The Counselling Process
About Me
Hello, my name is Erika and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and a member of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. I earned my undergraduate degree in Psychology from UBC and my Masters of Counselling from City University of Seattle. I have over a decade of experience in the mental health field, providing support to children, youth and adults.
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My therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and individualized- building off of the strengths, preferences, and unique life experiences of each person I work with. As an integrative therapist, I will draw from training in a variety of therapy models, and will often incorporate somatic interventions. Whereas traditional talk therapy focuses on the mind’s influence to improve psychological health, somatic therapists use knowledge of the nervous system to greatly enhance the therapeutic process. Somatic therapy can help with the development of self-regulation by building a greater connection between the mind and body. Being able to bring awareness to body sensations while experiencing emotional intensity, allows for one to engage in more effective responses. A challenge we often face as humans is that we can feel trapped by our emotional and physical states. For example, we may feel panicky and anxious, and not feel able to calm down, or we may feel depressed and unmotivated, without the ability to accomplish simple tasks. Somatic interventions help to develop new pathways in the brain, and new behaviours, that provide alternative ways of responding to emotional states and overcome past habits.
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Who might Benefit
Some of the reasons people seek counselling with me are that they are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, social or relationship challenges (peers, family, partners), are moving through challenging life situations, healing relational wounds or trauma, or to find a greater sense of meaning and fulfillment in their life.
What to Expect when Working with Me
My counselling process always begins with me ensuring a warm environment of trust and openness without judgment. My approach is collaborative, empowering, and person-centred. This means that I honour the strengths, preferences, and uniqueness of each person and family I work with.
My counselling practice adheres to the highest standards of professional counselling and consulting as outlined by the Code of Ethical Conduct and Practice Standards enforced by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC).
Sessions are held in-person in my private Sechelt therapy space, or online using a secure platform, JaneApp, which is approved by The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), a Canadian law relating to data privacy.
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Fees
Appointments can be booked, online using JaneApp. If you are unable to book online, please call or email me, and I will book an appointment for you at a time that works for both of us. Some extended health benefits plans cover Registered Clinical Counselling, so please check with your provider.
I offer a free 15-Minute phone call to new clients. This phone call is to help you decide if working together will be a good fit for what you are looking for, and to answer any questions you may have about my counselling process.
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In-person or online sessions with youth and adults are 50-minutes long, and are $135.00 + GST.
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