Clinical Counselling for Individuals, Parents and Youth in Vernon, BC
About
Philosophy
About Rebecca
It can be nice to know a little bit about the counsellor you are interested in seeing. I grew up in a small town in Saskatchewan just outside of Regina. As a child I was always working on creative projects, from painting pinecones to making paper dolls to writing songs on the piano. I have two younger siblings and they were, and still are, my best friends. As I turned from a child to an adolescent, my interest in art and music increased. I spent hours painting, playing piano and guitar, going to music shows and writing poems and stories.
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When I was 18 I applied for and got accepted into the MacEwan School of Music to pursue a career in piano. A short while later I realized that I did not want to turn my most enjoyable hobby into a job, as a I believed it wouldn't be as enjoyable anymore. It was then that I started my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Alberta. I (naively) had a concept in my head that work wasn't meant to be fun or fulfilling.
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Years later, as I work as a counsellor full-time, I realize how wrong I was. I genuinely love what I do. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to connect with so many different individuals, each with a unique and inspiring story to tell. I feel like I learn something from every single one of my clients. And I feel so grateful to be a part of their lives and their journeys.
Throughout university, I worked as a server and bartender and put every cent I made into my 'travel fund'. I have been fortunate enough to travel to many corners of the world - India, Nepal, Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, Australia, and more - and the very best part of travelling has been the people I have met. I have seen that no matter where a human being is from, their fundamental needs are the same: to be loved, to be seen, and to connect with others.
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I can't wait to connect with you, too. Thanks for being here!
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My office has a couch for two people, two chairs, and a small table for art and games. I can accommodate families of four. If you require more space, I have access to a boardroom that can fit up to 8 people.
I have a peaceful waiting room for family members with two couches, magazines and books, and complimentary hot and cold beverages. The entire office has air conditioning.
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Accessibility: Unfortunately my office's building does not have an elevator, and we are on the second floor. If you are unable to walk up stairs, please contact me and we can arrange to meet elsewhere.
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Parking: There is lots of street parking available which is free after 6 pm and Sundays. We are located on the corner of Highway 97 and 29th Ave in Vernon, BC.
People do the best they can with the tools they have been given - tools that can be learned and expanded through counselling. As children are one third of our population and all of our future, Bright Futures specializes in children, teens and families. I graduated with my Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology from Adler University, and am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) (member #17809). I work primarily with individual children (6-12), individual teens (ages 13+) and parents.
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I have specific knowledge and experience in the areas of child and teen anxiety, parental anxiety, adoption issues, behaviour management, emotion coaching, sleep consultations and play and art therapy. For children six and below, I normally suggest parenting support instead of individual counselling with the child.
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My counselling style is solution-focused and empathetic. I use and provide only evidence-based tools and treatment. I promise a safe space to listen to your concerns, but will also give you suggestions on how to best improve your situation. My style is warm, practical and non-judgmental. I am committed to maintaining a practice that is sensitive to diversity.
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Office
Professional Experience
Family Services of Greater Vancouver (Vancouver, BC) - 2019 - present
I have been working part-time as a counsellor and workshop facilitator and designer for Family Services for over four years. In this role, I perform intakes and do individual counselling. This position has included designing and facilitating both in-person and online courses, creating PowerPoint presentations and designing lesson plans. I have received excellent feedback on my workshops and courses with an average of 4.7 stars out of 5 from over 500 attendees.
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The Children's Foundation (Surrey, BC) - 2017-2020
I completed my clinical practicum at The Children's Foundation in Surrey, BC, where I did in-person art and play therapy with children aged 5-15. I worked closely with my clients and their families to establish parenting plans and provide support. I also put on monthly training sessions for parents on various subjects, including mindfulness, nutrition and health and behavioural issues. During this time, I took the initiative to create and pilot a workshop designed for parents with children with anxiety, which we called 'Creating Calm Children'. Once I completed my clinical practicum, I was hired by The Children's Foundation to complete a contract to write and design a full training manual for Creating Calm Children and train other mental health professionals to give this workshop. I facilitated the workshop three times, and it was exceptionally well-received by both attendees and colleagues.
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Peer Support Centre (Edmonton, AB) - 2011-2013
While I was completing my undergraduate degree, I volunteered as a peer counsellor for two years at the Peer Support Centre at the University of Alberta. This was my first counselling experience and it was this position that sparked my interest in becoming a therapist.
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Additional Training
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Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1
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Resisting Vicarious Trauma with Vicki Reynolds
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Sex Addiction and Therapy with Edgewood Health
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Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Certification
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Mindfulness workshops
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Gottman Emotion Coaching
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San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety
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Justice Institute of BC: Children's Needs Assessments
