How I Work

When I meet with people, I aim to structure their session according to their specific needs for that day. If you’re needing to vent and get things off your chest, I will give you space and validate your experiences. If you’re not sure where to start, I offer curious and non-judgemental questions to help you gain a greater understanding of the bigger picture and your next steps.

I can offer you tools to help regulate your nervous system using mindful, creative, and body-centred approaches. These are tools that you can use both in session and at home to help feel more in control of your thoughts and feelings. When we are feeling more centred or grounded, we are typically better at making decisions and taking action.

In the name of preserving dignity and supporting social justice I help my clients identify trauma as external events that are overwhelming to our systems. I will help you identify any violence that you have experienced and help contextualize your responses.

A bit about me

With a decade of experience offering counselling services to teens, adults, couples, and families, I feel very privileged to truly love what I do. I love helping people gain clarity and direction when they feel overwhelmed; healing when they feel broken; and connection when they feel lost.

I finished my Masters of Counselling back in 2014 from City University of Seattle at the campus in Langford, BC. What I loved about this program was its focus on preserving the dignity of everyone I work with and fighting for social justice wherever I can.

Besides my work, I find joy in being outside – connecting with nature and having fun. Some of my favourite activities include hiking with my dogs, horseback riding, skiing, sailing, and swimming in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. I currently live in Vernon, BC on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan people. I live with my partner and two dogs.

Education

• City University of Seattle, Langford Campus – Master of Counselling 2014

• University of Victoria, Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Studies 2007

Certification

• BC Association of Registered Clinical Counsellor

  • Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), Registration #12383

Professional Development

• Ongoing regular training through the Centre for Response-based Practice – Interior Region 2021 – Present

•  Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy Training (Two year program) - Lisa Mortimore, Victoria BC 2021-2022

• Sanyas Indigenous cultural safety (PHSA) 2021

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) - EMDR Centre of Canada 2020

• Trauma Skills Summit - Sounds True 2020

• Working with the Pain of Abandonment – nicabm 2020

• Trauma, Mind, and Body Super Conference - Conscious Psychology 2020

• Domestic Violence in the Climate of COVID-19 – BCACC 2020

• Counselling at a Distance: Using Video to Connect with your Clients - Lawrence Murphy (Hosted through CounsellingBC) 2020

• Whole-body Mindfulness/Focusing - Findhorn Foundation – 2019

• Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) – 2018

• Connect: Attachment-based Parenting Program  (Certified) 2017

• Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk - Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) 2017

• Nanaimo's Collaborative Response to Domestic Violence - MCFD – 2016

• CBIS Indigenous Approach Workshop: Racism and Privilege in the Everyday - BC Provincial Health Services Authority 2016

• Justice Institute of BC courses (2016):

  • Foundations of Collaborative Conflict Resolution

  • Dealing with Anger

  • Negotiation Skills Level 1Mediation Skills Level

  • Family Justice Services in BC

  • Family Violence

  • Impact of Separation and Divorce

• Couples Counselling Training Program - Citizens’ Counselling Centre 2015

• Mind the Gap6: An Annual Congress on Response-based Practice Supporting Victims of Crime Symposium 2015

• TELTIN TTE WILNEW "Understanding Indigenous People" - Camosun College 2015