Welcome
"We are always in the place of beginning.
Everything we've been leads us to who we are becoming.
Like a strand of beads, the memories exist separately
but join in concert to form the whole of who we are."
-Ellen Ann Eddy
I acknowledge the ancestral, traditional and unceded Indigenous territories of the WS'ANEC' (Saanich), Tsartlip and Tsawout (central Saanich), Lekwungen (Songhees), Wyomilth (Esquimalt) and T'Sou-ke (Sooke) Coast Salish Peoples, on whose territory I live and work.
My work is focused on supporting clients as they explore transitions related to aging, significant life and interpersonal relationships and personal and spiritual growth.
The core of my work is the facilitation of the development of a strong sense of Self,
and the enhancement of clarity about what matters most to my clients. The purpose of our work together is to support the client shifting toward a greater experience of
joy, contentment and meaning in their lives.
I am always enthusiastic about the appearance of a greater sense of personal power, fulfillment and a passion for life which seems to emerge in the individual as a result of our sessions together.
My Education
I graduated from Concordia University, Montreal, QC. (1972) with a B.A.
in Fine Arts and Psychology and an MEd., counselling, University of Victoria, B.C. (2003).
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors.
I have had a successful private practice for over 20 years.
I am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (S.E.P.), having completed certified training
with the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, Boulder, CO.
I have also completed certification in Somatic Transformation with Dr. Sharon Stanley.
in Fine Arts and Psychology and an MEd., counselling, University of Victoria, B.C. (2003).
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors.
I have had a successful private practice for over 20 years.
I am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (S.E.P.), having completed certified training
with the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, Boulder, CO.
I have also completed certification in Somatic Transformation with Dr. Sharon Stanley.
My Goals as a Counsellor
I encourage an atmosphere of absolute confidentiality, sharing and support.
I believe each of us has the right to feel safe and respected in an unbiased environment.
The empathic response of another human being often results in a feeling of worthiness and empowerment.
I believe all of us have the longing, and are entitled, to be acknowledged and appreciated.
The importance of maintaining a relationship of collaboration with my clients is vital to my work,
as is the importance of trusting the client's ability to choose the path which they see, at that moment,
as being best suited for their growth, sense of safety and emotional health.
I believe each of us has the right to feel safe and respected in an unbiased environment.
The empathic response of another human being often results in a feeling of worthiness and empowerment.
I believe all of us have the longing, and are entitled, to be acknowledged and appreciated.
The importance of maintaining a relationship of collaboration with my clients is vital to my work,
as is the importance of trusting the client's ability to choose the path which they see, at that moment,
as being best suited for their growth, sense of safety and emotional health.
My Current Focus for Counselling Sessions
I feel that many people suffer from the loss of a sense of purpose in their lives, particularly in their later years. We are culturally encouraged to accept that "more is better" of exterior possessions and less and less importance is attached to our internal sense of strength and well being. The things that offer a deep sense of joy and meaning are often put aside in the busy-ness of life and we may feel out of touch with ourselves and what matters to us. Particularly as we age, we really need to draw on our strengths to cope with the inevitability of our mental and physical decline, emotional and spiritual challenges, and eventually, death.
Spirituality, by my definition, is the essence of those things which are meaningful to us and which provide us with a sense of deep connection with spirit, self and others. While formal religious beliefs may be included in one's spirituality, they are not an essential part of it. The profound connections which have sustained us over time are, I believe, at the root of our ability to negotiate all stages of life in a healthy, joyful and productive way.
With these ideas in mind the focus of conversations with clients will be:
* Negotiating life transitions associated with aging
* Exploring options
* Clarifying priorities
* Enhancing current interpersonal relationships
* Exploring the benefits of creative expression
* Developing deeper spiritual awareness and practices
* Addressing issues around grief and loss
* Addressing end-of-life issues
COVID 19 highlighted the fragility of the thread of connection; I noticed distancing myself and the resulting complexities of having meaningful conversations, playing a game together, sharing a meal, or even a good laugh. Aging and its challenges alters that sense of ease for a number of reasons as well - health issues, reduced resilience and stamina, mobility, and financial challenges. I have concerns about those who, for one reason or another, find it difficult, or cannot, reach out. Older women are often dependent on family connections, community resources, meaningful relationships, mental and physical health services, and social support systems.
I know from those I talk with that there are many in need of support and I am happy to be able to offer that support. However, due to the ongoing threat of viral infection, my appointments with clients, from now on, will be via Zoom. Given the demographics of my clients, and my own vulnerability due to my age, I find this the only solution to continuing to provide really safe services. Zoom saves some of us from complete isolation and I have found that it can be a solution to creating connections where few exist, and where difficulties, which have become more than can be managed alone, can be shared.
Spirituality, by my definition, is the essence of those things which are meaningful to us and which provide us with a sense of deep connection with spirit, self and others. While formal religious beliefs may be included in one's spirituality, they are not an essential part of it. The profound connections which have sustained us over time are, I believe, at the root of our ability to negotiate all stages of life in a healthy, joyful and productive way.
With these ideas in mind the focus of conversations with clients will be:
* Negotiating life transitions associated with aging
* Exploring options
* Clarifying priorities
* Enhancing current interpersonal relationships
* Exploring the benefits of creative expression
* Developing deeper spiritual awareness and practices
* Addressing issues around grief and loss
* Addressing end-of-life issues
COVID 19 highlighted the fragility of the thread of connection; I noticed distancing myself and the resulting complexities of having meaningful conversations, playing a game together, sharing a meal, or even a good laugh. Aging and its challenges alters that sense of ease for a number of reasons as well - health issues, reduced resilience and stamina, mobility, and financial challenges. I have concerns about those who, for one reason or another, find it difficult, or cannot, reach out. Older women are often dependent on family connections, community resources, meaningful relationships, mental and physical health services, and social support systems.
I know from those I talk with that there are many in need of support and I am happy to be able to offer that support. However, due to the ongoing threat of viral infection, my appointments with clients, from now on, will be via Zoom. Given the demographics of my clients, and my own vulnerability due to my age, I find this the only solution to continuing to provide really safe services. Zoom saves some of us from complete isolation and I have found that it can be a solution to creating connections where few exist, and where difficulties, which have become more than can be managed alone, can be shared.
