Olive Branch Counselling
The olive branch is typically seen as a symbol of peace and victory. In the bible (Genesis 8:11) a dove returns to Noah's ark carrying an olive leaf in its beak, providing hope for the future.
Life can be difficult to navigate during the best of times and having a professional, caring counsellor to guide you through your darkest or most challenging moments will empower you to find your strengths no matter your issue.
Olive Branch Counselling strives to support you, exactly where you are at, seeking to help you find a sense of peace, victory and hope within your life. We pride ourselves on working with a diverse clientele, ensuring everyone feels understood and valued. We strive to empower you toward personal growth and emotional well-being and to help you reach your goals by providing you with the tools and support you need to do so.
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About Me
My name is Stephanie (she/her) and I live and work in Chilliwack, BC, Canada where I am a settler on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations, and home to six Métis Chartered Communities.
Sharing my home is my husband, 3 children (ages 15, 16 & 22) and our 2 dogs! In my spare time I love spending time with my family, reading a good novel or gardening.
I have a Master Degree of Social Work from the University of Waterloo and over 14 years of experience in the mental health field including 3 years in private practice providing counselling to individuals, couples, parents and youth. I practice anti-oppressive social work and provide therapy from a strengths-based, person-centred and trauma-informed perspective.
My passion is helping clients process and heal trauma in a safe and supportive environment so that they can reduce their symptoms and find resilience in their journey. I provide trauma therapy through a trauma-informed lens and utilize brainspotting therapy as well as brain-body based therapy techniques. I believe our brains and our bodies are the key to healing trauma and work with clients through a variety of trauma approaches in order to identify and process trauma and relieve trauma symptoms.
I have an eclectic style with training in Systems Theory, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Brief Solution-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Horticulture Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy. In addition, at a client's request, I can offer counselling using a Christian world-view in any area of need.
I am a registered social worker with the BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW) and a member of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), BC Association of Social Workers (BCASW) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). I strictly adhere to the CASW Code of Ethics and believe understanding the social determinants of health within a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model is essential for providing social work and counselling services.