About Me...
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor in the province of British Columbia licensed through the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (#2746).
I have worked as a Mental Health Practitioner for many years in a variety of venues: hospitals, hospice and palliative care centres, a residential addictions treatment centre, a counselling agency contracted through the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and most recently for over a decade in my own clinic and private practice.
Over the years I have worked with youth, families, couples and individuals. Currently I am focusing my work with individual adults and my approach is relational, respectful, compassionate and strengths-based.
Learn more about the services I offer HERE.
Throughout my professional career I have also taken numerous specialized training programs, including several Somatic Experiencing Master Classes with Dr. Peter Levine, Complex Trauma training with Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk, a 200-hour Yin Yoga training program with Eion Finn, a Hospice/End of Life training at the California Pacific Medical Centre, and many more. Keeping up to date with the latest information related to trauma and body-centred approaches and professional development are key elements to my continual growth and practice.
As a registered Expressive Arts Therapist, the arts in all forms are very important to me. I have co-authored a book titled Treasure: Creative Adventures in Self-Discovery, and have written numerous chapters in other books, including in She Appears: Encounters with Kwan Yin Goddess of Compassion by Sandy Boucher.
I have taught and facilitated many forms of arts and creativity classes and workshops over the years and utilize expressive arts if deemed desirable by a client. I also have a vibrant art practice. My first solo show at the Gage Art Gallery occurred in 2022 in Victoria, BC.
You can find my artwork HERE.
Education
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Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology, Expressive Arts Specialty, California Institute of Integral Studies,
San Francisco 2006 -
Bachelor of Arts, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco 2002
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Certificate of Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute – 3 year program
(Dr. Peter Levine) 2016 -
Certificate of Early Attachment, DARE (Dynamic Attachment Repair Experience – 3-year program)
Diane Poole Heller 2014 -
Certificate of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn 2008
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Bachelor of Administration/Commerce, University of Saskatchewan 1988