Whatever Works Counselling uses RV to provide therapy for Calgary teens
Mobile practice saves overhead costs, makes access easy for troubled teens
Freud had a sofa for patients to recline on during therapy sessions, but Calgary youth counsellor Amy Godderis takes a different approach.
Her practice, called Whatever Works Counselling Inc., is based out of an RV to save money on the overhead costs of a typical office space.
Her mobile office also fits the needs of her teenaged clients, many of whom are ordered under their probation conditions to attend counselling.
"The majority of the youth that I've worked with ... do not want to be in counselling," said Godderis. "And so they're not going to get on transit and travel for an hour to an hour-and-a-half to an appointment ... [and] they don't want to be in a stuffy office."
So instead Godderis drives to them in an eight-metre-long motorhome
"I can roll up outside their house, and they just have to roll out of bed. Or I can meet them at a friend's house. I've met in mall parking lots, at schools — it really is about whatever works."
Kaitlin Stewart, 15, has been seeing Godderis for two-and-a-half years. She likes the motorhome office as a place to attend counselling.
Comfortable and private, says client
"It's easy," said Stewart. "I don't have to worry about getting dressed, or making my hair nice, or worry about seeing anyone or having to take the train. I can just walk out of my house and go and see her.
"It's secluded, you know? There's no one else there. There's no one walking through. It's completely private, and it gives you that time to get to know each other without any other distractions. And she makes it so comfortable."
Her therapy with Godderis continued even when Stewart was living on the street and using drugs and alcohol.
"No matter what situation you're in, she's still going to come see you," said Stewart. "Every week we would still have an appointment."
Stewart is now living at home and planning to stay there.
Godderis said she added homey touches to make her RV office comfortable.
In the winter she makes hot chocolate and tea available, and encourages her clients to interact with her Great Dane, Bosun, and lovebirds, Pirate and Ship, who often travel with her in the RV.
"Some of these youth have had horrific lives, so if I can do anything to help them even get them through the day I'm happy to do so," said Godderis.