Gaylene – Registered Clinical Counsellor
I began my own journey in counselling about 25 years ago. I was lost, alone, and facing many unbearable losses in my life. I didn’t have the emotional tools, skills, support, or knowledge that I needed…which is when with the help of a counsellor I began my own path of healing and growth. I remain committed to doing my own work and I feel that is an important piece of the work to bring to my clients. I’ve been there, I’ve felt broken and helpless and life has dealt some unexpected intense blows. There was no quick fix and at times it felt like the struggle would never end. I don’t know if I couldn’t have arrived where I am without the guidance from my own counsellors. There have been unexpected gifts from the struggle, and there is hope. I am a testament to the process.
Helping people has been my lifelong passion, and through counselling services I’ve helped people recognize their strengths, nurtured their abilities to grow, and helped them heal themselves.
I can walk beside you like a mountain guide, pointing out things like dangers and shortcuts and which tools to use, how to use your map, when to rest and refuel, potential dangers of various routes, helping you along on your journey. I can’t walk it for you or rescue you, but there are times when I can guide and assist you in how to help yourself. Often we can even laugh together.
I have a unique ability to connect with individuals and to help them feel comfortable, safe and at ease. As an empathetic listener, I have a sensitivity to tuning into the needs of others.
Being non-judgmental, open, and committed to authenticity are qualities I bring to the counselling process.
I practice with genuine gentleness, compassion, humour, acceptance, curiosity, creativity, and a sense of adventure so that people feel open to exploring their needs in a safe manner.I work with ages 12 and up. My favourite group to work with are youth, who despite me being on the riper end of life, most youth still find me pretty ok to work with. I also love working with all other ages and with a variety of issues.
My work experience includes: private practice; working in agencies that focus on crises intervention and working with crimes and trauma and the court process that follows; with agencies that provide services to immigrants and refugees; with agencies that provided counselling for children and youth that were impacted by sexualized violence and other forms of developmental and/or complex trauma; as a school counsellor in a First Nations run school; and with an agency that provides grief counselling for youth and young adults. Each experience has brought new insights, skill, complexities, perspectives, and appreciation and feelings of privilege and honour for people allowing me to accompany them on their journey and being a part of this kind of work.
Specialities – Issues:
- Grief and loss
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Teen issues
- Neurodiversity
- Religious trauma
- Abuse (sexual, emotional, etc.)
- Trauma
- Coping Skills
- Self Esteem
- Life Transitions/Developmental
- Interpersoanal Conflict
- Couples
Specialities – Modalities:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Person-centred
- Strength-based
- Family systems
- Family of origin
- Trauma-informed
- Response-based
- Anti-oppressive
- Feminist perspective
- Existential perspective
- Mindfullness
- Narrative
- Attachment theory
- Culturally sensitive/informed
- Nature based (certified interpretive guide)
- IFS (informed)
- EMDR (informed)
- Gottman (informed)
- EFT (Informed)
- Expressive arts (informed)
Client focus: children (12+), young adults, adults, couples
Cost per session: $150/individual | $175/couples | $180/family
