About Anna
My approach to clinical counselling and art therapy evolves from over twenty years of witnessing and working alongside children, youth, adults and caregivers as they explore change and welcome hope.
Life can take us down many paths; sometimes full of light but sometimes solitary, where safe connections with others can feel unreachable. As a therapist, my goal is to provide a collaborative space for exploring these paths with safety and acceptance. Guided by trust and the remarkable courage of clients, I've witnessed positive changes unfold in diverse ways.
In my role as a registered clinical counsellor and art therapist, I support children, youth, adults, and caregivers navigating life transitions, grief, loss, mental health challenges, and those who have encountered interpersonal violence, domestic violence, and trauma.
Approaching counselling with compassion and curiosity, I embrace diverse methods tailored to the unique strengths, needs, and expertise of my clients. Drawing from relational, client-centred, and trauma-informed theories, I integrate evidence-based modalities acquired through art therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), and somatic therapy.
Working with Youth & Adults: My therapeutic approach for adults and youth aged 16+ emphasizes collaboration, choice, and establishing an authentic therapeutic relationship. I provide support for those dealing with trauma, violence, parenting challenges, grief, loss, and anxiety. My practice incorporates somatic attachment psychotherapy, which I acquired through the two-year Bringing the Body into Practice (BBP) training.
Working with Children (9+): For children facing difficulty expressing their emotions verbally, I employ a combination of art therapy and expressive play, fostering self-expression and self-awareness. In cases involving younger children, involving caregivers in the therapeutic process is integral to fostering positive change. Additionally, I provide caregivers with practical skills to enhance communication and connection within their families beyond therapy sessions.
Somatic Based-Attachment Psychotherapy: In the early years of our life, the relationships we have with our parents and/or primary caregivers play a crucial role in how we grow and develop. If we face significant hardships during these years (e.g., neglect, abuse), our sense of trust and safety with ourselves and others - as well as how we view ourselves - can be greatly impacted. These attachment wounds can lead to many challenges in our youth and adulthood, such as low self-esteem, loss of identity, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and discord in our relationships.
Somatic-Based Attachment Therapy is an approach that helps clients create a renewed felt sense of connection and safety. With the integration of somatic techniques, which includes gently guiding clients into a mindful awareness of their bodily sensations, they can begin to heal the physical and emotional effects of stress and past trauma. Outcomes can include becoming more attuned to cues from your body, an increase in emotional regulation, restoring a stronger sense of trust and safety, development of healthier attachment patterns, improved relationships, and greater resilience and personal empowerment.
In creating a therapeutic space, I prioritize honouring strengths and diversity while acknowledging experiences of marginalization and intergenerational trauma with compassion. Values such as relationships, creativity, lifelong learning, and self-awareness guide my practice. Grateful for the wisdom of my teachers, I acknowledge that I work, live, and raise my family on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, represented by the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations.
Approaches: Somatic-Based Attachment Therapy (Lisa Mortimer), Trauma-Informed CBT, Art Therapy, and Skills-Based Approaches for Emotional-Regulation and Communication.
Populations: Children (9+), Youth, Adults, Parents/Caregivers.
Specializations: Trauma, PTSD / C-PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Grief and Loss, Parenting, Life Transitions, Emotional Regulation, Communication Difficulties.
Education & Work Experience: My academic background includes a graduate counselling degree from the University of Victoria and graduate-level art therapy diploma from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. I have 20+ years of experience as a clinical counsellor and art therapist, notably with children and youth at the Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre and families of the Tahltan Nation in northern BC.
Beyond the Work: I'm a doctoral candidate in the Department of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria. My inspiration comes from my family, the serenity of green open spaces, and the boundless realm of creativity, all of which contribute to my sense of balance and grounding.
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