Treatment Approach
I am registered as a clinical counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
Pacific Blue Cross
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
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 or less hopefulness for the future.
Thoughts and feelings of stress, anger, fear, sadness, guilt or shame are key moods and emotions that often prevent us from feeling positive about the future or even result in longer-term health concerns (ex. frequent mood changes/polarity or stress responses can be linked to physical illnesses and mental health diagnoses). Dependency or unhealthy attachments or negative thinking and self-talk, self-harm or suicidal thoughts/behaviours can also develop through prolonged experiences of such emotional challenges.
Clients can expect to work together to begin the process of 'tracking'. This is not some counselling magic that we sprinkle. We will guide and support you in pinpointing key issues concerning you, while building on your self-acceptance from a realistic and compassionate-based approach. The opportunity to explore your conscious, unconscious, and subconscious thoughts and feelings can help to improve and make changes.
Boundaries & Relationship Support
Relationships are not always 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 diffused relationship dynamics such as a sense of ownership towards someone we love. Although this is often good intended, it can quickly tarnish the respect and health of the relationship.
You may be experiencing friendship challenges, family or partner relationship issues, parent-child conflict, or other relationship hardships that can often result in unhealthy attachment/boundaries. Rather than feeling like a burden or that you are making too many 'sacrifices' for your loved ones, try to pause and reflect on what's most important to you.
Our younger/past experiences can affect our ability to have a healthy or congruent relationship to people around us. 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 see in your future relationships.
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 shared by others or through the world of social content, known as vicarious trauma. Unresolved feelings and prolonged stress can occur after witnessing or being involved in such life-changing or stressful situations.
If you are struggling or burdened with the loss or grief of a loved one or have experienced any other form of abuse/neglect or violence, please do not suffer in silence as you are not alone.
Due to the varying effects and symptoms that physical/emotional/psychological traumatic experiences can cause, it is important to work with a professional who is aware of trauma signs and safety. I utilize concepts such as 'titration' which help to slow down brain waves and filter post-trauma responses, while psychoeducation can help to regulate our nervous system. We work together on your healing and growth. I meet clients where they're at and engage from a trauma-informed and client-centred approach.
Cultural & Identity Challenges
Our own values and belief can often shift or be different than those from our own 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 with balancing their many hats. Our family, spiritual beliefs, religion, education, friendships, and partner relationships may not always accept who we are or want to be vs. who they know us as.
Identity challenges can take place from acculturation and migration, career or life transitions, gender and sexuality concerns, or other changes taking place for us that influence how we and others see us.
I have supported younger and older clients with challenges relating to cultural and/or identity. Changes surrounding who we are is a life-long experience as we often approach various milestones and developmental transitions that shape us differently. I use warmth, empathy and open-ended questions to begin to understand what makes up 'you' and how you wish or prefer to shift or change your self-identity.
Attachment & Family-Rooted Issues
Attachment is present in all aspects of our life. Although we are not always in control of the environment or life situation in front of us. Feelings of fear, anxiety, avoidance and others can impact the way we learn and continue to experience attachment.
Much of our core attachment style comes from our early life, typically involving family and close friends. Attachment does not only mean the way we bond or detach to others. Attachment to worldly topics and issues, physical materials/items, substance use or addiction patterns, and many other behaviours can result in unhealthy attachment patterns or ruptures.
Family history is often key in learning about our attachment styles. We may have guilt, blame, or rejection from past challenges that may have or currently taking place within our family or with a loved one. It is even more difficult when we are living with someone or others that may be struggling with their own challenges or experiencing multigenerational similarities (ex. family history of addictions or mental health concerns, or if you/family treat each other the same way their parents or siblings did).
I will guide you in exploring attachment styles, core values and beliefs, alongside your and your family of origins tendencies when addressing conflicts or problems as family-rooted values often play a significant role in shaping how we react or respond to stress or loved ones from early to later child-adulthood.
Body-Mind Connection & Self-Awareness
Body-mind connection is being recognized more than ever. With Western medicine and psychology separating the body and mind from one another for year, today, the knowledge of other cultures such as astern practices shine light on the benefits of exploring the body-mind as one holistic operating system.
Self-awareness plays a pivotal role in mind-body connection, also known as somatics. To engage in this work, we must first slow our brain and life experiences down, ground and relax our body-mind and explore various parts of our brain which help us regulate, such as the autonomic and somatic nervous systems.
I will incorporate somatic-based psychoeducation on neuroscience to process emotions/thoughts. We work together to determine which learnings connect to you. I support clients towards more actionable steps and self-reflection 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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