Training Team 2025

My name is Amanda Richards and I have been in private practice as an RTC for the past 5 years under the name of Longtable Counselling.

I work both in Vancouver and Courtenay Vancouver Island.

My practice is somatically informed using touch skills having completed Kathy Kains touch skills training. I also incorporate Spacial Dynamics and other therapeutic transpersonal tools learned through my training with Clearmind International.

I am an SEP candidate with just a few consults away from putting my paper work in. I graduated from the Somatic Experience Advanced Training November 2023 with Burns Galloway and Linda Stelt and completing beginner and intermediate with Dea Parsanishi.

I look forward to being in service and deepening my awareness and skills in group work.

Amanda Sawatzky began her Somatic Experiencing journey in 1999 (just a baby then 😊) and has been a SEP for 20-plus years.

She is also an RCC (Registered Clinical Counsellor) and CCC (Certified Canadian Counsellor) and is an approved counsellor with FNHA, CVAP, Medavie and ICBC. She has a BA in Psychology as well as Masters in counselling psychology.

Amanda also completed Kathy Kain’s touch training in the early 2000’s and regularly incorporates this into her work.  She is also trained as a level 2 Gottman couples counsellor and EMDR. Amanda has a playful approach to healing and is willing to incorporate multiple ways of working with trauma.

Amanda works with both children and adults, and has a private practice as well as works part-time for a non-profit community agency.

Amanda has assisted at trainings helping others learn this work since 2001 (20+ years) and enjoys supporting others in their learning.  She is approved to do individual sessions and consults at all levels (beginner-advanced).

When Amanda isn’t working, you might find her out for a walk, rollerskating, on a beach somewhere, hanging with her kids, camping or travelling.

My name is Andriana Teslyuk. I completed my SE training in November 2023. I am very happy to share this space with you all and continue my journey as an assistant in supporting you all. SE changed the way I see myself and the world around me.

By profession, I have been a Registered Nurse since 2011, working in the Critical Care field (Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit). Since 2018, I have been working part-time in the neurological-intensive care unit. In 2019, I went back to school to pursue a Master of Art in Counselling Psychology, and this is when I learned about the work of Dr. Peter Levine – Somatic Experiencing. I graduated from my program and began training in SE – May 2021. I am a practicing Registered Psychotherapist working from a trauma-informed lens using SE modality. I have my own private practice outside of my nursing role. In therapy, I support clients with complex medical illnesses, medical medical-related trauma, and recently have been working with war-related trauma.

I live and work in Toronto, Ontario.

I am a trans, queer, chronically ill, neurodivergent south asian artist and social worker who practices SE mostly in Buddhist spaces as a Dharma teacher. My practice centers on the unique gifts that marginalized nervous systems bring to spiritual practice and how SE-informed mindfulness can support liberation for all beings.

I strongly believe in the body’s capacity to heal through community support, viewing individual healing as a vital piece of the larger puzzle for systemic change. With nearly two decades of experience as a queer/trans/2S youth worker, I place community care, social justice and collective liberation at the heart of my offerings.

While my private therapy practice has been on hiatus, I am in the process of restarting. My qualifications include Level 1 Touch Training with Kathy Kain, completion of Advanced 1 in Somatic Experiencing (with Advanced 2 scheduled for April 2025), an MSW from the University of Toronto, training at the Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy, and a certificate from the True North Insight Dharma Leadership Mentorship program.

I have worked as a body-oriented and expressive arts therapist in Vancouver for many years in private practice, and formerly as a school counsellor. I have studied Dance/Movement Therapy, Process Work, and other body-oriented modalities.

Currently in my practice, I focus on working with developmental trauma, attachment, illness, loss, and spiritual issues. I completed the SE training in 2004, and since then one of my greatest joys has been to assist at SE trainings in many different countries and communities in Canada, the U.S., Asia, India, Australia, and New Zealand, including Diane Poole Heller’s Somatic Attachment Training. I have taken Kathy Kain’s Touch Skills for Therapists, Somatic Resilience and Regulation, Somatics of Emotion, and several of Peter Levine’s Master Classes.

My most recent interest is in Collective Trauma, and working to bring awareness of how the legacy of historic and societal trauma interfaces with individual healing.

I keep myself grounded with both sitting and movement mindfulness practices, and love spending time in the mountains and the forest. I bring a spirit of curiosity and play to my sessions, and look forward to supporting your learning in whatever way I can.

Hello ! I am from Romania, but I have called Canada my home for the last 20 years and have been on Vancouver Island for the last 6 years. I started my healing journey in parallel with going back to school and completing a BSC at the University of Toronto and a MA at Saint Paul University. From the beginning, I have been focused on understanding trauma and healing from trauma including all manifestations of trauma like addictions, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, etc.
For many years I worked in outpatient substance use programs. In 2020 I shifted from working in substance use programs to working with survivors of domestic violence and any other types of gendered violence. In October 2023 I started my private practice and I am enjoying splitting my time between by private practice and agency work.
I approach therapy from an anti-oppressive perspective, understanding intersectionality and my privileges. I am queer and endeavor to create a safe, collaborative and non-judgemental space for all folx. My belief is that through attunement and safety, healing can happen.
I integrate various therapeutic approaches including SE, Internal Family System, art therapy, and psychodynamic interventions that are tailored to fit personal needs.

I attended SE training from 2019 to 2022. During the period of my SE training, I also took the following trainings: (1) Advanced Strategies for Healing Sexual Trauma w/ Ariel Giarretto and (2) Somatic Strategies to Address the interplay between shock and developmental trauma with Peter Levine & Diane Poole Heller.
Following the SE training, I completed the following courses and trainings:
(1) Unlearning as a white settler,
(2) Foundations of Clinical Supervision,
(3) Developmental Trauma: Early Stages and Later Stages by Dr. Raja Selvam,
(4) participated in webinars trying to understand how to decolonize myself and my practice, IFS and ED, IFS and Shame and;
(5) completed an 8 weeks intensive training in Internal Family Systems tailored for my workplace on how to support better DV and trauma survivors.
I am registered for the Touch Skills Training for Trauma Therapist by Kathy Kain starting in December 2025.

Outside work, I enjoy spending time in nature and going for hikes, painting, reading, experimenting with new recipes and exploring new restaurants.

Christina is a compassionate clinical counsellor who works from person-centred, culturally inclusive, gender-affirming and feminist perspectives. She works with individuals seeking support with issues relating to their self-esteem, identity, life transitions, codependency, attachment wounding, relationship challenges, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss. Christina helps 2SLGBTQIA+ folks with gender/sexuality questioning, transitioning, coming out and their authentic expression. Her therapeutic approaches include somatic experiencing (SE), internal family systems (IFS), mindfulness practices, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and psychodynamic, strength-based, narrative and solution-focused approaches. She also has been a yoga therapist, breathworker and spiritual practitioner for 20+ years and welcomes those who may also be on a spiritual path.

I am a registered clinical counsellor living in Whistler, BC

I am also a specialized yoga instructor having taught for 20 years a variety of styles including Yoga Teacher Trainings. I use many of those skills within therapy— these include Mindfulness, breathing, and meditations techniques.

I have trained in many specific therapies including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), The Gottman Method, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing and Kathy Kain’s Touch Skills Training. My areas of practice include depression, anxiety, self-esteem, grief and loss, life transitions, women’s issues, chronic pain, relationship issues, communication difficulties and trauma. I support both individuals and couples to work towards reconnection— improving the relationship they have with themselves and with others.

I consider myself more of a person-centred approach therapist who specializes in helping individuals heal from trauma. I believe it is important to have an understanding in how our family of origin and nervous system influences us, therefore I incorporate a psychoeducation component in therapy which includes Attachment theory and Poly Vagal Theory.

I have a collaborative and engaging approach to counselling, which encourages the client to set the direction and goals of therapy. Many clients consider me authentic, truthful and hopeful as I thoroughly enjoy connecting with people and helping them — through co-regulation techniques— to safely re-embody their core self. It is my experience, that once we can listen and honour the body again — without fear or shame — we can move forward with a stronger felt sense of safety and stability, allowing for a more positive and accurate narrative.
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Coral Short (they/them) is a somatic experiencing practitioner and community leader based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal. Born in 1973 on lək̓ʷəŋən territories (Victoria, BC), they bring over 30 years of experience in art making, activism, and community building to their practice.

As a certified Community Dharma Teacher with True North Insight, Coral integrates Buddhist wisdom with somatic practices, specializing in trauma-informed approaches that center marginalized experiences. They combine somatic principles with eco-somatic practices, including guided nature immersion, embodied anti-oppression work through specialized workshops and courses for white people, and mindfulness adapted for 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Coral co-facilitates Queer Sangha and leads transformative online workshops that blend somatic awareness with social justice principles. Their approach emphasizes collective healing, incorporating both individual nervous system regulation and community-wide resilience building.

Drawing from their extensive background in organizing and arts-based activism, Coral creates accessible, trauma-sensitive spaces that honor diverse embodied experiences. Their practice particularly supports those navigating intersectional identities, systemic trauma, and collective healing journeys.

I am a counselling therapist with a part-time private practice in Victoria, Canada. I am privileged to live and work on the traditional territories of the WSÁNEC’ people. My client population is largely composed of adults who have a history of early developmental trauma.

My previous training is grounded in the family constellation (Inherited Family Trauma) work of Mark Wolynn. I have also intensively studied the material of Dr. Gordon Neufeld of the Neufeld Institute in Vancouver, Canada, who is a world-renowned Developmental Psychologist. In addition to my SEP training, I have also trained with Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell and have completed the Somatic Resilience and Regulation training and the Somatic Touch training. My training outlined above is underpinned by an M.A. and an M.Sc. in 2 different areas of Psychology. My personal and professional passion lies in strengthening relationships with self and with others, as I believe this is where we find access to both joy and ease. I am also a wife (my husband works in trauma recovery too!) and a mom of a busy family of 2 boys and 2 dogs. I look forward to meeting you during the training!

Dafne Blanco Sarlay, MA, RCC, SEP is Registered Clinical Counsellor and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Dafne earned her Masters degree in Expressive Arts Therapy at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. Originally from Mexico, she came to Canada in 1996. Impacted by various types of trauma, her personal and family history inform her understanding of the interconnections of gender, ethnicity, violence, trauma and mental health, and impact how she supports others in their growth.

As a counsellor and facilitator, she has had the privilege of working with Indigenous communities in Canada and Mexico and immigrant women survivors of complex trauma, as well as with refugee survivors of torture. Throughout her professional career she has also provided direct support, outreach and advocacy services to diverse communities such as migrant workers, refugee families and youth, among others in one-on-one settings, as well as families and group facilitation.

Dafne is also an accomplished multidisciplinary artist, using visual arts and writing as her main media for expression.

Approaching this whole line of study backwards, Donya is currently in the practicum stage of her Master’s of Counselling. Before that she completed the SEP in 2020 and has been practicing as a voice teacher for 20+ years. Her very first foray into all things somatic was a BFA in Dance from SFU. She also writes, arranges and records acappella vocal music and is the Performance Director for Vancouver’s newest semi-pro acappella ensemble, Vancity Harmony.

I am a registered social worker with the BC College of Social Workers and also a certified addiction counsellor through the Canadian Addiction Counsellor Certification Federation. I have worked in a number of inpatient and outpatient facilities, which have helped me to hone my skills assisting others in navigating issues related to anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use. I am currently using these skills in my professional life as a contractor in private practice at Resilient Health. I am also part creator and owner of the online addiction support program Home Based Recovery. I am a founding board member of the Rewired Recovery Foundation. RRF is a charity that puts on substance-free events and uses the proceeds to send people in need to treatment.

Outside of work, I am a newly minted fly fisher person, who loves to cook, including smoking and grilling, as well as finding and polishing rocks. I like to be outside running or walking my wee dog Vanjie. When inside I am an avid follower of the Arsenal (soccer) and Vancouver Canucks. I am very fortunate to live as a guest on the Tsawout First Nation, and I work on the stolen lands of the WSANEC peoples on the Southern tip of Vancouver Island.

I work with groups and individuals, remotely and in-person, focusing on early surgical trauma, issues of self-worth, resilience, creativity-blocks, integration of plant-medicine experiences and life-meaning. Helping people to re-connect with their innate resilience and aliveness is vital to my own sense of wellbeing and meaning.

In my work, I use a variety of approaches (SE, IFS, Satir-Model, Psychodrama, Reichian bodywork, Focusing, etc.) all grounded in a ‘Bottom-up’, Body-Wisdom’ approach that is tailored for each client.

I’m a member of the core faculty at www.haven.ca and a Manitoba Satir Centre approved trainer / facilitator. I have worked cross-culturally in both North America and China and live on Gabriola Island, unceded territory of the Island Hul’qumi’num-speaking Snuneymuxw First Nation. I am approved to offer personal sessions at all levels.”

Jessica is a dedicated registered acupuncturist with over a decade of experience, known for her trauma-informed approach and commitment to creating a safe, non-judgmental space for healing. A lifelong learner, she continuously enhances her skills, offering personalized and thoughtful treatments. Jessica graduated from the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and holds certificates in Somatic Experiencing®, Acupuncture Detoxification, Advanced Cupping Therapy, Medical Qi Gong, and Yoga Nidra Meditation.

Beyond her private practice, Jessica actively volunteers in the community, collaborates with wellness professionals, and shares her expertise through community events. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, reading, biking, gardening, and watching movies.
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I grew up in Vancouver and have lived in White Rock for the past 20 years. I work as a school counsellor and have a private practice as well. I remember my first course in SE and I fell in love. This was the missing link 😉 I am thrilled to be here with you and continuing this incredible journey of learning and living.

I work with children, adolescents, adults, seniors, couples, and families. I use several modalities including sandtray therapy, DBT, family systems, restorative practice, and SE has worked it’s way into the core of everything I do.

I have 5 children ages 7 – 25 and I love hanging out with them camping, boating, snowboarding, hiking, swimming, biking, skating, reading, playing games and travelling. I love living by the ocean and accessing the numerous trails around us we can walk and bike along.

This is my first training as an assistant. I am looking forward to coming alongside you in your SE journey and learning together.

Trained as a Clinical Psychologist in Warsaw, Poland. Trained in NPL in England. Certified facilitator of Mindfulness-Based Symptom Management with Ottawa Mindfulness Clinic. Trained in SE with Berns Galloway ( beginner and intermediate) and Dea Parsinishi ( advanced). Completed Syndromes, Eye of the Needle, Generational Trauma and other courses with Peter Levine. Practicing as a Registered Psychotherapist in Ottawa, Ontario.

Hi everyone! I have been on Vancouver Island for over 20 years. Most of my time was spent in the Cowichan Valley, followed by 2 years on the North Island. I am now settled in Campbell River. I currently work part time for a non-profit agency and also have a private practice. I have had the privilege of spending much of my time serving in First Nations communities, mostly with Cowichan Tribes.

My work has been with children and youth who have experienced trauma, as well as women and families. I use sandtray and play therapy, and come from a family systems perspective. SE informs all the work I do, and refining these skills is the most exciting ongoing learning I have experienced.

I love hiking, being at the ocean, and hanging out with family and friends. Until moving away from Cowichan, I also went horseback riding regularly.

This is the second training I will be assisting in. I am really looking forward to meeting you all – hopefully in person at some point – as you start your SE journey!

In 2005 Kristin graduated from the Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy and became a Registered Massage Therapist. Over the past 20 years she has worked in multiple settings including; spas, multidisciplinary clinics, mobile/in home treatments and a home-based practice. Currently working from ‘Heart of the Village Massage Therapy’ in Oak Bay, BC. In 2023 she completed a 3-year Somatic Experiencing program and received her Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) certificate.

I believe with safety and support in patient-centred and trauma-informed care, our body and our wise nervous system have the inate ability to heal. She gently encourages curiosity of the sensations and signals in your body that are informing us and how we can collaborate in your healing journey. With the safety of your nervous system my highest priority she does NOT offer traditional/conventional “deep tissue” massages ; when indicated we can work together with deep lying structures that can have a profound affect on your nervous system. She does incorporate many techniques including: Myofascial release, Craniosacral therapy, Muscle Energy, Neuromuscular therapy, Visceral and invitations for home care.

When not working she’s cycling with her family around Victoria, experimenting in her kitchen, playing soccer or escaping with a good book.”

I’ve been involved with SE for 22 years, and an SE Practitioner since 2004. I went on to take Kathy Kains’ Post-Advanced “Touch Training for Psychotherapists” in 2009, and “Somatic Resilience and Regulation: Early Trauma” training with Steve Terrell and Kathy Kain in 2016. Also important in my SE journey have been Peter Levine’s SE Master Classes (“Eye of the Needle” and “Aggression, Depression and Life Force”). The SE Touch work forms a significant part of my approach.

I have been counselling adults and facilitating groups for 24 years, including 15 years in a non-profit agency for women who have experienced sexual trauma. While with the agency I developed and ran groups in conjunction with the local addictions clinic, where of course trauma shows up as the root cause of many concurrent issues.

Assisting with SE trainings in many locations in Canada, America, Australia and Japan has helped me hone my SE skills and keep apace of developments in the work. And meet hundreds of amazing people! I value counsellor education and have supported many practicum and internship students, and I’m clinical case consultant for a number of local agencies. I now devote my time to private practice in counselling, consultation and supervision in Victoria, BC, and any spare time I have is spent with my dear horse Abe.

I am a Kinesiologist by education, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner® (SEP), Certified BodyMind Coach, Classical Pilates Instructor and RYT200 Yoga Teacher. My full time career is in disability management and accommodation, but my passion is movement education and trauma stress regulation and renegotiation within my private practice.

Outside of work and my practice, you can find me working on my home, weaving or knitting, gardening, hiking and enjoying the beautiful trails around Nanaimo and Vancouver Island with my 2 year old poodle, Ginger.

Luana is a Nervous System and Relationship Specialist working with couples and individuals online worldwide. She specializes in developmental trauma, primitive reflexes, intergenerational issues, and betrayal trauma. With extensive experience in the work of Kathy Kain, Stephen Terrell, and Peter Levine, Luana brings humanity, steady guidance and more than a decade of experience to her practice.

Based in Victoria, BC she also teaches workshops and events. Beyond her work, you can often find her enjoying nature with her dog, whether on a beach or in the forest. Luana is excited to be here and offer her support throughout the weekend.

I am a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) and Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC), along with being a recently graduated SEP in 2024. I have over 6 years experience in private practice, working as a couples counsellor and trauma therapist. I run a group practice with my wife and our two associate counsellors, in Vancouver, BC. I am a former school teacher and stand-up comedian who brings a wealth of experience, a big heart, and lots of energy and passion for this sacred work. SE has absolutely changed not only the way I practice as a counsellor, but also how I live my life. It’s the most valuable training I’ve ever undertaken.

Nada is a clinical counsellor working in private practice out of South Delta, British Columbia. She works with individuals and families who have experienced trauma and who are working to reconnect with their inner self while also developing healthier relationships with others. She guides clients
and their families to promote growth and a more regulated nervous system in order to have a better capacity to live their lives to the fullest.

In her practice, Nada integrates Somatic Experiencing, Family systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and couples coaching modalities. Her areas of focus include trauma, grief and loss, and life transitions. Additionally, her recent interest is family impact on intergenerational trauma.

Nada joined the SE Assisting/Training community in 2020, and since then, she has assisted in SE trainings with great joy in both Canada and US. She has been fortunate to have assisted with Linda Stelte Berns Galloway, withLinda Stelte, Berns Galloway, Joshua Sylvae, and Abi Blakeslee. As a training assistant, it is her intention to hold a safe space while offering students support and compassion on their journey to learning the model and applying SE techniques.

Outside of providing therapeutic support, Nada loves to spend time with her family and friends and deeply cherishes time in nature: taking walks, biking, hiking in the woods and gardening. She also very much enjoys and appreciates traveling and exploring new parts of the world.

’m grateful to be part of the S.E. learning process with you. A bit about me, I’m of Irish decent and respectfully acknowledge that the land I live, work, and play on is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I enjoy taking part in activities in the nature that surrounds Vancouver.

I am a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor- RTC and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner-SEP, in private practice in Vancouver, BC. My work integrates Somatic Experiencing® trauma healing (including early developmental trauma from pre-verbal periods), Therapeutic Counselling, Hakomi (a body-centered system of psychotherapy) and Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release. My passion is leading group processes including facilitating a men’s group.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), and I am a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP). I am also a retired Acupuncturist and co-owner of a wellness clinic. I have over a decade of experience in the health and wellness field as an acupuncturist, yoga teacher, crisis line volunteer, and craniosacral therapist.

I am mindful and compassionate. I am willing to be vulnerable but firm at the same time. Clients seek me out because they know I have done the work. I have been through a difficult journey, which helps me understand your struggles.

I have worked with clients from diverse backgrounds and identities. I am keen to support clients from all backgrounds, especially those who identify as Asian and, more broadly, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour).

Hello! I’m Prema McKeever. After a 15-year career as an acupuncturist and herbalist I changed direction and dived into the world of understanding trauma’s impact on the mind and body. I obtained my SEP in 2018 and have assisted at beginner, intermediate and advanced SE trainings. I have taken additional advanced SE courses including Syndromes ~ Working with the Somatic Side of Trauma with Dr. Levine and Somatic Resilience and Regulation from Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell. Touch work forms a large part of my private practice.

Today I facilitate transformational workshops and have a full-time practice on zoom and in-person from my home in East Van. My goal is to provide a safe, heart-centred place of openness and acceptance in which individuals are able to develop greater awareness of their body, feelings, strengths, and connect to their own wisdom and joy. I am client-centred and use approaches such as mindfulness, Somatic Experiencing, Hakomi, and BioDynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System. In private sessions and groups, my focus is on releasing the trauma held in our bodies so that we can create healthier, more authentic and passion-filled lives.

I love Somatic Experiencing and am thrilled to be one of the organizers of the SE trainings in the Vancouver area! I look forward to working with you and being a part of building the SE community in Vancouver and across Canada.

Sara Brown (she/her) is a certified expressive arts therapist and counsellor practicing Somatic Experiencing™. Originally from California, Sara moved to the unceded lands of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh first nations in 2009 where she has gratefully lived, worked, studied, and raised her children.

Sara has worked in private practice in Vancouver since 2018. Since 2021, Sara has also worked as a counsellor for Family Services of the North Shore. Her clients include individuals, survivors of gender based violence, couples, and families.

Outside of work, you might find Sara making art, spending time in nature hiking or camping, sharing a meal with friends, or connecting with her two university aged kids.

Shama is a Somatic Therapist with more than 16 years of experience in body-centred therapies. Her work mainly targets depression, anxiety, stress-related conditions, developmental and shock trauma. Through her many years of training, practising and synthesizing eastern and western therapeutic modalities that complement each other in her work, she created her unique way of working with clients.

In her sessions, Shama combines different modalities like Somatic Experiencing®, Somatic touch, Bodynamic Developmental Psychology, Brain Spotting, Breath-Work, EFT and Meditation Techniques for healthful integration and wellness.

Shama has had her private practice since 2016 in Vancouver, BC.

SOME OF SHAMA’S TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS INCLUDE

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Training

Bodynamics.

Relational Trauma Therapy: Identity, Stress and Trauma;

Including and Awakening Hypo Response

Hypnotherapy Training

Brain-spotting – Phase One / Phase 2

Diamond Breath Master Training

Sexual Awareness Counsellor Training

Relationship Counsellor Training

EFT-Emotional Freedom Technique

Reichen / Character Structure Analysis

Meditative Therapies facilitator Training

The entirety of my practice is devoted to helping people reconnect to their whole selves, and to come into coherence through all of their layers – body, mind, spirit, and the subconscious. I blend my training in Somatic Experiencing, Hypnotherapy, and Psychedelic Facilitation with years of experience as a Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher to create a container that can hold – and support – each person as the complex, multifaceted human being that they are. I believe that the most valuable thing we can do for anyone is to show up as a fellow human being – to meet them on a level beyond modalities and interventions, and create the space for them to come into contact with their Innate Healing Intelligence.

I firmly believe that underneath all of our life’s experiences, we are whole. There’s a part of you that knows how to find and live the life that’s meant for you. The part of you that knows how to be who you are in a way that’s clear, coherent, and unyielding. That’s the part of you I’m in service to – my calling is to help you find it and watch you take root in that fertile soil.

I am honored to be one of the many people to hold this beautiful container, and I look forward to supporting your evolution in any way I can.

I am a Counsellor in Private Practice in Yukon, Canada.
I finished my SEP in 2015 and stayed engaged with the SE community as an  assistant and session/consult provider because I love the work!

Currently, my leading practice focus is women and trauma. I have also spent many years working within First Nation communities, both as a Counsellor and  as a Coordinator of a host of community led healing projects. This work has deeply influenced both my practice and my personal development.

I spend a lot of time in the wilderness because it nourishes me; and because I feel that nature holds so much Wisdom…immersing myself helps connect me to my own knowing. I often use nature-based therapeutic tools in sessions.

I love (and hate 🙂 ) my learning edges, and love supporting others to navigate new and old territory.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

“

As a registered trauma therapist, EFT couples therapist, and SEP, I am dedicated to supporting individuals and couples facing trauma and relationship challenges. Fluent in both Vietnamese and English, I specialize in working with multicultural and marginalized communities, offering individual, family, and couples therapy. I also offer sliding scale options to ensure accessibility for those facing financial barriers. With experience in both nonprofit organizations and part-time private practice, I bring a broad range of skills as a psychotherapist and facilitator.

Having lived in Vietnam for 30 years before relocating to Canada, I now divide my time between Vancouver and Vietnam. My deep cultural understanding enriches the therapeutic space I create, allowing me to offer an integrative and holistic approach to healing.

For Somatic Experiencing (SE) students, I offer personalized sessions to help you build a strong foundation in SE. With a focus on cultural sensitivity and individualized support, my sessions are designed to enhance your training, providing you the safe space to listen to your body, address your own trauma and deepen your practice. Whether you’re just starting your SE journey or seeking additional support, I am here to support you in your growth as a compassionate and skilled practitioner.

My name is Wanda Dexel, a mother of three adult children, with seven grandchildren and a band member of the Nooaitch community, which is located within the Nlaka’pamux Territory.

Both my parents and three siblings, including myself, attended St. George’s Residential School in Lytton, British Columbia. With this lived experiential history, my desire to seek a path that led to a quality of life that included hope and healing has been a lifelong journey. Reclaiming myself through ceremonies played a key role on this journey and leaning into other adventures such as Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy and Somatic Experiencing have provided me with a sense of hope and has also contributed to my deeper understanding of healing.

While I had the honor of working alongside families in the Ministry of Children and Families, I have also had the pleasure of working with Indigenous youth and children for 20 years in the Burnaby School District. For the past 9 years, I have been with Nlaka’pamux Health Services Society as a counsellor for adults. I have enjoyed my journey so far and look forward to what life unfolds moving forward – Wanda Dexel.