About Me

Many of my clients are…

Living with impacts of trauma

Many of us think of trauma as a one time event, and sometimes it is. But often the impacts of trauma are most significant when we have repeated experiences that overwhelm our ability to cope. This results in us coming up with strategies to make it through (that worked… you’re here now!) but sometimes aren’t as sustainable as we would like them to be— think shoving down your feelings and being strong/ calm; using substances to dull the overwhelm; relying on your super smart intellectual ability to circumvent your feelings. Sound familiar?

LGBTQ+ Folks

Many of my clients are queer, trans, and/or non binary. I love working within my queer community and in my work I draw heavily on my personal and community experience. This experience helps me translate my academic and continuing education learning into a supportive and non-oppressive practice for queer folks.

Practicing Alternative Relationship Structures

Many of my clients practice polyamory, consensual non monogamy, relationship anarchy or other less mainstream relationship structures like friends co-parenting, communal living etc. All structures have benefits and challenges. Want someone to help you navigate? I got you.

Experiencing Chronic Pain

If you know, you know. Chronic pain can be exhausting and impact all areas of your life. Maybe you’ve tried SO MANY things already or maybe this is a new and unexpected part of the path. I can help you work in a way that is practical, yet deep, strategic, yet not overwhelming. We can work our way towards any internal feelings/ coping strategies that are underlying the pain (note: this doesn’t mean it’s your fault or “all in your head”) and explore how different parts of you are responding to the pain. This can help you find more ease.

Neurodivergent

Many of my clients are formally diagnosed and many self-identify. Personally, I currently identify as “some kind of neurodivergent”. As you may know, the research is lagging. As a result, many folks are benefiting immensely from in person and online community-based learning about neurodivergence. I draw heavily on the lived experiences of neurodivergent folks to inform my practice. These folks are my friends, clients, colleagues and folks I follow online (both professionals and lay folks with lived experience of neurodivergence).

Anxious

Who isn’t? I can help without gaslighting you and telling you your worries aren’t real. We can figure out together where these feelings are coming from, and make some internal and/or external shifts so life isn’t so hard all the time. I’ve been know to say to clients, “this isn’t a you problem” (don’t worry, we can still create strategies for you to feel less anxious- they might just be different in this situation than individual strategies like deep breathing exercises). I’ve also been known to say, “ok, so I think this is a place where slowing down and listening to your feelings/sensations might be helpful” (you don’t have to know how to do this, I can help).

A few things you might want to know about my work…

Anti-oppressive 

As a counsellor, I work to show up in my full humanity. For me this looks like being honest with you about what I know and what I don’t know. It also looks like honoring the counselling relationship as a real relationship by sharing what I’m actually thinking and feeling in our conversation. For example, if you say something that moves me, I will tell you. If you ask me a question, I will answer it. If I’ve made a mistake, I will apologize. For me, this stance is the heart of a feminist, anti-oppressive counselling practice. I am a human and you are too. We are all just moving along trying to figure out how to suffer less and experience more joy and connection (if you’re not into that and your goal is something like becoming a bazillionaire… I suspect we’re not going to be a fit).

Collaborative

In working with me, I will invite you into a deeper relationship with yourself and friends, family (chosen or given) and partner(s) by attuning to where life energy is moving and where it is stuck or stagnant. We will explore together what you want to add to your life and what you want to let go of in order to move towards more ease and balance. You will notice that choice is a defining part of my practice and you will often hear me say, “I’m thinking about these two directions… do either of them seem interesting to you?” 

Trauma-Informed

If you choose, I can support you to integrate difficult and/or traumatic past experiences that are showing up in unexpected (or expected) areas of your life and preventing you from living your life the way you want. I won’t poke or force you to do this work. But if you want to, we will do this with careful pacing and in ways that feel safe, supportive and not completely overwhelming (the heart of a trauma-informed approach). 

I can also support you to grieve, rage, resist and build resilience to live through and challenge systems of oppression. 

Somatic

The body is amazingly wise. It can be a guide that helps us figure out our yes’s and no’s, and can also reveal to us places that need healing (of course physical, but also emotional). I trust our embodied wisdom. I also know that through difficult life experiences we can become disconnected and end up holding tension, pain, and untended emotions in our bodies. Somatic counselling integrates the body and allows for healing of trauma and difficult experiences. This work can be powerful for those of us who have done SO MUCH work already, but still feel impacted by past events. It can also be a powerful approach that helps us move through experiences we can't quite put words to.

The Nuts and Bolts— Approaches, Education, Registration

Approaches

My approach to counselling is experiential, and I draw heavily on a “parts work” framework. My practice is informed by the following models:

1) Julianne Taylor Shore’s Self Trust and Integrated Resilience (STAIR)

2) Janina Fisher’s Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST)

3) Richard Schwart’s Internal Family Systems (IFS).

Among other things, these approaches understand that we all have different “parts” of ourselves. For example, a part of a person might really want to engage in a new career or relationship opportunity, and another part of them might be hesitant or afraid to do so. These different perspectives can lead to confusion, stuckness, anxiety, depression and a host of other difficulties. When we slow down and allow different parts of ourselves to express what they’re feeling/sensing/ thinking without interruption or judgment, this eases the internal chaos and helps the next steps become much clearer. For those of us who have experienced trauma or overwhelming life experiences, a parts work approach can be particularly healing (if you want to hear more, you can ask me about this in a free 20 minute consult).

Education

• Masters of Education in Contemplative Inquiry, Simon Fraser University

• Masters level counselling courses, City University and Yorkville University

• Undergraduate Degree in Child and Youth Care and Certificate in Intercultural Education and Training, University of Victoria

• Yoga Therapy Extension Certificate, Mount Royal University

Continuing Education

• STAIR (Selt Trust and Integrated Resilience, Julianne Taylor Shore, Level 1)

• TIST Certified (Janina Fisher, Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment, Level 3)

• Internal Family Systems Circle Program, IFS Institute

• Understanding Dissociation: An Insiders View on Helping Dissociative Clients, Jamie Marich

• Memory Reconsolidation: Translating Neuroscience into Art, Julianne Taylor Shore

• The Neurobiology of Attachment, National Institute for the Application of Clinical Behavioural Medicine

•  Frontiers in the Treatment of Trauma, National Institute for the Application of Clinical Behavioural Medicine

• Working with Trauma in Children and Youth: Building Your Toolbox, Cameray Child and Family Services

• Transforming Trauma, James Finley

• Healing Pathway Energy Healing Program, Naramata Centre

Registration and Insurance Coverage:

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (#18457) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. My services are covered by some insurance carriers, please check your policy to see if it covers “Registered Clinical Counsellors OR RCC’s”. If you have insurance coverage, I will provide you a receipt you can submit for reimbursement at the end of each session.

Rates: $185/ 60 minute session

Location: In person appointments are at Suite 101- 1416 Commercial Drive.

Book a free 20 minute consultation