About Me

Hey there!

I’m Dawn (she/her), welcome to Between2Mirrors Counseling & Coaching Services, it is important to me to share a few of the intersectional identities I hold and why I chose a path in assisting people in their own journey’s in hopes of helping you find a counsellor who is the right fit for you.

My Services

About Me

I am a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA; #3439) offering online counselling and coaching services.

I am honored to live, work, and play on the ancestral, traditional and unceded (stolen) Indigenous land including territories of the Coast Salish peoples, and in particular, the traditional territories of the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), Máthekwi (Matsqui) and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations.

About Me Cont.

I recognize that I have experienced privileges throughout my life because I am white, I have also experienced a great deal of oppression for being a woman and especially for being a Queer woman. I have experienced adversity and stigma within the medical system, the social services system, the criminal justice system, as well as society in general for having a history of drug addiction and a history of mental health difficulties, and for being a survivor of adverse childhood experiences which includes sexual abuse and trauma.

The reason I am sharing this is because I want to highlight that I have overcome a lot of traumas and that I continue to work on myself as I believe recovery is a lifelong commitment to oneself. I also believe that because of these experiences it has brought me on a life path to supporting people, to assisting people in their journeys in life, in whatever that may look like with unconditional positive regard.  

Areas of Expertise

Although I have experience in various areas, my current focus is working with individuals struggling with the following:

  • Boundary setting
  • Dating and relationships,
  • Depression and anxiety,
  • Grief and loss,
  • Self esteem and self worth,
  • Identity issues,
  • Mental health and nutrition,
  • Making friends and finding community,
  • Recovery from Addiction,
  • Personal Growth,
  • Stress Management

Get in Touch

My practice is guided by the following principles 

  • All people possess intrinsic worth and have the capacity to realize this. 
  • All individuals are worthy of respect.
  • My therapy space is one of acceptance and safety.
  • Gender, race, sexual orientation, age, religion, relationships and family status pose no barrier to the therapy process. 
  • Everyone has the ability to change; readiness depends on each individual. 
  • Clients take responsibility for their gains in counselling and for their personal successes; the counselor’s role is that of a guide. 
  • Understanding comes first. If we jump prematurely to tools and strategies, clients are left with generic, depersonalized interventions.
  • Most people benefit from counselling at some point in their lives. This includes coaching too! At its best, counselling or coaching is a healthy dialogue that identifies, promotes, and mobilizes clients’ strengths to reach personal goals. 
  • I follow the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association.
Work Experience
Lu’ma Native Housing Society

Tenant Support Worker

Lookout Housing & Health Society

Shelter Resource Worker/ Outreach Worker

Work Experience
Phoenix Society

Program Assistant

MPA Society

Mental Health Worker

Education
Rhodes Wellness College

Professional Counselling Diploma

Douglas College

Associates Degree in Psychology

Practicum
Rhodes Wellness College

Teacher Assistant

Together We Can

Addiction’s Counsellor

I look forward to learning about who you are and collaborating with you in counselling or coaching.

Maintaining your best interests

I keep informed of current thinking, research and agendas for change in the field of mental health and well-being and how these may offer new opportunities for access to therapeutic support.

I attend ongoing training for my own continuous professional development to keep me in top form; maximizing my potential so that I can effectively invest in your well-being and growth. I attend regular clinical supervision in accordance with the guidelines set within the CPCA Ethical Framework.

Supervision is a reflective practice to ensure that I am offering you an effective, focused, safe and ethical service. Therefore, consistently improving the service I offer you.

I hold the relevant Professional Indemnity Insurance as a counselor which includes malpractice, professional, public and products liability.

 

 

 
Qualifications

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  • Grief & Loss counselling certified
  • Cultural Competency Safety Training
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Motivational Interviewing Certified
  • Non-Violent Crisis Intervention trained
  • Non-violent Communication trained
  • Cognitive Behavior therapy trained
  • Dialectical Behavior therapy trained
  • Psycho-dynamic therapy trained
  • Life Skills coach certified
  • Workshop creator and facilitator
  • Occupational Level 3 First Aid trained

 

 
Limitations

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  • I do not work with people who are dealing with severe drug and alcohol addictions, violence or criminal issues or severe mental illness.
  • I do not diagnose mental health conditions.
  • I do not work with minors.
  • I do not prescribe or consult on medication.
  • Some insurance companies cover counselors with a BA and/or the RPC designation. Some don’t.
  • However, I am more than happy to provide resources and recommendations on where one can seek the appropriate services needed in the lower mainland.

what-to-expect

resources

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