When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.
Viktor E. Frankl
Vanessa is not accepting new clients at this time. Please feel free to book with one of our available counsellors.
My Approach
We are all doing the best we can with what we have at this very moment. In the grief and loss, stress and anxiety, fear and uncertainty, you are not alone. As a counselor, I strive to listen closely and compassionately. My focus is on helping youth and adults untangle life’s complexities within a safe therapeutic environment. I support clients in discovering and exploring new ways to approach life’s storms using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I also tailor treatment plans to the individual, with the use of cognitive-behavioural interventions, person-centered approaches, and mindfulness-based skills. I integrate emotional regulation strategies into therapy to help clients build a personal toolbox of helpful and practical coping skills. Using a collaborative approach, I support my clients in identifying personal values, strengths, and resources they can use to pursue their goals.
Education and Professional Background
I am a Registered Psychologist who provides counselling and assessment services to adolescents and adults who have experienced anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, stress, and interpersonal difficulties. My education includes a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Psychology and a Masters of Counselling Psychology. I have worked in the community mental health field in several settings, including disability treatment programs, residential treatment homes, and mental health crisis response services. I hold an Authorized Practice Endorsement (APE) that allows me to provide a diagnosis to my clients, when appropriate.
Additional Training
Cognitive Processing Therapy course. Medical University of South Carolina – in progress
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Beginners. Online course with Psychwire.
Motivational Interviewing. Online Course with Psychwire.
Foundations: 5-Day Narrative Therapy Practice Training Certificate. Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy
CBT for Depression. Online course with the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Essentials of the CBT: Beck Approach. Online course with the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Childhood Trauma Training
Trauma Competency Training: Traumatic Stress, Grief and Loss
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
Standard First Aid and CPR (AED)