About
ABOUT HEATHER
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Registered Social Worker who has had the pleasure of working with children and families for most of my adult life.
As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Registered Social Worker (RSW) I support individuals, couples and families towards healing. My unique experiences allow me to see a wider perspective beyond the individual. I specialize in trauma therapy and support individuals in recovering from childhood and other traumas. I consider myself as an adoption competent counsellor, and am excited to support individuals and couples considering adoption, transitioning a child into adoption, in adoption placement, or impacted by adoption (i.e. foster parent, sibling of an adopted child, adult adoptee). Additionally, I offer training and speaking engagements on the topics of adoption, trauma and parenting, stress versus burnout, and emotion coaching. I am a certified Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) workshop facilitator.
I began my work supporting children and youth in the community and in the classroom, before gaining my Bachelor of Social Work degree and starting my career in child protection. I found my passion working with adoptive families for the next 10 years and then transitioned to working as a Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician for 5 years. My passion for this population lead to the development of a trauma informed attachment-based parenting program for parents and caregivers who have experienced trauma and attachment disruption. The Trauma Attuned Parent e-course is available for purchase - check out my home page for details. I truly believe that parents and caregivers have a significant role in helping their children heal by creating a therapeutic home environment. When one person is impacted, the whole family is impacted.
Providing a safe and non-judgmental space to make sense of your experiences is my primary goal. My strength-based, client-centered approach, aims to support you to:
Strengthen connections
Enhance skills
Build resilience
Heal from your own experiences
Ultimately enjoy healthy relationships
I rely on evidence-based approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, Attachment-focused (EMDR), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Emotion Focused Therapy (couples), and Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
On a personal note — I have been married for 29 years and have a 25 year-old daughter. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, kayaking, being in nature, being in community with my colleagues and travelling.
If you are interested in finding out if I’m a good fit for you, please call or email me. I offer a free 20 min introductory telephone consultation.
CREDENTIALS & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) - BCACC (17620)
Registered Social Worker (RSW) - BCCSW (17014)
MA Counselling Psychology — Trinity Western University
BA Social Work - University of the Fraser Valley
Clinical Supervision Training — City U
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
Emotion-Focused Couples Counselling (EFT)
Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EEFT); Certified Caregiver Support Workshop facilitator
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Basic Training & Attachment Focused EMDR
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Complex Care & Intervention Coach (CCI)
Specialized Courses in: Trauma & Sexual Abuse, Bereavement, Attachment, Marriage and Family Therapy
ICBC Vendor
“The only antidote to shame is the word and touch of someone who delights in us. We need an alliance of love, one that knows our shame and suffering and refuses to look away. ”
Dr. Dan Allender