Education & Experience
Degrees & Designations
2012
Master of Social Work, University of the Fraser Valley, Honours
2010
Bachelor of Social Work, University of British Columbia
Since 2022
Certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist
Since 2022
Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia in good standing
Since 2010
Registered Social Worker in British Columbia in good standing
Clinical Work Experience
Private Practice
Aug 2019 - Present
Counsellor/Therapist in Private Practice, Lower Mainland & Virtual
May 2015 - June 2017
Counsellor/Therapist in Private Practice, New Westminster
Fraser Health
May 2021 - Aug 2021
Social Worker, Primary Care Network, New Westminster Home Health
Oct 2019 - May 2021
Social Worker, Sexual Health & Blood Borne Infections, New Westminster Public Health
Jun 2018 - Oct 2019
Individual and Group Therapist, New Westminster Mental Health
May 2017 - Jun 2018
Clinical Case Manager, New Westminster Mental Health
Nov 2015 - May 2016
Clinical Case Manager, White Rock Mental Health
Dec 2012 - Nov 2014
Mental Health Therapist, Surrey Mental Health
Jun 2012 - Dec 2012
Clinical Case Manager, Surrey Mental Health
2010 - 2012
Social Worker, Casual, Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock
2010 - 2012
Social Worker & Mental Health Liaison, Casual, Delta Hospital
Social Work Practica
2012
MSW Social Work Practicum Student, South Mental Health Team, Vancouver (VCH)
2009
BSW 4th Year Social Work Practicum Student, Delta Hospital
2005 - 2006
BSW 3rd Year Social Work Practicum Student, George Derby (long term care), Burnaby
Miscellaneous Experience
2009
Volunteer, Looking Glass Camp (for young women with eating disorders), Maple Ridge
2005 - 2012
Volunteer, BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS), Burnaby/New Westminster
2007
‘Annual Family Conference’ Committee Member (mental health conference), Vancouver
2006
Riverview Redesign Committee Member (Cottonwood Lodge), Coquitlam
2005 - 2007
Mental Health Support Worker, Community Link Program, Vancouver
2004 - 2005
Mental Health Support Worker, Canadian Mental Health Association, New West
2001 - 2003
Psychometric Assistant, Gastown Vocational Services (mental health), Vancouver
2000 - 2001
Volunteer Speaker/Workshop Designer, Canadian Mental Health Association, New West
Summer 1997
Coordinator, SFU Nightline (helpline), Burnaby
Competencies
Application of the Mental Status Exam, suicide risk assessments, GAF, and biopsychosocial assessments.
Administration of MMSE and MoCA (cognitive impairment assessment scales).
Application of the Mental Health Act; collaboration with law enforcement and psychiatry.
Application of counselling methods, such as EMDR, CBT, DBT, mindfulness approaches, solution-focussed brief therapy, short-term supportive counselling, and trauma-informed practice.
Engagement with family members to provide emotional and practical support, make referrals, and engage family as part of assessment and treatment.
Case management with a substantial caseload of complex clients (Fraser Health).
Knowledgeable on/experienced in working with mental illnesses and personality disorders common to mental health services (etiology, symptoms, criteria for diagnosis, treatment, medication, etc.).
Experience working with substance use and concurrent disorders, and trauma/complex trauma.
Training and practice in applying the Adult Guardianship Act and Advance Care Planning.
Other Accomplishments
"Connecting the Dots" Clinical publication in Visions Mental Health Journal, 2017
https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/families-and-crisis-vol12/connecting-the-dots
MSW Major Paper, University of the Fraser Valley, 2012
https://arcabc.ca/islandora/object/ufv:329
Public Speaking & Workshop Design - RCMP & Police Officers, SFU, UBC, Justice Institute of BC, Douglas College Psychiatric Nursing, High Schools, Hospital Psychiatric ER, Community Mental Health Centres, & Riverview Redesign.
Clinical Trainings & Readings
Training for Specific Therapeutic Approaches
Understanding Emergency Worker Trauma (Level 2), First Responder Health, 2022
Understanding Fire Fighter Culture & Trauma (Level 1), First Responder Health, 2022
Flash Technique Training, Ricky Greenwald, Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute, 2022
Ego States Therapy Training webinar, Robin Shapiro, 2022
2-Day Minding the Body: Somatic Interventions to Enhance EMDR Effectiveness live webinar, Dr. Janina Fisher, 2022
5-Day Somatic Work with Complex Trauma, Justice Institute of BC, 2021
Phase Four: When to Stay Out of the Way and When to Guide Reprocessing webinar, Dr. Andrew Leeds, 2021
Comprehensive Basic Training in EMDR Therapy, Jasmine Alexander, February to June 2020
Using EMDR with Fragmented Clients: A Protocol for Overcoming Self-Alienation, Dr. Janina Fisher, EMDRIA Conference, 2020
Ego-State Therapy Interventions to Prepare Dissociative Clients for EMDR, EMDRIA Conference, 2020
2-Day Looking Through the Eyes (on trauma and dissociation) webinar, Dr. Sandra Paulsen, 2020
Safe and Practical EMDR for Complex PTSD, EMDRIA Conference, 2020
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Level 2, DBT Centre of Vancouver, 2018-2019
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Level 1, DBT Centre of Vancouver, 2018
2-Day CBT for Personality Disorders, Dr. Christine Padesky, 2012
2- Day CBT for Psychosis - Fraser Health, 2012
Cognitive Processing Therapy, Medical University of Southern California online modules, 2012
Other Relevant Training
San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety online modules, Provincial Health Services Authority, 2020
Clinical Practice around Adult Guardianship Act, Fraser Health, 2010 & 2020
HIV/AIDS education, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, online modules in 2019
2-Day Sensory Integration training, Fraser Health, 2017
Mindfulness Series, Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, 2015
Trauma-Informed Practice, Fraser Health, 2014
Treatment of Complex Trauma, BC Psychological Association, 2014
5-Day Narrative Therapy Intensive Certificate, Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy, 2012
2-Day Unlocking Suicidal Secrets, Dr. Shawn Shea, 2012
Working with LGBTQ Clients, Vancouver Coastal Health, 2012
3-Day Clinical Practice: Death and Dying, Fraser Health, 2009
3-Day Clinical Practice: Child Maltreatment, Fraser Health, 2009
Readings for My Clinical Practice
A Guide to Standard EMDR Therapy Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants, Andrew Leeds, 2016
A Therapist’s Guide to EMDR: Tools and techniques for successful treatment, Laurel Parnell, 2006
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, Marsha Linehan, 1993
Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills training for patients and therapists, Suzette Boon, Kathy Steele, & Onno Van Der Hart, 2011
DBT Skills Training Manual 2nd edition, Marsha Linehan, 2014
DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Marsha Linehan, 2014
Easy Ego State Interventions: Strategies for working with parts, Robin Shapiro, 2016
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy 3rd edition: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures, Francine Shapiro, 2017
First Stage Trauma Treatment: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals Working with Women, Lori Haskell, 2003
Mindsight: The new science of personal transformation, Daniel Siegel, 2011