After decades working in the business world, I arrived at a place and time in my life where I felt that I wasn’t being fulfilled on a personal, spiritual and ethical level. In this previous life I owned and ran successful import businesses in the fashion and jewellery industries, but after 25 years it became apparent that I was meant for something more. Thus began my journey. I knew that there was another career out in the world for me and after some deep thought and soul searching I realized that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others, so I began working and training in a field in which I knew I would have a positive impact.
I have been working with people in various therapeutic capacities for over 30 years. This includes being a mentor and counsellor to many individuals and families dealing with substance and alcohol abuse related issues, and I am familiar with both 12 step programs, harm reduction approaches and Smart Recovery..
For many years I was involved as a volunteer with patients on Fir Square at BC Woman’s Hospital, where I gained a wealth of experience. Fir Square is a Combined Care Unit caring for substance-using women and their substance-exposed newborns. I have also headed up two projects which were aimed at social causes and benefiting others. Feed the Hungry, a project aimed at bringing together people of conflicting cultures to experience working together for a common social goal, feeding the hungry on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside; and the development of a therapeutic garden for a multi-disability residential social housing building whose residents’ disabilities range from physical through mental/psychiatric to substance abuse issues. I spent several years working as a volunteer and a contract worker at the Rainier Hotel in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, supporting women in different stages of recovery from substance abuse and trauma; facilitating an anger management and an assertiveness group, as well as providing one on one counselling services.
I am a registered member in good standing of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association, holding the designation of RPC – Registered Professional Counsellor and MPCC – Master Practitioner Clinical Counsellor. I hold a certificate in Horticultural Therapy from The Van Dusen Botanical Garden Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program and I am a certified Reiki Master in the Usui tradition for the past thirty five years. I am in the process of concluding my certification in Healing Touch and energy medicine.
My commitment to professional development is ongoing. I continue to pursue further specialized training in counselling clients and families dealing with end of life and hospice related issues, addiction, complex trauma and entheogenic integration.
My areas of specialization include; addiction (sex and substance abuse/misuse), complex trauma, loss and grief, pet loss, chronic and terminal illness and entheogenic integration.
I have been working with people in various therapeutic capacities for over 30 years. This includes being a mentor and counsellor to many individuals and families dealing with substance and alcohol abuse related issues, and I am familiar with both 12 step programs, harm reduction approaches and Smart Recovery..
For many years I was involved as a volunteer with patients on Fir Square at BC Woman’s Hospital, where I gained a wealth of experience. Fir Square is a Combined Care Unit caring for substance-using women and their substance-exposed newborns. I have also headed up two projects which were aimed at social causes and benefiting others. Feed the Hungry, a project aimed at bringing together people of conflicting cultures to experience working together for a common social goal, feeding the hungry on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside; and the development of a therapeutic garden for a multi-disability residential social housing building whose residents’ disabilities range from physical through mental/psychiatric to substance abuse issues. I spent several years working as a volunteer and a contract worker at the Rainier Hotel in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, supporting women in different stages of recovery from substance abuse and trauma; facilitating an anger management and an assertiveness group, as well as providing one on one counselling services.
I am a registered member in good standing of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association, holding the designation of RPC – Registered Professional Counsellor and MPCC – Master Practitioner Clinical Counsellor. I hold a certificate in Horticultural Therapy from The Van Dusen Botanical Garden Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program and I am a certified Reiki Master in the Usui tradition for the past thirty five years. I am in the process of concluding my certification in Healing Touch and energy medicine.
My commitment to professional development is ongoing. I continue to pursue further specialized training in counselling clients and families dealing with end of life and hospice related issues, addiction, complex trauma and entheogenic integration.
My areas of specialization include; addiction (sex and substance abuse/misuse), complex trauma, loss and grief, pet loss, chronic and terminal illness and entheogenic integration.