I’m a daughter, a stepdaughter, a little sister, an older sister, a middle child, and also the youngest. I’m a woman, a mother, a wife, a friend, and an “ex” of many things. I wear all these roles with love, joy, and pride.
I love traveling to far-off places, exploring different foods, sights, and cultures—but I’m also quite afraid of flying. I cherish time with my family and the feeling of contributing to a better world. As a true introvert at heart, my career has been a gift. I get to spend each day in deep, meaningful, one-on-one conversations with amazing and interesting people. That connection fills my bucket and makes me successful in what I do.
My journey into this field began in 2011 at the Justice Institute of BC, where I took courses through the Centre for Conflict Resolution. I was amazed by how these skills transformed my communication and relationships—and by how open others were to integrating them into their own lives.
In 2015, I began my formal counselling studies at Vancouver College of Counsellor Training, learning various counselling theories and approaches. In 2016, I discovered Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) in Vancouver and enrolled in their Violence Prevention and Intervention Program. This experience challenged me to reassess my beliefs and learn from the brilliant women who worked there, as well as those accessing its services. I started volunteering on the BWSS Crisis Line and continued as a counsellor there until the end of 2019.
Beyond my volunteer work, I’ve pursued ongoing education in Focusing-Oriented Therapy, Brainspotting, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) through the Vancouver Crisis Centre, AEDP, and most recently, Transformative Couples Therapy with David Mars. I engage in regular individual and group supervision with incredibly talented counsellors and contribute to the ACCT Supervision Committee while participating in various peer groups. I firmly believe in experiencing the therapies I offer firsthand, ensuring they align with my practice and values.
Since 2024, I have been trained and registered as a Registered Counselling Supervisor (RCS) with ACCT, offering supervision to counselling professionals. I am passionate about supporting therapists in their growth, helping them navigate challenges, develop their skills, and build confidence in their practice.
In 2019, I opened my private practice in Fort Langley, BC, serving the wonderful people of the Fraser Valley and Vancouver. As life evolved, so did my practice, and I have since relocated to Kelowna, BC. I continue to offer online counselling services to individuals across British Columbia.
If you’d like to connect, click here to schedule a free consultation, or reach out directly at info@tangibleconnections.ca or 778-888-1915.
Registered Counselling Supervisor, Master Therapeutic Counsellor
RCS #2150 – Registered Counselling Supervisor – ACCT – Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada 2024 – present
MTC #2150 – Master Therapeutic Counsellor – ACCT – Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada 2023 – present
RTC #2150 – Registered Therapeutic Counsellor – ACCT – Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada 2017 – 2023 – A member in good standing since 2017.
Level 2 AEDP Therapist – AEDP Institute – 2023
Level 1 AEDP Therapist – AEDP Institute – 2022
Level 1 Brainspotting Therapist – Brainspotting Canada – 2021
2025
Transformative Couples Therapy: “Experiential Skills Course” – David Mars Ph.D. – Transformative Couples Therapy Institute.
2024
AEDP Advanced Skills Course: “Liberating the Core Self from the confines of Heterosexist Oppression in AEDP” – Ben Medley and Kate Halliday –AEDP Institute.
Clinical Supervision in Counselling & Psychology Level 1 – Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Clinical Supervision in Counselling & Psychology Level 2 – Justice Institute of British Columbia.
AEDP Seminar: “Working with Complex and Sexual Trauma” – Judy Silvan – AEDP Institute.
AEDP Advanced Skills Course: “Memory Reconsolidation at Work Across States in AEDP: Portrayals and Metaprocessing” – Ronald Frederick, PhD – AEDP Institute.
2023
AEDP Essential Skills 1 – Module 3: “STATE 1: THE TOP OF THE TRIANGLE of EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH DEFENSE AND ANXIETY” – Karen Pando-Mars, MFT – AEDP Institute.
AEDP Essential Skills 1 – Module 4: “STATE 2 WORK: THE PROCESSING of CORE AFFECTIVE EXPERIENCE” – Ben Medley, LCSW – AEDP Institute.
AEDP Essential Skills 1 – Module 5: “THE PROCESSING of TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE & THE INTEGRATION OF TRANSFORMATION INTO SELF STATE 3 & STATE 4 Work” – Karen Pando-Mars, MFT
– AEDP Institute.
San’yas Anti-Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety – Sanyas.ca
2022
AEDP Immersion Level 1 – AEDP Institute.
AEDP Essential Skills 1 – Module 1: “HEALING FROM THE GET-GO, UNDOING ALONENESS & THE CLINICAL ROADMAP for AEDP’s TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY” – Karen Pando-Mars, MFT
– AEDP Institute.
A Competency Based Framework for Effective Supervision Practices – Level 1 – Kristy Higgins, MTC, TIR, MBTI, RTC, RCS.
AEDP Essential Skills 1 – Module 2: “ATTACHMENT & RELATIONAL WORK: UNDOING ALONENESS IN CLINICAL ACTION” – Kari Gleiser, PhD
– AEDP Institute.
2021
Focusing-Oriented Therapy Training: Working with the Child Self Module – Donna Steadman.
Brainspotting: Phase One Training – Brainspotting Canada.
2020
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on How the Body Keeps the Score: Intensive Trauma Treatment Course (Online Course) – Bessel Van Der Kolk.
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on the Global Coronavirus Crisis: Steering Ourselves and Our Clients Through New & Developing Traumas Course (Online Course) – Bessel Van Der Kolk.
31st Annual International Trauma Conference
2019
Focusing-Oriented Therapy Training: Trauma Module – Donna Steadman.
Focusing-Oriented Therapy Training: Dream Workshop – Dr. Leslie Ellis & Donna Steadman.
2018
Finding the Way In: The Fundamentals of Focusing-Oriented Therapy – Dr. Leslie Ellis.
ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training – Crisis Centre.
2017
ACCT – Couples Therapy Skills and Ethics.
Neurolinguistics Programming
2016
Diploma of Professional Counselling – Vancouver College of Counsellor Training.
Violence Prevention & Intervention Volunteer Program – Battered Women’s support Services
2011
Foundations of Collaborative Conflict Resolution – Work Place Focus – Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Negotiation Skills level 1 – Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Resolving Conflict on the Front Line – Demonstrating Leadership at Work – Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Resolving Conflict in Groups Level 1 – Effective Team Dynamics – Justice Institute of British Columbia.
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2024
AEDP Seminar: “Liberating the Core Self from the confines of Heterosexist Oppression in AEDP” – Ben Medley and Kate Halliday
Clinical Supervision in Counselling & Psychology Level 1 – Justice Institute of BC
Clinical Supervision in Counselling & Psychology Level 2 – Justice Institute of BC
AEDP Seminar:”Working with Complex and Sexual Trauma” – Judy Silvan
AEDP Seminar: “Memory Reconsolidation at Work Across States in AEDP: Portrayals and Metaprocessing” – Ronald Frederick, PhD
2023
AEDP Essential Skills 1 – Module 3: Karen Pando-Mars, MFT STATE 1: THE TOP OF THE TRIANGLE of EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH DEFENSE AND ANXIETY.
AEDP Essential Skills 1 – Module 4: Ben Medley, LCSW STATE 2 WORK: THE PROCESSING of CORE AFFECTIVE EXPERIENCE.
AEDP Essential Skills 1 – Module 5: Karen Pando-Mars, MFT
THE PROCESSING of TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE & THE INTEGRATION OF TRANSFORMATION INTO SELF STATE 3 & STATE 4 Work.
A Competency-Based Framework for Effective Supervision Practice Level 2 – Kristy Higgins, MTC, TIR, MBTI, RTC, RCS.
San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety – Provincial Health Services Authority in BC
