Hi, I’m Kirsten.
I'm known for my great sense of humour and am easy to laugh, which makes so much sense when I look at my career. I deeply value wellness and connection, and laughter is such a powerful tool in our healing journey as we courageously work towards living as our true selves.
When I am not working as a counsellor, you can find me reading a great book or going for walks in nature. I really do love spending time investing in mindful activities for myself to maintain balance, gratitude and happiness in my life.
I am genuinely invested in each person's story and experiences in life and want to ensure people feel heard, seen and understood.
Providing a calm, kind and trusting environment with my clients is my top priority as I acknowledge the vulnerability and courage it takes to do this work.
I believe that although we cannot change past events, we can change the impact those events have on us. I know that change is always possible and it's up to us to take responsibility for how we live our lives on the inside, even when the outside refuses to change.
Generational trauma in my family continued to teach me that when we experience trauma, anxiety, depression or other struggles with mental health, we were to keep that inside. Just tuck it away and "it will just go away". I was never given any tools to deal with struggles I was experiencing and I began to see that this was a common theme through generations past.
There came a point in my life where I realized that this coping/defense mechanism was NOT working anymore as it was affecting me not only mentally and emotionally, but physically and spiritually as well. Therefore, my journey came to focus on changing this generational coping style.
With the experiences I have had in my life, and my passion for working with people, this has brought me to what I do now, and empowering others to flourish and live their best lives!
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
~ Maya Angelou
My Background
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Education and Training
I earned my Master's Degree in Counselling from City University of Seattle, in Vancouver, BC. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association for Clinical Counsellors (BCACC #14040) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA #13550). Previously, I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Psychology from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC.
Further training that I have completed include:
Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy - Bringing the Body into Practice, 2 Year Training with Lisa Mortimore, Ph.D. and Stacy Adam Jensen, MEd
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) basic training through British Columbia School of Professional Psychology (BCSPP) with Marshall Wilensky, Ph.D.
Trauma Workshop with Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC - Neuroscience/Trauma/Brain
The Fundamentals and More of EAP/EFAP with Claire Sutton, MA, RCC, CEAP, FEA
Family Services Workshop with Arden Henley and Mary Kean
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Volunteer
I believe in giving back to my community and have been truly honored to witness countless moments where individuals have demonstrated immense strength and courage in the face of trauma.
I had the privilege of volunteering at Tri-City Transitions Society, a registered charity that provides emergency shelter and support to women and children fleeing family violence and abuse in the Tri-Cities area.
As a co-facilitator, I contributed to the Canadian Action Program and the Stopping the Violence programs, which included the following groups:
Empowering Dads: Healthy parenting skills, communication and a focus on the impact of domestic violence on children.
Healthy Boundaries: Creating healthy boundaries for women who are, or have, experienced abuse.
Teen Moms: Healthy parenting and relationships for teen mothers.
Healthy Attachment: Building healthy attachment for parents with their young children.
Empowering Moms: Healthy parenting skills, communication and a focus on the impact of domestic violence on children.
