Meet Gabby
I work with teenagers (16+) and adults who are feeling stuck in their lives. This stuckness could come from past experiences or a change that happened recently. Maybe you don’t even know why you feel stuck! That’s totally okay.
I’m here to help you make sense of what’s happening now, how you got there, and how you can move forward with ease and confidence.
Some of my story
I was born in Newfoundland but my family moved to BC when I was young, which meant I grew up without a strong connection to my Mi’kmaq heritage. Over time, I have dedicated myself to reconnecting with this important part of myself.
On this journey, the teachings of the medicine wheel have been transformative for me. They’ve become the foundation for both my personal and professional life, helping me appreciate the interconnectedness of all things and infusing my work with deeper empathy.
As a white-passing and mixed-race Indigenous counsellor, I acknowledge the privileges I hold and I’m committed to recognizing and addressing the many barriers that BIPOC and other marginalized communities face.
Learning to embrace my creativity has also played a huge role in shaping how I work. For years, I believed that I wasn’t and could never be an artistic person. Diving into the field of art therapy showed me that the joy I get from making art isn’t from perfectly executing a skill, it’s from tapping into a grounded, playful, and powerful connection with myself. I find immense joy from helping others do the same!
My personal path has shown me the importance of embracing all parts of oneself, even those that may have been neglected or denied in the past. As a therapist, I'm committed to creating a safe and supportive space for each of my clients to explore and reconnect with all the different parts of themselves.
Education
BA in Health Sciences, Minor in Counselling & Human Development
Master’s of Counselling Psychology & Art Therapy from Adler University
Modalities I draw
from
Humanistic, art therapy, somatics, focusing-oriented therapy, trauma-informed, feminist, interpersonal neurobiology, internal family systems, attachment-based
Training that informs my work:
Focusing-Oriented Therapy (FOT) two-year course
grounding, rhythm and bi-lateral drawing
Focusing-Oriented Art Therapy (FOAT) with Laury Rappaport
working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse
treating trauma with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model
introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS)*
Compassionate Inquiry with Gabor Maté
caring for others while caring for ourselves with Gabor Maté
Core Indigenous Cultural Safety Mental Health with San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety
witnessing resistance & justice-doing in response to violence suffering and oppression
justice-doing in alternative practice
Brainspotting phase one
working with dreams as catalysts for emotional regulation
*currently in progress
Aside from being a counsellor and art therapist, I am…
an avid reader of sci-fi and fantasy
a daughter of two teachers
always planning a trip or two
child-free by choice
an appreciator of stand-up comedy, Mike Birbiglia is my favourite comedian!
queer and LGBTQ2S+ affirming
not formally trained in art-making, but I can draw really great stick figures!