To contact Mary, email her at therapy@kelownaonecounselling.ca

Mary is a Certified Canadian Counsellor with over 32 years’ experience as a teacher and an elementary school counsellor. She previously taught elementary school grades 4-7 as well as middle school grades 7-9. Mary has eleven years’ experience working as a counsellor in a school setting. In addition, Mary also worked for a year, in private practice, as a counsellor in Kelowna. In 1991, Mary obtained a teaching degree from University of British Columbia. In addition, she graduated with her Masters of Educational Psychology and Counselling from the University of Victoria in 2006.

Mary’s hobbies and interests are gardening and hiking year-round with her dog, which is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, named Finn. She also enjoys reading, painting, yoga, and spending time with friends. Mary also likes travelling, kayaking, and visits to the ocean as often as possible. One of Mary’s hobbies is the love of interior decorating and refinishing old furniture.

Mary is passionate about the importance of attachment in healthy human development and creating healthy families. In addition, she is skilled with helping individuals navigate their anxiety and depression. While using a variety of techniques as appropriate, she has a strong background in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for addressing faulty thinking habits and addressing anxiety. Mary knows that we are social beings and do best when we can be “in healthy relationships with others”. She sees life as a journey, filled with opportunities to grow and become our best selves. She believes that all people are capable of growth and healing, and that we all have the resources we need within ourselves. For her, working with a counsellor means letting someone guide you to find your way if you are stuck.

Mary has almost completed the training required to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. The Somatic Experiencing method is a body-oriented approach to healing the trauma and other stress disorders. It is the life’s work of Dr. Peter A. Levine. The SE approach releases traumatic shock, which is key to transforming PTSD and the wounds of emotional and early developmental attachment trauma. This approach offers a framework to assess where a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight or freeze responses and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated physiological states.

Besides her extensive experience working with children, Mary has worked with many adults who are struggling with grief and loss, divorce, anxiety, depression, addiction, and self-esteem issues.

Mary’s Areas of Focus Include:

• Parenting Issues & Skill Development • Anxiety & Depression • Children & Teenagers • Life Transitions • Trauma

To contact Mary, email her at therapy@kelownaonecounselling.ca Mary is a Certified Canadian Coun... Read More

Alexandria completed her Bachelor of Social Work Degree from UBC-Okangan in 2006. She is a Registered Social Worker that has an extensive range of work experience, education, and life experiences. Alexandria believes that fostering an environment for her clients full of empathy and unconditional acceptance is essential to the therapeutic alliance between the counsellor and client.

Alexandria has lived in the Okanagan her entire life. She worked at the Kelowna Women’s Shelter for over 14 years supporting women and children involved in or leaving abusive relationships. She has extensive experience in this matter. Alexandria has always had a passion for helping others. She realized at a young age that she is naturally intuitive, and had high emotional intelligence and clear communication skills. Thus the counselling field was an excellent fit. Alexandria possesses a natural ability to draw people out of their comfort zone and assist them in acknowledging and understanding their personal information, She believes people are the experts in their own lives therefore they need to be involved in formulating their decisions. Alexandria demonstrates empathy, validation, and unconditional positive regard for her clients. She will be your guide through whatever your facing.

Alexandria’s hobbies and activities include hiking, reading, baking, fashion and riding her pink cruiser bike.

Areas of Focus: * Specializes in working with individuals with or affected by Personality Disorders such as borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder as well as sociopathic and psychopathic behaviours. * Abusive Relationships: helping individuals contemplating or wishing to leave an abusive relationship whether it be a spousal, family, roommate, or work relationship. * Supporting individuals with anxiety and/or depression. * Supporting individuals with addiction issues. * Divorce and Separation. * Self Esteem Issues. * Grief and Loss. * Couples Counselling: supporting couples to improve communication skills, set healthy boundaries, develop closer emotional intimacy, connection and support each other through life’s transitions in a caring and constructive manner.

Alexandria feels many individuals and/or counsellors do not truly understand the magnitude of the damage and the devastating effect on others that personality disorders create. Through personal experience, she has gained a greater understanding and compassion for those impacted.

Alexandria’s Specializations Include: * Narcissistic Personality Disorder * Borderline Personality Disorder * Sociopathic Disorder * Psychopathic Disorder * Supporting Individuals leaving abusive work environment and abusive relationships.

Therapeutic Frameworks Utilized with Clients:

Alexandria’s goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment to help empower and assist each client to reach their full potential. Alexandria utilizes an integrated and individualized approach for each client, drawing upon numerous theories such as strengths theory, client-centred theory, psychodynamic theory, cognitive-behavioural theory, solution-focused theory, narrative theory, as well as motivational interviewing/stages of change theory. She is happy to work with individuals and with couples.

Alexandria completed her Bachelor of Social Work Degree from UBC-Okangan in 2006. She is a Regis... Read More