I am a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC).
I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotion Focussed Therapy (EFT), Somatic Therapy, Executive Function Therapy (used to minimize symptoms of ADHD), mindfulness, and I am trauma informed. I have a certificate in Expressive Therapies, am a Critical Incident First Responder and am completing my level 1 & 2 in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy. I have training and experience in art and traditional talk
therapies. Nevertheless, my learning is never complete. I am constantly taking
more courses, attending workshops/conferences, and engaging in peer
support and clinical supervision.
Since a young age, I knew I wanted to help people, but I wasn’t sure
how I was going to accomplish this. As I got older, I realized that I have
an ability to connect with people, to empathize with them, and really
listen to them about all their challenges and struggles in life.
I began my career volunteering for a crisis centre and fell in love with talking with people and connecting with them on a deeper level. I then went on to complete my four-year Bachelor’s degree (BSW) and worked for a few different non-profit organizations where I got to work closely with children and families.
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As my love and experience for working with children, families and healthcare grew, I transitioned to working at a hospital. I have over 22 years of experience in the healthcare field working with a variety of patients from the Birthing Unit, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and a Pediatric Unit. I completed my Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) and specialized in working with children, youth, adults, couples, and families.
Over the course of my career, I have worked with children who were dealing with chronic health issues ranging from acute and curable diagnoses to life-threatening incurable diseases. For many years, I worked very closely with children with life-threatening illnesses as well as children who were receiving palliative care. I have also spent many years working with parents whose children were at end of life stages as well as with grieving parents whose children had passed on.
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I live with my husband of 20 years, a teenager, and a preteen. Walking, yoga, meditation, painting, pottery, and vacationing with my family are a few things I enjoy. I love to meet new people and learn all about their lives. I also love to cook, try new foods, and my position as a cooking instructor with the City of Surrey!
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RCC (Registered Clinical Counsellor)In BC, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) must hold a Master's Degree, meet specific eligibility criteria, and undergo specific supervision and clinical hour requirements to become registered with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC).
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RSW (Registered Social Worker)A Registered Social Worker (RSW) must have a social work degree (an undergraduate degree or master’s degree in social work). RSWs are governed by the BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW) and must adhere to the Standards of Practice, Social Workers Act, College Bylaws and all applicable legislation. Registered social workers must complete ongoing education, learning, and training in order to re-register each year. Please check with your extended health provider as one or both designations, RCC and/or RSW, should grant coverage.
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Critical Incident First ResponderI am a certified Critical Incident First Responder which means I have education and training in Critical incident stress management (CISM) which is an adaptive, short-term psychological helping-process that focuses solely on an immediate and identifiable problem. It can include pre-incident preparedness to acute crisis management to post-crisis follow-up.
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Expressive TherapistI have a certificate in Expressive therapy which means I have education and training in art, play, and sand therapy. Expressive therapy combines psychology and the creative process to promote emotional growth and healing. This multi-arts, or intermodal, approach to psychotherapy and counselling uses our inborn desire to create—be it art, play or sand—as a therapeutic tool to help initiate change. This form of therapy can be used with children, teens, adults, couples, and families and is proven very effective when words can sometimes be too difficult.
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Gottman Therapy Method Level 1 & 2The Gottman Method is a research based approach to couples therapy that includes a thorough assessment of the couple's relationship and integrates research-based interventions based on the Sound Relationship House Theory. The goals of Gottman Method Couples Therapy are to disarm conflicting verbal communication, increase intimacy, respect, and affection, remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy in conflicting situations, and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)I am a certified Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation, which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. It is also used to treat anxiety, depression, and other distressing life experiences in children, teenagers, and adults.