About
Hi, I'm Beth! (she/her)
I am a registered clinical counsellor, holistic nutritionist and settler of British ancestry, living and working on the lands of the Hul'qumi'num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples on "Salt Spring Island, BC". My background includes a master’s in counselling psychology and over 10 years’ experience as a holistic nutritionist where I have helped support individuals in their healing journey through improving their nutrition and lifestyle. Seeking to help my clients more deeply I decided to continue my education in psychology and pursue a masters in counselling psychology. It was along this journey that I found myself dealing with my own personal autoimmune struggles and experienced the breadth of emotions that go along with such chronic health conditions. Landing on feeling empowered to support my body’s natural ability to heal by offering myself the mental, physical, and spiritual support that I so needed. I am inspired to help support those struggling with the uncertainty, pain, and grief often accompanying autoimmune and other chronic conditions.
Approach
I am passionate about empowering others in the face of life’s challenges to live a full and authentic life. I am creative and collaborative in navigating your journey to mental and physical wellness. I see the relationship between client and counsellor as incredibly important in your journey to healing and I approach these relationships with both empathy and honesty. I have experience working with those from a variety of backgrounds including those from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and adolescents aged 13 and up. I strive to create a safe space of inclusivity regardless of race, sexuality, gender, or any other quality that makes you, you.
I view all parts of a person as interconnected, body, mind and spirit, and understand that each of these aspects contribute to one’s well being. Integrating my experience as a registered holistic nutritionist into my work with individuals, I weave together my knowledge of how psychological states influence our physical health and nutrition and lifestyle habits to support the body’s natural capacity to heal.
Using a trauma-informed lens, I am sensitive to how a person’s experience may influence the counselling process and I take your lead in what feels comfortable. My approach is insight oriented, together we will gain a deeper understanding of how your emotions and past experience influence your patterns and current mental and physical health. I am primarily informed by person-centred, mindful self-compassion, and strength-based therapies, also integrating aspects of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and somatic exploration based on your unique needs.
On a personal note
I am dedicated to the mental wellness of my community, currently working as a counsellor at IWAV (and previously at Island Community Services) in addition to my practice.
Outside of my role as counsellor, I am a parent and am grateful for the experience of raising a human. I am a lover of nature whether it’s in the garden, hiking in the forest, or by the water. As in my counselling sessions, I enjoy being creative and at the moment that looks like creating nourishing and delicious new recipes and getting messy at the pottery studio.