About me
Originally from England, I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Approved Clinical Supervisor (RCC-ACS), Registered Canadian Art Therapist (RCAT), and Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT), now based in Vancouver, British Columbia. I trained in London, England, and completed post-qualifying training in somatic movement-based psychotherapy with Dr. Ruella Frank at the Center for Somatic Studies in New York City. I completed specialist training programmes in working with people with addictions and eating disorders, and have a clinical PhD in Expressive Arts Therapy. I have also completed in-depth clinical training in working with trauma with Dr. Janina Fisher, PhD, and am currently training in Somatic Experiencing (an evidence-based treatment for healing from trauma).
I have worked as a therapist and clinical consultant in:
- A community HIV/AIDS organization in London, UK
- A community mental health organization in London, UK
- Universities, with both staff and students as a therapist, and as a clinical supervisor and adjunct faculty member with postgraduate trainees
- Treatment centres for people in recovery from addictions, eating disorders, and trauma
- A day hospital setting for people recovering from eating disorders
- A community-based organization for young adults with complex mental health needs
As an expressive arts therapist, I am deeply committed to supporting people to heal, grow, and discover who they are through the arts (visual arts, music, dance/movement, drama, sandplay, poetry, creative writing, journaling, etc). I have a strong personal background in the arts, including music, drawing, painting, ceramics, collage, multi-media art, photography, and movement. I have had a personal daily meditation practice since 1987 and yoga since 2003.
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Approved Clinical Supervisor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors, a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist with the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, and a Registered Art Therapist with the Canadian Art Therapy Association.
Personal approach:
I work in a very client-centred way, taking the lead from you and using what is happening between us in the sessions to support you to explore the issues you bring and help you move forward. I have a particular interest in the connection between body, mind and spirit, and completed a two-year post-qualifying training in somatic psychotherapy. I also have a strong interest in creativity and in creative arts therapies and have facilitated expressive arts therapy groups in a variety of settings since 2009.
In addition to exploring what is going on for you in the present we may also need to look at your childhood, family of origin and early relationships to better understand the factors that have shaped the person you have become. I will always work at a pace that feels manageable to you and respect your need to slow the process down at times if it feels too fast.
Clinical consultation:
My five-year clinical Masters degree included advanced training in the theory and clinical practice of psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioural and humanistic psychotherapies and their integration into a cohesive relational clinical model. I believe in the centrality of the therapeutic and consultative relationship and work explicitly with this in clinical consultation. I am also strongly influenced by developmental, systemic and somatic theories and practices, and hold a PhD in Expressive Arts Therapy. My professional training in clinical consultation was at the Psychosynthesis Trust in London, UK, and my doctoral research was on arts-based clinical supervision. I am Supervision Chair for the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute in Nelson, British Columbia and previously worked as a supervisor for the postgraduate Art Therapy programme at Adler University in Vancouver.
PLEASE NOTE: I only supervise Registered Clinical Counsellors and Art/Expressive Arts Therapists, or trainees on approved programs that will lead to RCC registration with the BCACC or equivalent expressive arts therapy professional bodies such as the BCATA, CATA, or IEATA.