Meet Amy
I’m Amy, and I’m a pre-licensed counsellor with a diverse background.
Hello!
Outside of the therapy room, I like to:
Hunt for cool rocks and sticks
Get neck cramps from jigsaws
Connect the dots on a piece of media
Photograph micro-landscapes of moss, lichens, and fungi
I live in the rainforest of Vancouver Island with my partner and our cat.
Mosses were among the first land plants to evolve. Sometimes, I feel like I’m that old, too.
If you’re looking for a counsellor with shared life experience, here’s some things we might have common ground on:
I’m a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman. I used to prioritize being high achieving, and after many years, I burned myself down into a pile of ash. I know the experience of being dismissed and misdiagnosed all too well.
I also know that experience from a physical perspective. In my mid-twenties, I was diagnosed with a lifelong complex chronic illness. My diagnosis wasn’t uncommon, but it still took years of new doctors, self-advocacy, and my suffering to get a diagnosis.
I lost a partner to a neurodegenerative disease, which led me to volunteer in hospice. Now I’m at ease with topics that others may shy from, like the nitty-gritty details at the end of life.
My first professional passion was biology, and I spent ten years working in a post-secondary biology lab. I also worked in accessibility and my union, so I’m familiar with navigating bureaucracy.
I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community and have lived many non-traditional lifestyles. If you’re looking for a specific lived experience, feel free to ask! If I don’t have the experience you’re looking for, I can help you find someone who does.
Designations, Education, and Professional Development
My Designations
Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
Presently a Student Member, though I’ve submitted my application to become a Canadian Certified Counsellor - Qualifying (CCC-Q).
Qualifying status means I am awaiting degree conferral.
British Columbia Association of Registered Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)
Student Member #S02388
The BCACC does not allow full registration as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) until my degree is conferred.
My Education
I’ve almost completed my Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle. The remaining piece is my capstone, which is about the misdiagnosis of BPD in autistic women.
My undergrad degree is from Thompson River University, and in my last year, I switched majors from biology to general studies.
Professional Development
EMDR Part I & II - My consulting hours must be completed before I am considered an EMDR Trained Therapist, but I can practice EMDR.
Foundations of Neuro-Affirming Practice with Kory Andreas, LCSW-C
Psychological Flexibility (acceptance and commitment therapy) with Steven Hayes, PhD
Dialectical Behaviour Training with Katelyn Baxter-Musser, LCSW
Solution Focused Brief Therapy with Elliot Connie, MA & LPC
Narcissism and Gaslighting Summit (2025):
The Fawn Response and Narcissistic Abuse with Ingrid Clayton, PhD
Navigating Intimacy in Relationships with Narcissistic or Antagonistic Personalities in Therapy and Relational Trauma and Grief Treatment for Survivors of Narcissistic Relationships with Ramani Durvasula, PhD & LCP
The Legal & Ethical Minefield of Trauma-Informed Care with Catherine Barrett, PsyD & MFT