Meet Andie
Hi, I am Andie, a transgender (male to female) clinical counselor. I have been practicing as a counsellor for several years, with much of my experience focusing on adolescents and young adults. The areas of concerns I typically work with are trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, concerns with attachment, and concerns with gender and/or sexuality.
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​The modalities and approaches you can expect me to use in sessions are:
​​-Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
-Somatic Experiencing
-Emotion Focused Therapy
-Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
-Solution Focused Brief Therapy
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After seeing me, clients can expect to feel:
-More comfortable and content with themselves
-Be more attuned to their distress and how to manage it
-Be able to live more presently and in the moment, without their past traumas or experiences getting as much in the way.
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Treatments I offer
Trauma Counselling-EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing involves eye movements (bilateral stimulation) and re-experiencing traumatic memories. It is an evidence based technique that has been shown to reduce effects of trauma, anxiety, depression and more.
I like to describe EMDR as a technique that helps us change our relationship with our memories, and in turn it can change our relationship with ourselves. Clients have shared profound effects after engaging in EMDR with me, sharing reduced tension, stress, and PTSD symptoms after several sessions.
Gender and Sexuality Counselling
As a transgender woman, I have been told that my gender identity has been provided safety and relatability for clientele with similar experiences.
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Some of the topics I have explored with clients include:
-Thoughts of gender transition
-Crossdressing
-Concerns or confusion with sexuality
-Feelings of shame/stigmatization with gender and sexuality
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Part of the journey can be finding or having a space to express and explore, and I strive to provide that space for anyone who may need it.
Adolescent/Youth Counselling
I have worked many years with youth, first as a youth worker and now as a clinical counsellor. I believe most clientele need emotional safety first in therapy before any deep dive can be done on whatever is causing distress. I find this to be especially true with vulnerable or troubled youth.
Clients have told that I am approachable and relaxed as a counselor, and that they feel comfortable and safe opening up to me. If you are a youth, or a parent looking for someone safe for their child to speak with, I would love the opportunity to help as I know I can.​
Additional Services
Breathwork
I am in the process of completing training for breathwork facilitation, and am looking for participants for this practice.
For those who may not know, breathwork is a meditative practice that has the participant lying on their backs and breathing in a circular and continual rhythm. Sessions typically last for 45-60 minutes, with hands-on support being provided by the facilitator at times.
Please know this approach is collaborative and trauma informed, so comfort with touch and approach will be discussed prior to the practice. Please click to see more if curious.
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Sound Healing
In addition to clinical counselling and individual breathwork sessions, I like to practice and offer sound baths (maximum 15 people).
I prefer smaller groups as I feel it creates a more intimate experience, with participants able to settle and set and intention, as well as leaving more time for processing and discussion after the sound bath has concluded.
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Instruments I may use include: sound bowls, handpans, rain stick, thunder drum, chimes, flutes, and pulse/wah wah tubes
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I also like to incorporate instruments in my counselling if possible, as a way to ground/regulate after trauma processing or perhaps as a way to build rapport
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Connect with Andie
​I am able to see clients in person in my office in Cloverdale, Coquitlam, or via phone or Zoom.
I am available most Thursday evenings or Sunday mornings, though can potentially accommodate other times/dates as well.
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I offer sessions at either 50 minutes ($150) or 80 minutes ($210). I accept payments via Mastercard (through JaneApp), e-transfer, or via BlueCross Insurance (direct billing to them)
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Please request sliding scale and we can discuss that as an option.
