Qualifications

European Graduate School - Sass Fe, Switzerland
PhD - Qualifying phase, Expressive Arts: Therapy, Coaching, Consulting & Education
2019 - present

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS), Expressive Arts: Therapy, Coaching, Consulting & Education
2013-2014
Vancouver School of Expressive Arts Therapy
Expressive Arts Therapy.
2014 - 2015
Studied movement/dance, visual arts, music, poetry and community arts within the expressive arts tradition.
Vancouver Art Therapy Institute
Advanced Diploma: Art Therapy
Professional Art Therapist.
2009 – 2011
The University of Calgary
Master of Social Work (MSW), Clinical Social Work.
Coursework completed 1995.
Thesis completed 2009.
The University of Calgary
Bachelor of Social Work, Social Work.
1992
Simon Fraser University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.).
1989

Experience

Adult Mental Health Therapist - Primary Care
Specialty Services - North Shore Health Science Centre

Individual assessment and treatment of adults with mental health issues.
• Specialty in mood dysregulation, trauma and transgender issues 2010 – present.
• Design and delivery of skills based psycho-educational and art therapy groups
Social Worker (sole charge)
Urgent Primary Care and Learning Centre
July 2019 - August 2020
• Working closely with an integrated team of health care professionals
• Collaborating with the development and refinement of scope of practice in areas of assessment, short term treatment, resourcing, referrals, and system way finding.
Thesis Advisor
European Graduate School through Vancouver School of Expressive Arts Therapy.
2015 - Present.
• Advisor for masters level students in the development and writing of their thesis in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts in Expressive Arts Therapy, European Graduate School, Switzerland.
Professional Art Therapist / Therapist
Art & Possibility Counselling - Kamloops
May 2013 – Present
• Adult, Adolescent & Group Therapy
• Training, Workshops & Clinical Supervision
Adult Mental Health Therapist
Interior Health - Community Mental Health and Substance Use.
November 2010 – 2020
• Individual assessment and treatment of adults with mental health issues.
• Specialty in mood dysregulation, trauma and transgender issues 2010 – present.
• Design and delivery of skills based psycho-educational and art therapy groups regarding mood management, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
• Adolescent and Family Therapist - Eating Disorder Program 2010-2015.
• Assessment and treatment of adolescents diagnosed with an eating disorder and their families within a multidisciplinary team.
Integrated Practice Mental Health Clinician
Child and Youth Mental Health, Ministry of Child and Family Development.
2007 – 2010.
• Assisted in the development and design of the integrated practice team model embedding mental health clinicians on child protection teams.
• Provided consultation to social workers and clinical services to children and youth involved with child protection services (MCFD) including individual assessment and treatment.
• Provided on-going consultation and support to foster parents.
Clinical Social Worker
Royal Inland Hospital - Interior Health.
2007 – 2010.
• Clinical social worker (casual) in the Department of Psychiatry.
• Provided psycho-social assessments, discharge planning and individual and group therapy.
Social Worker
Misericordia Hospital.
2002 – 2006.
• Provided assessment, discharge planning, counselling and crisis intervention to various hospital units (casual position).
Therapist - Family Intervention Worker
Creating Solutions Inc.
1999 – 2004.
• Specialized in delivering individual and couple therapy. Worked primarily with First Nations adults, adolescents and children through Medical Services Branch.
• In home family counselling with families involved with child protection system 1999-2001.
Counsellor
North East Teen Centre, Edmonton, Alberta.
August 1999 – January 2003.
• Provided individual and group counselling, crisis intervention, assessment, community liaison and referral for adolescents as well as consultation to staff.
Social Worker - Counsellor
City of Edmonton - Community Services.
April 1995 – June 1999.
• Provided intake services, initial assessment and crisis intervention.
• Provided short term counselling primarily to adolescents, children, and their families.
Therapist
Shewchuk-Dann & Associates.
January 1997 – August 1998.
• Provided individual therapy to adult, adolescent and child clients with First Nations ancestry as well as children’s social skills group.
• Primarily used play, art therapy and expressive techniques.
School Counsellor
Edmonton Catholic School Board.
September 1996 – January 1998
• Individual assessment, therapy and referral for grades 7 - 9 and their families as necessary.
• Co-facilitated group psychotherapy program.
Family School Liaison Worker
Westlock and District Family and Community Support Services.
May 1992 – September 1994.
• Provided assessment, counselling, clinical and referral services to rural schools (K-12) within the district.
• Developed and conducted psycho-education groups for children and adolescents.
• Developed and participated in a number of community development projects.

Certifications & Trainings

Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy - Bringing the Body into Practice
Lisa Mortimer, PhD.
2020 - 2021
completed
BC Professional Fire Fighters' Association
Certificate of Completion
Level 1 & 2
Occupational Awareness Training for treating first responder trauma
Silver Seal of Endorsement - BCPFFA
2018-2019
Indigenous Cultural Safety Training
Provincial Health Authority Indigenous Health Program
Core ICS Mental Health
2017
CBT Essentials
Allan Clarke - Interior Health Authority
2017
Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
Introductory training
Dr. Joanne Dolhanty and Adele Lafrance - instructors
2016
Somatic Experiencing Training Level 1 & 2
Somatic Experiencing® Trauma Institute
2013 - Present
Motivational Interviewing level I
Paul Burke Training
2012
Certificate of Achievement in Complex Trauma - Graduate level
Justice Institute of British Columbia
2011-2012
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
level 1 & 2
Marshall Wilensky instructor
2010
certified
Aboriginal Family Systems
Four Winds Wellness - Jann Derrick instructor
2009
Family Based Therapy
St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver BC
Eating disorder treatment - introductory training
2010
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Behavioural Tech Inc.
Individual (2007)
Group (2008)
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT Connections
2008
Connect Parent Training
Connect Parent
2008
certified
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety
CBT Connections, Vancouver
2007
certified

Professional Registration & Memberships

British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW) #09967
Registered in good standing since 2010
British Columbia Association of Social Workers (BCASW)
Member in good standing since 2005
Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) #9433702
Professional Member in good standing
since 2010
Alberta College of Social Workers
Member in good standing 1990-1992
Registered in good standing 1992-2007 (let lapse)

Specialties

Art Therapy
Expressive Arts Therapy
Mindfulness Based Art Therapy
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Somatic Experiencing Therapy (SE)
Solution-Focussed Brief Therapy
EMDR
Mood issues
Anxiety
Trauma
LGBTQS2+ issues
Emotion regulation
Food and eating issues
Grief and loss
Burnout and stress