Bio

Welcome, and congratulations on taking a step towards caring for yourself.

I have experience working with people of all ages; I work with children, youth and adults, with an emphasis on adolescents and young adults. I have previous experience working in the Downtown Eastside with people who were experiencing mental health and addiction. I also have experience working with adolescents with additional needs, specialising in profound concurrent disabilities, cognitive delays, and traumatic brain injuries. I especially enjoy working with autistic people and those who love and want to support them. I currently work in another role with youth during the day, and provide counselling services on evenings and weekends.

It can be difficult to see a clear path from where you are to where you want to be. I provide an open, non-judgmental space to help process painful emotions and prioritize what is most important to you. I help you find small, approachable things to help you in the meantime while you work towards your larger goals.

One therapist and writer, Rhoda Mills Sommer, wrote that “In the great, raw, howling moments of pain; having a witness matters.” This is a core theme in my practice; I walk alongside you, pointing out rocks on the path and forks in the road, while you decide where to go, knowing I’ll be with you through the trips, re-routes, and moments of lostness.

I have two bachelor’s degrees - one in history and the other in education. I have a teaching certificate and a valid teaching licence. I also have a post-graduate certificate in special education, and a master’s degree in counselling with a specialisation in school counselling. I am a student member of the BCACC and am awaiting my Registered Clinical Counsellor designation.

Services I offer are typically related to:

• Boundaries & healthy relationships
• Feelings of marginalization & othering
• Domestic abuse and coercive control
• Cognitive dissonance
• Self harm
• Eating disorders
• Self-advocacy
• Guilt & shame
• Confidence
• Workplace burnout
• Transition planning
• Career counselling
• PTSD / CPTSD
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Play therapy and therapy through play
• Parents of dependent children
• Social skill development
• Understanding and navigating difficult or antagonistic situations

I would like to invite you to reach out for a free 20 minute consult: 604.706.5052 colleen@blackbirdcounsellingandwellness.ca

Bio Welcome, and congratulations on taking a step towards caring for yourself. I have experienc... Read More

Hello and welcome.

My name is Sam Dubetz, and I am a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s of Social Work degree from University of British Columbia. I have over 20 years of experience in social service related work, primarily working with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and people involved in the criminal legal system and the mental health system. I have worked with people impacted by addictions, violence, psychiatric diagnoses, as well as people who believed their concerns were not grand enough to justify reaching out for support. The common ground among all of these people were aspirations to accomplish, overcome, and reclaim. Whether the issues drawing you to counselling feel small or insurmountable, I am a firm believer that absolutely everyone is deserving of support.

I draw heavily upon Narrative Therapy which can help us make a deeper connection to our values, confidence, and resilience. My work is guided by a social justice minded and anti-oppressive framework, and I try to create a space that supports people in being the authors and experts in the stories of their own lives. My approach aims to assist people in recognizing and accessing their own internal motivations and strengths as the basis for accomplishing their goals.

Please feel free to reach out for a free 20 minute consult.

sam@blackbirdcounsellingandwellness.ca 604-706-5052

Hello and welcome. My name is Sam Dubetz, and I am a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s of... Read More

Hi, I am Ashley. I am happy you are here making your wellness a priority! I am a Registered Social Worker and a counsellor specializing in empowerment, self-discovery, and self-love. I have spent much time working with individuals suffering from addictions, mental health, and trauma. I have experience with parents, children, and family relationship difficulties as well as navigating the systems such as Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society (VACFSS), Ministry of Social Development (MSD), and countless health and social services. I have certifications in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Emotional Regulation through Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Crisis Intervention, Mindfulness Meditation and Breath-Work, Somatic Release through Reiki Energy Healing, Trauma-Informed Care, and Self-Actualization modalities. I also offer some Equine Trauma Therapies. Additionally, I have much experience with grief and loss, with a focus on traumatic loss. In my personal life I am a gardening, horse-back riding, rock collecting, cake baking, dancing cis-gendered mother, advocate, and ally. My goal in our counselling relationship is to help shed light on your own strengths and empower you to become your fullest, truest self. Using a (w)holistic, person-centered, strength-based approach and with unconditional positive acceptance and respect, I am honoured to hold sacred space for your healing journey. I offer a variety of sessions, in person, on the phone, or online virtual. If you think I could be a good match for you at this stage in your wellness please contact me for a free consultation.

I can direct the bill to CVAP, Metis Society and some extended benefits.

Hi, I am Ashley. I am happy you are here making your wellness a priority! I am a Registered Soci... Read More

Hi, I am Karina Crow. I am a Registered Social Worker and have two decades of front-line and clinical practice in mental health and addictions. I work from an integrated approach, using different types of counselling modalities to personalize your sessions. I support diversity and welcome people who identify as counter-culturalists, nonconformists, creatives, musicians, and people exploring their meaning in the world.. I am an ally with marginalized people and the LGTBQIA2S+ community. I have worked as a front-line worker for many years with multiple non-profits in the Downtown East Side of Vancouver, in Forensic Social Work, Public Health and I currently work in private practice.

I specialize in working with trauma (PTSD, CPTSD), complex family relationships, intergenerational trauma, substance use concerns, and general mental health, such as anxiety, depression and mood disorders. I work from a place to understand you as a whole person, your physical and mental health are connected and I honor this in our counselling sessions. It is of the most importance to me that you feel heard and understood, I will never judge your experience, and will provide a safe environment to talk about anything you choose.

I offer a specialized treatment , Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). It is one of my favorite modalities to use, as it is effective and powerful. I often can take one to three sessions of ART to reprogram stressful emotions, memories and images and move to a place where these experiences no longer trigger strong physical or emotional reactions.

To find out more, click this link below https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/what-is-art/

On a personal note, I am a tattoo collector, artist, music lover, motorcycle enthusiast, nature lover, animal parent and human parent. I live with my blended family in the lower mainland. I am cis gender woman who identifies as Bipoc. I am proudly Metis and German. I work toward reclaiming my own cultures and reconciliation for other marginalized, Indigenous and Bipoc folks.

Hi, I am Karina Crow. I am a Registered Social Worker and have two decades of front-line and clin... Read More

NO NEW CLIENTS OR CONSULTS UNTIL FEB 2027.

I have a Master’s in Counselling Psychology and I am Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). My practice centers on the importance of understanding individuals from their worldviews and viewing them through a holistic lens. As a counsellor, these important factors help me better understand my clients and provide them with a safe and non-judgmental space.

NO NEW CLIENTS OR CONSULTS UNTIL FEB 2027. I have a Master’s in Counselling Psychology and I am ... Read More