About Elly

Hello!

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master’s Degree in Counselling, as well as a Professional Art Therapist, and have worked in the field of mental health for over 10 years. My career in art and healing began as a Registered Massage Therapist, with a BA in Fine Art. Years of experience as a massage therapist, artist, meditator, children's textile designer and instructor for developmentally disabled adults inform my integrated therapeutic approach, and have greatly supported my work as a trauma informed therapist, helping clients with varied traumatic experiences.

As a counsellor, I have led art therapy groups for the family and friends of people in hospice, children and youth in schools, and women healing from abusive relationships and occasionally offer these for those who are interested. I have also co-facilitated suicide prevention programs for youth in high schools. 

I currently offer sessions in person, online, and by phone, as well as outdoor land art therapy for adults or children, and "walk and talk" sessions. 

Works with:  individuals, families, couples and group counselling for adults, youth and children

Areas/Issues:  anxiety, stress, depression, grief & loss, trauma, PTSD, identity, spirituality, gender & sexuality, anger, attachment issues, crime victims, separation & divorce

Therapeutic Approaches & Modalities:  art therapy, expressive art therapy, person-centred approach, compassion-focused therapy, cultural sensitivity, eco-art therapy and land art therapy, play therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, attachment, non-violent communication, polyvagal approach

Funding/EFAP Programs:  

ICBC

Blue Cross

Sunlife (not billed directly from our office)

Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)

Walmsley

Humanacare 

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) 

MCFD's Autism Funding Program 

Self Design  

*Note to please check with your benefits provider to ensure you are covered under your plan for an RCC.

Certification/Training:  

Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) 

Master's in Counselling: Art Therapy

Professional Art Therapist Diploma

Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing Certificate

Sensorisomatic Institute - Transformation Journey Certificate

The Art of Loss: Grief and Loss Through an Art Therapy Lens

Power to Parent I, II, & III 

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) 

Internal Family Systems Informed Therapy Certificate

San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training