About Heather

experience & training

A career built on walking beside people

I worked as a social worker in Northern BC from 2007–2014 before moving to the Sunshine Coast. My work has included residential treatment centres as well as work with families in a non-profit setting — supporting families understanding neurodivergence through assistance with assessment, supports, and resources.

I specialise in working with children, youth, and adults who have experienced trauma. Working from an attachment focus, together we build on strengthening relationships within your life as a foundation for individual growth.

I have also completed additional training towards my registration as a family and civil mediator in BC and am working towards completion of my full Roster registration.

my personal journey

Sharing the weight opens the door to healing

I have experienced many moments through my life that have been pivotal in my understanding of the significance of counselling. I am a parent of three teenage and young adult children whom I have raised independently. There have been many challenges through this journey: loss, grief, suffering, and joy. The use of counselling to support my own healing has been integral to my success today, as well as the strength of my family.

I hold a belief that in sharing the weight of the pieces we carry, we open the door to healing. My goal is to create safety and space, to honour where you are at on this very individual journey, and to use my strength of compassion and empathy to support you in this moment of time.

I am mindful of the courage needed to begin this process at any stage, and I am honoured to walk alongside you. Our work will focus on present, moment-to-moment attunement and awareness of our shared experience together — providing you the opportunity and safety to connect with your emotions and experiences using curiosity and gentle kindness.

approach

Relational, compassionate, collaborative & structured

I care deeply about establishing an emotionally safe relationship with each person I work with. My approach to therapy is integrative and trauma-informed, meaning I draw from different therapy models to guide my work and I'm sensitive to the impact of trauma.

My work is rooted in attachment theory — including Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and relational therapy models — and is shaped by culturally responsive and socially just principles. The therapy models I integrate in my practice include: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for individuals, couples & families, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO), and Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST).

credentials

Education, memberships & training

education

Master of Arts (M.A.), Counselling Psychology — Yorkville University, Fredericton, NB (2021)
Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), Child Protection Specialisation — University of Victoria, Victoria, BC (2007)

associations & memberships

2026 — Service Provider, Autism Canada's Community Assistance Program (CAP)
2024 — Roster Member, Society Member & Board Member, BC Hear The Child Society
2024 — Associate Roster Member, Mediate BC
2021 — Registered Clinical Counsellor, BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)
2021 — Canadian Certified Counsellor, Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

clinical training

First Responder & Service Professional Training — Dr. Lisa Mortimore
2025 — AEDP Immersion, AEDP Institute
2024 — Attachment Healing Through Memory Reconsolidation Experiences, Envision
2024 — Specialised Trauma Treatment Training, GreenShield Health
2023 — Non-Evaluative Child Interviewing, BC Hear The Child Society
2023 — EMDRIA Approved EMDR Basic Training, Envision Counseling & Consulting
2023 — Practicum Supervisor Training, Yorkville University
2022 — Family Law Mediation Fundamentals & Advanced Mediation Skills, CLE BC
2022 — Family Violence Screening Training for Dispute Resolution Professionals, CLE BC
2022 — OEI Level I (Observed & Experiential Integration), SightPsych Seminars
2022 — Emotion Focused Therapy — Attachment Science in Practice, Psychwire
2022 — DBT, Psychwire
2022 — Psychological First Aid, Johns Hopkins University
2022 — Understanding Firefighter Culture & Trauma / Emergency Worker Trauma, First Responder Health
2021 — SAN'YAS: Indigenous Cultural Safety Training
2021 — Self-Regulation, MEHRIT Centre
2020 — FASD Training — Douglas College, FASCETS & CANFASD (Levels I & II)
2019 — Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy — Train the Trainer Certificate
2019 — SMART Recovery Facilitator & Friends and Family Certification
2007 — C6 Child Protection Delegation, BC Provincial Government