Individual Counselling

My educational background:

I am a Registered Social Worker. I have a Bachelor of Social Work (major in First Nations Studies), a Bachelor of Administration (major in Organizational Behaviour) and a Masters of Counselling (major in Psychology).

My life in the Peace:

I am a 2^nd generation Fort St John resident, 3^rd generation oil patch, therefore I have a deep understanding of the unique demands and culture of the Peace Region.

My personal values:

I believe that anyone can change. I believe in personal choice, and I work to help my clients discover what it is they actually want.

It is vital for your healing journey that we click. If at any time you don’t feel that I am the best counselor for you, I will suggest other local counselors that you may find to be a better fit. This is no one’s fault and no offense will be taken. Please talk to me if you suspect fit may be an issue for you. If you want to try a different modality or way of working together, please feel free to discuss that with me as well.

My theory of change:

I assume since you are volunteering to hire me, you acknowledge that something in your life isn’t exactly how you want it to be, and all your attempts up to now haven’t worked as you had hoped. There may be some patterns or rules you picked up earlier in life that are no longer helping you today. We will look for those and try to find ways to change them. This is the basis of psychodynamic therapy. The foundation of cognitive behavioural therapy is the assumption that thoughts are being misinterpreted or distorted by the brain, which is causing some unpleasant emotions and some unhelpful behaviours. By learning how to recognize your thoughts as just theories, not facts, and how to change or reframe your thoughts, you can have a positive impact on your emotions and behaviours, which will impact your relationships.

I primarily use dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy, as well as eye movement desensatization and reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma therapy. I always work with a trauma informed lens, which means I assume each person carries a trauma wound in their history, and my goal is to be aware and sensitive of it as we work towards your healing goals. I hope to make a safe space for you to examine your wounds, patterns, thoughts, and emotions. We will only work on your trauma wound if you want us to. You decide what we talk about.

Fees:

As I am a Registered Social Worker (#12441 with British Columbia College of Social Workers), many employee assistance packages will reimburse costs, please check with your particular plan to be sure. Sessions are $125 per hour.

Relevant links:

British Columbia College of Social Workers https://bccsw.ca/

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