Treatment Approach
I am registered as a clinical counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
Pacific Blue Cross
GreenShield
Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)
First Nations Health Authority
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)
I practice an eclectic counselling style.
This means I utilize a range of psychotherapeutic tools.
I also collect client feedback & provide psychoeducation
from the start to end of each session.
This approach helps me strive for client-centred & trauma-informed care.
Key Therapeutic Frameworks
Person-Centred
Narrative
Compassion-Focused
Humanistic
Anti-Oppressive & Multicultural
Family Systems & Attachment Theory
Somatic/Sensorimotor/Neuroscience
Cognitive Behavioural/Dialectical Behaviour
Bio-Ecological System/Human Development
Key Treatment Areas
Mood & Emotional Processing
If you are having challenges with your mood or emotions, please know you are not alone.
Many life experiences can bring worries/anxieties or lower/depressed moods which can begin to negatively impact our relationships and sense of belonging, causing less hopefulness for the future.
Thoughts and feelings of stress, anger, fear, sadness, guilt and shame are strong moods and emotions that can prevent us from feeling positive about the future, evening resulting in longer-term health concerns (ex. constant mood changes or stress can be linked to physical illnesses and mental health diagnoses). Dependency, unhealthy attachments, negative thinking or self-talk, self-harm or suicidal thoughts/behaviours can also develop through prolonged experiences of such emotional challenges.
We will work together to engage in the process of 'tracking'. I will guide and support you with identifying issues concerning you, while building on your self-acceptance. The opportunity to explore your conscious, unconscious, and subconscious thoughts and feelings can often help to improve mood and consider changes in our lives.
Boundaries & Relationship Support
Many relationships are not simple and maintaining healthy boundaries can be difficult. We typically care for our loved ones despite hardships or challenges from the past. We can also develop an enmeshed or diffused relationship dynamics such as a sense of ownership towards someone we love or taking responsibility for their emotions. Although this is often good intended, it can slowly tarnish the respect and health of the relationship and focus on changing each other, rather than understanding each other.
Friend, family or partner relationship issues, parent-child dynamics, or other relationship hardships may be resulting in unhealthy attachment/boundaries. Rather than feeling like a burden or that you are making too many sacrifices, it will benefit to pause and reflect on what's most important.
Our past experiences can affect our ability to have healthy or congruent relationships. We may feel defensive, angry, or disappointed by others not meeting our needs. Exploring current and past relationships can be a first step to change. I will guide you in accessing your core relationship values and beliefs as we explore what you'd like to build in your relationships going forward.
Trauma - Loss/Grief, Abuse/Neglect, Violence
Counselling is one evidence-based form of treatment that can support individuals with traumatic experiences and memories. We can also be affected by traumatic stories experienced by others or social exposure, or if we work in stressful jobs, also known as vicarious trauma. Unresolved feelings or prolonged stress can occur after witnessing or experiencing such situations.
If you are struggling with past experiences of trauma, loss and grief of a loved one, or have experienced any form of abuse, neglect or violence, do not suffer alone or in silence.
Due to varying effects and symptoms that physical/emotional/psychological traumatic experiences can cause, it is important to learn about our own trauma signs and safety cues. I utilize concepts such as 'titration' which help to slow down brainwaves and attempt to filter post-trauma responses. I provide psychoeducation which focuses on understanding and regulating our nervous system. We work together as I accept clients where they're at and engage from a trauma-informed and client-centred approach.
Cultural & Identity Challenges
Our values and belief can often shift or be different than those from our own family, cultural or bi-cultural identity. Whether you are developing your own culture as a younger person or navigating transitional periods in your adult life, it can be difficult to share these views with people close to us.
Fears and realities of judgement or criticism are common among all cultures and backgrounds, while those coming from multiple backgrounds or identities can struggle more. Our family, spiritual beliefs, religion, education, friendships, and partner relationships may not accept who we want to be vs. who they know us as. Identity challenges can also take place from acculturation and migration, career and life transitions, gender or sexuality concerns.
I have worked with younger and older clients with challenges relating to their identity and life transitions. I use warmth, empathy and open-ended questions to first understand what makes 'you' and then explore supports during this stage and build on change and self-acceptance.
Attachment & Family-Rooted Issues
Attachment is present in all aspects of our life. Feelings of fear, anxiety, and avoidance can begin to impact the way we experience the world. Much of our core attachment style comes from our early life, typically involving family and friends. Attachment does not only mean the way we bond or detach to others. Attachment to worldly topics and issues, physical materials and items, substance use or addiction patterns and others can also result in unhealthy attachment patterns or ruptures.
Family history can be key in learning about our attachment styles. We may have guilt, blame, or rejection from past challenges that may have or still taking place within our family or loved ones. We are all vulnerable to multigenerational transmission (ex. If you or your family talk or raise your kids the same way their parents or siblings did).
I will guide you in exploring your past and current attachment styles. Learning more about your family of origin's response to conflict or problems as these values can play a significant role in shaping how we react or respond to stress individually, partner-relationship dynamics, and parent-child relationships.
Body-Mind Connection & Self-Awareness
The connection between the body and mind has emerged despite Western medicine and psychology previously separating the two from one another. Today, the knowledge of many healing practices across the world shines light on the benefits of seeing the body-mind as one holistic operating system.
Self-awareness plays a pivotal role in understanding our body-mind connection, also known as somatic responses. This can include slowing down our thoughts, grounding, and exploring our daily behaviours in order to explore ways to regulate our autonomic nervous system.
We will discuss what your grounding or self-care practices currently look like. I will incorporate psychoeducation on neuroscience to support with emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. We work together to determine which learnings connect for you to increase body-mind attunement and awareness.
Contact Me
For any questions you have about the counselling process or to book a free phone consultation,
please reach me by email or submit the form below.
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