Hello, I’m Emily (she/her) – one of the therapists here at Aster Wellness Centre. I believe that we’re all doing the best that we can within the contexts we exist in and that sometimes there are things that hold us back from showing up in our lives how we’d like to. If this is true for you, I’m so thankful you’ve landed here. I want to share a little about me so that you better understand who I am and what working together might look like. 

Professionally, I’m both a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), with a Master of Counselling degree from Athabasca University. I am an approved provider with both ICBC and Medavie for funding and direct billing. In the last decade, I have worked in a variety of roles within mental health services. Private practice, community mental health, and non-profit work have allowed me to gain valuable expertise and experience as I have walked alongside a broad diversity of people and circumstances. I have lived experience in supporting those who care for people in their personal and professional lives. Occupational awareness training through First Responder Health, Critical Incident Stress Management (Group Debriefing), and other trauma-related training and experience inform my support of those within the first responder and ‘professional helper’ communities. I know firsthand how important it is to proactively create space for our own mental wellness and recovery, and simultaneously how difficult it can be to do so.

In our work, my aim is to empower you – in whatever season you find yourself in – to seek a fuller understanding of your experience and walk away with a compassionate perspective of the challenges of being human. I recognize that everyone is unique and has their own important story to share. You are the expert in your experiences and story, and I am here to support you along the way. Together, we will work collaboratively on the goals you feel are important and consider the challenges as well as the strengths that have brought you to this time and place. You will notice that my work is client-led and strengths-based and I may integrate practices from Narrative Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Observed and Experiential Integration (OEI), among others, as they become relevant for you. My hope is that you would feel safe, seen, and supported in our time together. I look forward to learning more about you and your journey, and seeing if we may be a good fit.