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Trevor himself is a terrifically honest, caring and sensitive person who is really pursuing more of a 'calling' than a career.
Associate Therapist
M.A. Counselling Psychology
Registered Clinical Counsellor (BC Association of Clinical Counsellors)
Bio | Treatment Philosophy | Education
Michelle has been working in the helping profession for nearly two decades. She has a Masters of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology from Simon Fraser University, and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors. Over the years, Michelle has worked for a number of social service agencies in a variety of positions. She has supported individuals, couples and families dealing with such issues as depression, anxiety, special needs, premarital concerns, separation, divorce, infidelity, addiction, sexuality, and the effects of mental and physical illness on intimate relationships.
In addition to her work, one of Michelle’s greatest passions is her family and friends and their well-being. She is married with two children, and it is within these relationships where she claims she has experienced the greatest personal growth. It is also through her own personal experiences of adversity and the challenges of juggling self-care, family, work, friends and interests that has inspired her to support others in defining and working towards their goals, and living to their full potential, both individually and interpersonally.
It is my goal and responsibility as a counsellor to provide a safe and supportive environment, where individuals, couples and families feel that they can express their concerns and work towards greater mental and emotional health. I define my role as a counsellor, as a collaborator in the process of change and growth. My counselling approach is primarily based on Emotion Focused Therapy and Mindfulness based practices.
Leslie Greenberg and Susan Johnson developed Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) in the early 1980’s, and has proven to be an effective approach for individual, couples and family counselling. Over 20 years of research has provided considerable empirical support for EFT for couples, which has indicated that over 70 % of relationships experience a movement from distress to recovery and 90% report considerable improvement.
EFT focuses on supporting couples in distress by identifying and restructuring rigid emotional responses that have developed into negative patterns of interaction. Emotions are not merely expressed, but used as a means to change. The therapist helps facilitate greater openness and sensitivity between partners, as they explore and learn about each other’s needs. This process culminates in a greater sense of connectedness, where partners are emotionally accessible, responsive and engaged with one another.
The practice of mindfulness is rooted in Buddhist meditation. It is about living one’s life more consciously, and embracing the present moment. It involves attending to our inner experience with compassion and humility. Whether we are frustrated, sad, or overjoyed, we can learn to accept those moments for what they are rather than what we think they ought to be. The more mindful we can be about our thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and the impact they have on our loved ones, the more likely we are to create intimate, loving, healthy relationships.
“To be more fully connected is to be more fully oneself.”
• Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) Major in Psychology, Minor in Counselling and Child Development from Simon Fraser University
• Master of Arts degree (MA) in Counselling Psychology from Simon Fraser University
• Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy with Dr. Susan Johnson.
• Core Skills Advanced Training in Emotion Focused Therapy for couples with Veronica Kallos-Lilly and Yolanda Von Hockauf
• Workshop on Emotion Focused Therapy: Working with Individuals and Couples with Dr. Leslie Greenberg.
