A Guest Blog by Eleanor, RCC
Our earliest experiences often shape us in ways we don’t fully understand until much later. For Eleanor, a Registered Clinical Counsellor with Crossroads Collective, the seeds of her work were planted in an unexpected place: a television show watched in a remote northern community.
In this personal reflection, she shares how early exposure to compassion, emotional presence, and trauma-informed care quietly influenced the way she shows up for clients today.
Growing Up in a Northern Community with Limited Access
I grew up in Pinamootang First Nation, a northern community where access to resources, including mental health support, was limited. Like many rural and remote areas in Canada, what was available is what we watched.
We had the CBC. That was our connection to the outside world. It was also where I first encountered something that would quietly shape my path toward becoming a counsellor.
The Unexpected Influence of M*A*S*H
At seven years old, I began watching M*A*S*H. While it was a show set in the context of war, what stood out to me was not the conflict itself but how people responded to it. I had no interest in the main characters but lit up when the chaplain or “the shrink” had a scene.
Today, many people search for answers to questions like “how to heal from trauma,” “understanding PTSD,” or “why trauma shows up later in life.” Looking back, I can see that this show introduced those themes long before I had language for them.
The Characters Who Modeled Trauma-Informed Care
Father Mulcahy: Compassion and Consistency
Father Mulcahy represented something deeply stabilizing. He was present, compassionate, and consistent. In an environment filled with stress and uncertainty, he stayed grounded, something that matters more than we often realize, as chronic stress can impact both emotional wellbeing and physical health over time, according to Healthline. As a person of faith, he worked at modelling his religion and not on proselytizing.
For a child observing adult behavior, this mattered. He did not avoid pain, and he did not try to control it. He simply stayed with people in it and allowed himself the full range of emotions. He could be sad, happy and angry.
Dr. Sidney Freedman: Listening and Emotional Insight
Dr. Sidney Freedman, the psychiatrist, offered something equally powerful. He listened carefully. He responded directly but with care. He helped people make sense of overwhelming experiences.
In today’s language, we might describe this as trauma-informed therapy or nervous system awareness. At the time, I just knew that he was someone who could sit with difficult emotions without turning away. And I thought he was so brave. He would not only be practicing in the midst of a war but coming very close to emotional pain without shying away.
Early Exposure to Trauma and Emotional Resilience
This is what I learned from these two characters that still serves me today:
- Emotional regulation
- Compassionate presence
- Community integration
- The ability to stay with people in distress
Why Trauma Can Surface Later in Life
Many adults today search for terms like “complex PTSD,” “trauma symptoms in older adults,” or “why am I struggling more after retirement.”
One reason is that trauma often remains below the surface during busy years filled with work and responsibility. When life slows down, unprocessed experiences can begin to emerge.
As noted by the Mayo Clinic, trauma symptoms can intensify over time and begin to interfere with daily life, which is why they may surface more clearly when life slows down.
The Lasting Impact of Early Role Models
When I reflect on what shaped this path, I return to those early impressions.
In a small northern community, with limited access to services, I was exposed to models of care that emphasized:
- Presence over performance
- Listening over fixing
- Compassion over avoidance
Those qualities remain central to trauma and grief therapy today.
Final Thoughts: Healing, At Any Age
Many people wonder if it is too late to begin healing. This is especially common in older adults who are just beginning to recognize the impact of long-term stress or unresolved trauma.
It is not too late.
Healing does not require a perfect starting point. It begins with the same elements I saw as a child:
Someone who listens.
Someone who stays.
Someone who understands that your experiences make sense.
Moving Forward
If this story resonates with you, it may be a sign that something in your own experience is ready to be explored gently, and at your own pace.
You don’t have to carry it alone.
You can book a counselling session with Eleanor here.
Or learn more about counselling services available in Kelowna, Langley or virtually through Crossroads Collective.
About the Author – Eleanor, RCC
Eleanor is a Registered Clinical Counsellor offering in-person and online counselling for adults. She supports clients navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, neurodivergence, and major life transitions.
Her approach is warm, grounded, and strengths-based, integrating somatic therapy, nervous system regulation, and practical strategies to help clients feel more connected, capable, and resilient.
Eleanor has a special interest in working with creatives and individuals navigating identity shifts later in life, including retirement and life transitions. Her work is deeply informed by both professional training and lived experience, bringing authenticity, compassion, and curiosity into every session.
Suggested Reading
If you found this blog helpful, you may also enjoy:
