, I am so sorry that you are going through this, nobody deserves to be treated like this and especially not someone that dedicates their life's work trying to help others. I hope you know how much you have helped us. I urge you not to let this person change your opinion of yourself as a person or a counsellor. Everybody makes mistakes and it sounds like you made one that is completely human and you do not deserve any of this. Please know that we stand behind you and I can only imagine that all of your other clients do, too. You are a kind and generous person that has helped us more than you will ever know. Take all the time you need. Luckily my partner and I are stronger than ever right now, and we have you to thank for that. We don't want to place any extra burdens on you for now, so please take some time for yourself and let us know when you are ready to see us again. Our thoughts are with you.

I’ve been using the services of Aarintaro Counselling now for several years and I’m very happy about the service. Nola Johnson is a great experienced and compassionate counsellor. She really understands me and where I’m coming from. I’ve been to a lot of in person appointments pre-Covid in her comfortable quiet and relaxing home and now have skype appointments, which are very convenient. Nola Johnson accommodates my low income in charging me a lower fee for my appointments. This makes Aarintaro Counselling very affordable. I book my appointments via e-mail on an as-needed basis. Nola Johnson doesn’t pressure you into buying regular appointments. Yet she takes notes during the appointment and always knows where I left off. I can just recommend Aarintaro Counseling to anybody who needs someone to listen to them, is going through a rough time, has mental heath issues or would just like advice on some issues.

I was absolutely appalled when I saw the onslaught of fictitious 1-star reviews on Google and another site. It is unquestionable that the person who started this attack is without conscience. It is one thing to be unhappy with a service, and leave a factual negative review. It is another to leave a misleading, mostly false review then also have friends participate in the attack. Friends, who I might add, are also void of conscience to participate in taking down a counsellor. Nola, I know this attack has been exceptionally challenging for you given that you had to shut your practise down. I certainly hope it is not permanent. Please know that I'm so glad I found you. I thank you so much for your wisdom, insight, honesty, humour, and kindness. You're awesome!

Long before social media was available, we were given the opportunity to share our opinions through reviews. As consumers, we could share with the service provider how much we liked or disliked their services or products. Many of us on the receiving end learned to value the benefits of receiving “feedback”. By asking clarifying questions, we could avoid misunderstandings about the reviewer's intent. Today, social media allows anyone to publish misleading, wrong assumptions with little or no recourse. People can post negative reviews online, even hateful statements, with devastating effects. This has happened to Nola Johnson. Nola is a counsellor and has worked for many years with hundreds of clients. I have known Nola for over 40 years. Back then, we worked together in a company of which I was the President. Nola was an excellent employee and is a very thoughtful knowledgeable individual. The experiences of her life have made her the caring counsellor that she is today. I would urge you to ignore the recent hateful comments about her. Please combat these negative comments by posting about your own positive experiences with Nola. Sincerely, Joff Grohne.

Nola has helped me through so many difficult times in my life as a student that i truly don't know what I would do or where I would be without her. She has given me great strategies to manage my anxiety and I always leave feeling better than when I came in. She's affordable, close to home and overall the best thing I did for my mental health since my first visit to the psychiatrist years ago.

I've been a client of Aarintaro Counselling for 6 or 7 years now, and I felt compelled to write when I saw the 1-star rating. I strongly believe that the criticism posted is highly inaccurate, slanderous, and irresponsible; it would be an absolute shame if someone who needed help read that review and was deterred from such an exceptional therapist as Nola. She has helped me to manage deep depression and turn my life around, guiding me through some enormous life-changing decisions that I had to make for the better. I always look forward to our sessions, and I always feel better and learn something by the time we finish. I find it helpful that Nola occasionally refers to her own life experience -- this shows empathy and understanding. Nola has experienced a lot (suffice it to say) in her life, and this life experience combined with her training (including keeping up with the latest research) is what makes her counseling unique and effective. I feel like I can tell her anything, and she is never judgemental -- I have no one else like that in my life. In addition to adding such a personal touch, she is invariably professional in all facets of her service, including communications, scheduling, and record-taking. I have recommended her to several people in my life who have expressed an interest in therapy, and I will continue to do so. I feel so strongly about this that, here and now for the first time, I am willing to put my name out there on the Internet, where I would otherwise not usually divulge such information about myself. Thank you, Aarintaro Counselling. Keep up the excellent work.

I’ve been to many counsellors and Nola has been the best I’ve seen. She is warm and welcoming and has helped me during one of the darkest times of my life. I also appreciate that she keeps her pricing accessible. I’ve been formally diagnosed with dysthymia and panic disorder and Nola has helped with both of those issues. If you are looking for a compassionate counsellor in a comfortable environment I highly suggest Nola’s services.

I started seeing this Counselor last summer and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made for myself. Every day, I'm getting a little better at challenging negative thoughts and coping with my anxiety, and it's all thanks to Aarintaro Counseling. Nola is kind, funny and gives great advice. She is also the most affordable counselor I've ever had, which is great. Most Counselors/Therapists in Vancouver charge over $100 per session, at minimum. Nola only charges $50 for a 60-minute session. That's the most reasonable price I've ever come across. As someone who also struggles with financial anxiety, it takes a huge weight off of my mind knowing I can afford to see her on a regular basis while taking care of my mental well being. I have found Nola to be an extremely helpful counselor and I will continue to use her services for as long as I need to. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone else who is also seeking affordable counseling.