About Tricia

My Background

I have always loved working with people, and this has been my passion since I was young. When I was growing up I lived overseas with my family, which allowed many opportunities to travel and to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures. I enjoyed being exposed to different languages, customs, and to different ways of seeing the world. I continue to be inspired by the people I meet, by new ideas and new experiences.

I believe that diversity brings richness to our world, and I seek to honor people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. I have worked with people with disabilities, women who experienced all kinds of abuse, people in the queer / LGBTQ2S community, youth, adults, the elderly, people struggling with health issues, and people with mental health struggles. I am so touched by the courage, resilience, and yearning for freedom that I see in people who have been through very challenging experiences. It is a privilege to walk beside others as they struggle to make sense of their experiences and to heal from the hurts they carry with them.

I feel energized when I witness the shift that happens in a person who has struggled to belong or who believed that they didn’t matter, as they start to realize that they have something special to offer. I also believe that we are on this journey together, and that I too am growing and healing and learning along with each person I see in my work.

How I work

Insight and healing cannot happen without safety, so creating a sense of safety is paramount in the work that I do. I do this by listening deeply, asking good questions, and believing that you know best what fits for you and what doesn’t fit. Many people say that I have the gift of presence – that I bring a grounded, safe, and calm energy into the room.

I bring love and compassion into my counselling relationships, and I believe that this is the best foundation for growth and healing. My work is intuitive, creative, and life giving, and this is evident when clients leave with a new sense of insight, peace and hope. Because I have experienced my own growth and healing, I know that others have the capacity for growth and freedom too. I can help you discover strengths and resources in yourself that will surprise you!

With 20 years of experience I bring awareness, insight and stability into the counselling relationship. I can help you build a better and stronger relationship with yourself, so you feel more authentic and free.

Professional Training

• Master of Social Work (MSW), UBC, 1997
• Registered Social Worker, Registration Number: 9100, BC College of Social Workers
• Member: BC Association of Social Workers
• Clinical Member: Satir Institute of the Pacific
• EMDR Basic Training, 2003
• Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy: Level I, Level II, Master Class, etc., 2008 – present
• Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Vancouver Couple & Family Institute, 2009
• Gottman Institute, Level I: Bridging the Couple Chasm, 2010
• I have attended a multitude of different training opportunities and workshops and am committed to ongoing professional development and ongoing clinical supervision.

A Bit About Me

I am a lesbian, and I have two teenage children. I have definitely learned a lot from my experience as a parent, which has been both a huge gift and a humbling experience at the same time.

I love being a counsellor, and I also love having time to relax and play. Art journaling, playing bridge, yoga, reading, listening to CBC, and going for walks are some of the things I do for fun and to nourish me emotionally and spiritually.

If you want more information about counselling, contact me for a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss how counselling can help you and to answer any questions you may have.