Sam is an Associate Clinical Counsellor with MindRight Counselling & Consulting. She obtained her Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Seattle, WA. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counselors (BCACC).
Her values include; connection, compassion, addressing systemic issues, adventure, and challenges. These have led her to work in various inpatient and outpatient settings over the past 12 years. Most of her training was in Washington state, including acute hospitalization for severe mental health issues (including risk assessments), eating disorders, and substance abuse. She has experience with individual and lots of group counseling across the lifespan with; adolescents, young (emerging) adults, and adults. In addition, she has volunteered for hospice and other community and faith-based organizations.
Sam firmly believes in the humanistic perspective that we all will experience psychological suffering in our lifetime. Many people, especially those from marginalized situations and identities, often experience more trauma that can result in being stuck in shame spirals. She practices a holistic and relational perspective regarding healing, understanding that change often comes from co-regulation in a safe enough healing space and an internal connection to our authentic self (inner sacred wisdom). This perspective involves deconstructing and defusing our conditioned thoughts and befriending all the parts of us, even ones that often look inflexible and rigid, known as our protective parts. Sessions are collaborative and co-created and may involve verbal and non-verbal processing, body/somatic focus, and experiential exercises as agreed on. She integrates an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), IFS-informed (integrated family systems), polyvagal theory (nervous system) approach, along with compassion-based interventions and attachment theory. She has research and consulting interests in the integration of Faith and Psychology. She is passionate about liberation and creating a non-judgmental space for individuals to connect deeper with their faith, struggling and wrestling with their faith/beliefs, and churches that realize the benefit of destigmatizing mental health issues in their faith communities.
Her heart intends to create honest, brave, and secure spaces, so individuals feel seen. She knows what that feels like to feel unseen, limiting your voice, and learning to mask so much of your authentic self. She hopes to help develop increased curiosity and compassion in relationships (with ourselves and others) while cultivating the courage and ability to sit with difficult things. She enjoys working from a neurodivergent affirming stance, especially with individuals who identify as; ADHDers, Autistic, Highly Sensitive (HSP), anxious, perfectionism, people pleasing/co-dependency, caregivers, and leaders who feel overwhelmed and shame/guilty taking care of themselves and resting.
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