#006 - Kevin Kokoska: Conversations With A Clinical Counsellor

Hello and welcome to another episode the Grow Give Expand Podcast - thank you for tuning in. If this is your first time listening to the show a special welcome to you, and for all the return listeners welcome back! I’m happy you are listening and continuing to provide words of encouragement, as well as sharing the show with others. In this episode I’m speaking with Kevin Kokoska. Kevin is a counsellor, performer and a teacher. Through his private practice, Kokoska & Co., he offers clinical counselling and creative consulting services, performs one-person plays about mental health, and teaches in the Family & Community Counselling program at The Native Education College in Vancouver. Little fun fact for those of you prepping for a shot on Jeopardy – Kokoska, loosely translated, means “broody hen”. We recorded this episode from Kevin’s unique office and studio space where I got the privilege of taking the counselor’s chair and putting the man himself in the client’s chair, which I think lends itself well as a visual for the conversation we weaved our way through. What we touch on is going to open your eyes to the world of counselling psychology: - Kevin pulls back the curtain for all of us who may be wondering what therapy looks like, and what it’s not - Understanding how Kevin’s familial background and upbringing shaped an openness towards mental health - How combining therapy and theatre can improve both mental health and theatrical ability for budding actors and artists - Clarification of a number of misconceptions and beliefs about what a successful therapeutic alliance looks like - Discussion on the world of life coaching, discussing both the differences and similarities between the practice of life coaching and counseling psychology - Sharing of personal stories of current and past events from our lives, wrapping a psychological context around them, including decisions to walk away from competitive sports, career changes, and the introduction of “shadow Doug” - And much, much more What I found really valuable about this conversation, and what I think you will find valuable too, is that as the conversation goes deeper, there is a similarity to what a therapy session may look like. This is something that Kevin discusses at points during the show. Therapy is, in many cases, a conversation in which two people in the context of wanting to get a deeper understanding of an event, issue, feeling, or experience, come together to explore, and it’s the role of the clinical counselling psychologist to help guide that conversation in the most beneficial way for the advancement of the client. The show starts off in medias res as we got into a natural flow and decided to keep the vibe going. I hope you enjoy and learn from this conversation as much as I did. If you want to get in touch with Kevin to find out more about his private practice, Kokoska & Co. you can do so on Instagram @kevkokoska, that’s k-e-v-k-o-k-o-s-k-a. Lastly as always, a big thank you to you the listener for tuning in. If you enjoyed what you heard on the show please let us know by leaving a review, and if you really liked the show we’d be grateful if you were to share it on your social media platforms, with your friends, family, or anyone else you feel could gain from the content contained within. In doing so, you’ll be growing the connections you have with others, giving the gift of knowledge and inspiration, and expanding your reach as a positive action taker in the communities that you are a part of. Until next time keep growing, giving, and expanding!