My Story
Experienced. Compassionate. Authentic.
Welcome! I'm Adrienne and I go by she/they pronouns. I live and work on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ people. I'm a Registered Social Worker and Registered Clinical Counsellor with over 10 years of experience in my field. I have a Master of Social Work with a clinical (counselling) focus, a Bachelor of Social Work, and a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Women's/Gender Studies.
I started my career in the anti-violence field where I worked for many years supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their families. My interest in sexual and reproductive health and justice later led me to work in abortion care for a busy community sexual health clinic. In that role I provided counselling for clients accessing abortions and seeking miscarriage support. After completing my Master's I entered medical social work at BC Women's Hospital. I filled various roles, including supporting women with addiction, working with people with complex chronic health conditions, and once again providing abortion counselling within a dynamic surgical clinic. In returning to abortion care I deepened my expertise in supporting people with uteruses and their loved ones around abortion grief and resolution, genetic loss, miscarriage, multiple losses, and infertility. I recognized the profound need for more services and supports for people with uteruses, moms/parents and families along the reproductive journey, which is what led me here.
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My Approach
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I have specialized training and experience in supporting 2SLGBTQ+ communities, BIPOC, and women and have supported people from many diverse communities while working in Metro Vancouver. I am experienced in mindfulness-based approaches including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and self-compassion. I have extensive experience in group facilitation, including educational, psychotherapy, and support groups. I'm also trained in the use of expressive art therapy. Through a Wilfred Laurier certificate program, I am qualified to provide Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with a specialization in reproductive mental health. I support individuals coping with:
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Anxiety & Depression
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Puberty, PMS, PMDD
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Hormone related Anxiety & Stress
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Perinatal/Reproductive Grief & Loss (abortion, pregnancy & infant loss)
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Peripartum Depression & Anxiety
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Postpartum OCD
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Recovery from Postpartum Psychosis
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Traumatic Birth
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Infertility/IVF/assisted & third-party reproduction
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Perimenopause & Menopause
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Life & family planning, life transitions
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Relationship and communication issues
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2SLGBTQI+ concerns
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My counselling approach is informed by an intersectional and feminist person-centered framework, trauma-Informed practice, anti-oppressive theory and practice, and a strong orientation to social justice. It is my priority to offer a queer affirmative, inclusive, and culturally sensitive practice.
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I bring a compassionate presence to my work with clients and a strong spirit of collaboration and creativity to our therapeutic work. We will work together in the first few sessions to determine the best approach for you and discuss your goals for counselling. I strive to create an environment in which clients can be real, explore their needs, set goals, and plant the seeds for healing and growth.