Background

Hello! I'm Lisa (she/they), a registered clinical counsellor at Avery Therapy Centre. My experience in the helping field has been shaped by diverse roles, ranging from supporting youth in care to serving as a women’s community support worker in the Downtown Eastside. As an active community member, I have dedicated over 15 years of community service to causes that are close to my heart. These include contributing to a community of care for unhoused individuals, providing jail and court support for those involved in civil disobedience against pipeline expansion on unceded land, and participating in the Big Sister mentorship program. I believe that everyone deserves to feel supported and I care deeply about contributing to a more compassionate and just world.

 

Creative expression has also played an important role in my life. Through my work as a photographer, graphic designer, and documentary filmmaker, I have had the privilege of using the medium of visual storytelling to share universal human experiences of adversity, creativity, and resilience. I love how art can help us to connect to the human spirit in a powerful and visceral way.  

 

My lived experiences with developmental trauma and grief have propelled me on my own healing journey, ultimately guiding me toward my path as a counsellor. Experiencing a caring relationship where I was given the space to explore and connect deeply to my feelings was a transformative process that has inspired me to be in service of others in a similar capacity. 

 

Therapeutic Approach

I am committed to a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive approach, emphasizing safety, consent, choice, and empowerment. My foundations are relational, person-centered, and justice-oriented. I value the importance of feedback and strive to create a relationship that’s creative and collaborative, co-creating a process that resonates with you. 

 

I integrate modalities such as internal family systems, narrative therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. I strive to connect with you in a caring and supportive way, recognizing and reflecting on your strengths. Through our work together, my aim is to create an environment where you feel truly held on your journey of healing and self-discovery. Together, we will create space for all the parts of you that are longing to be felt and heard. With compassion and curiosity, we will meet these tender parts and attune to their needs. In doing so, we will cultivate an internal secure attachment and allow your inner wisdom to lead the way to healing, and to serve as an integrated compass to help navigate life’s ups and downs with courage and compassion. 

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My availability can be found here.