Meet Dee-Anne

Having lived on Vancouver Island my entire life, I certainly consider myself a bonafide “Island Girl”.

My younger years were spent in Campbell River, and then I lived and worked in various other North Island communities until 2019. That is when my husband and I moved to Nanaimo looking for some new adventures and opportunities, which we have only begun to find.

Some of what I love about the island are the beaches, forests, mountains, and the wildlife. Over the years I’ve been excited to spot bears,, deer, rabbits, raccoons, and other wildlife… some right outside my home.

The Island is also home to many extraordinary and interesting people who I have been lucky enough to get to know. Friends, coworkers and clients continue to enrich my life.

I can’t really even imagine living anywhere but the Island!

In my free time I enjoy a mix of social and solitary activities. When I am being a homebody, I dabble at embroidery, glass mosaics, photography, and playing acoustic guitar.

I used to think that I wasn't a creative person. But I’ve since come to realize that – while I might not be a great artistic talent – I enjoy bringing my own style of creativity into both my personal and work life.

I often encourage others to pursue some form of creativity, both as an expression of themselves and to reach a state of “flow” which is beneficial for mental health. If you’re interested in more on this topic, I encourage you to read How Creativity Positively Impacts Your Health.

My passion for counselling stems from a deep curiosity about people, a respect for diversity, and a genuine interest in connecting with and supporting others. I have always been fascinated by people’s stories.

I strive to make counselling a warm and comfortable experience for my clients. Humour, exploration, and compassion could be considered cornerstones of my style of practice.

I subscribe to Carl Rogers’ core conditions of therapeutic change. These are:

• Unconditional Positive Regard (accepting without judgement);
• Congruence (being real or genuine); and
• Empathy (a deep and accurate understanding of another)
  

I believe each person has a wealth of lived experience that contributes to their resiliency. But I also believe that everyone gets stuck sometimes.

I feel honoured when my clients trust me to listen to their personal stories and I strive to meet each person where they are in the moment. For counselling to be successful, a respectful therapeutic relationship is essential.

I aim to help people gain awareness and insight into the patterns in their lives and find ways to utilize this insight to improve their sense of confidence, control, and choice.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, as well as the owner and solo practitioner at Tanglewood Counselling Services Ltd.

I hold a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) from Yorkville University, and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from the University of Victoria.

Some of the BCACC requirements that I had to meet in order to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia include:

• Holding a qualifying Master’s Degree
• Having specific education in developmental psychology, counselling theories, psychopathology, and ethics
• Completing 100 hours of clinical supervision
• Having a clear criminal record check

You can view my profile on the BCACC website – I’m #16092.

Ongoing education

Ongoing education is a cornerstone of my practice. I have completed additional training from a variety of sources, including:

• Complex Trauma Training
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) Training
• Workplace Conflict Resolution and Employment Law Training
• Developmental Model of Couples Counselling Training
• Sexuality & Intimacy Training
• Music Therapy Techniques Training

So that’s me in a nutshell. Thanks for taking the time to read!