ELEMENTAL Therapists
Michele L. Gardiner, BA SocSc, MAC, CCC, CSAC, CFTP, EDIT
"A HAES-oriented, Humanistic therapist, I am person-centred, apply an Attachment and Trauma-Informed lens and bridge evidence-based treatments, CBT, DBT, EFFT, MBCT and MI with Expressive Arts, Eco and Somatic methods."
Eco-Therapy - Fall/WinterEco-Therapy - Spring/Summer
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Welcome to the Therapist's page, I am Michele Gardiner, a Registered Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and Psychotherapist in good standing with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and the founder of ELEMENTAL Psychotherapy. Helping people, families, and communities around the prevention and treatment of Eating Disorders and Mental Health issues has been a passion since 1997 - a passion born of personal and professional experience.
As a counsellor and psychotherapist, I work with individuals, couples, families and groups applying a collaborative, person-centered approach that bridges openness with respect, compassion, a touch of humour and the unwavering belief that, as people, we are masterful survivors capable of creating incredible change and growth across our lifespan. This perspective comes from 15-years' of Direct Clinical Counselling Experience within the Private, Public, and Not-for-Profit sectors of BC supporting general and complex mental health issues including Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Addictions and Eating Disorders, Domestic Violence and Abuse, Bullying, Sexual Assault, Severe Behavioural Problems, and Suicide in children, youth, adults and families age 10 and above. Experience is also informed by a Personal Recovery Experience through Anorexia and Compulsive Over-exercise, which was triggered by a collision of personal factors and traumatic events that occurred in my twenties and became an outlet for surviving the overwhelming feelings influenced by those experiences. Recovery provided essential tools for exploring, as well as expressing, processing and growing through those experiences in a space that nurtured a sense of safety, more compassionate perspectives of myself and others, and healthier ways of living, communicating, and coping. In my experience, recovery was the door to freedom and self-discovery, self-acceptance. To learn more about my recovery journey and the lifesaving applications of Expressive Art and Exposure Therapy in a temporary gallery, ELEMENTAL Expressions. Recovery also prompted my inner advocate and led me to Volunteer Experiences with organizations dedicated to promoting awareness and prevention around Eating Disorders and Mental Health and fueled a desire to give back to the community. These valued Volunteer roles include acting as a Peer Counsellor with the BCEDA, Community Prevention Educator with ANAD, as well as a Member of the Board of Directors with ANAD, later Jessie's Hope, and a Consultancy role with MCFD's Eating Disorder Team and as an External Editor with the Canadian Mental Health Association’s esteemed Mental Health Journal, Visions. I currently serve as a Member of the National Review Committee for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Since 2005 I have acted as a Public Speaker and spoken to hundreds of students in schools, colleges, and universities on the topic of Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating and Body Image. For more on speaking, projects and media engagement click here Moving from Volunteer work, my education includes a Masters Degree in Counselling, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences, in Psychology from the University of Victoria with a focus on Biopsychology and Para-Linguistics, and Post-graduate Training and Certifications directed towards my areas of professional practice (See complete training/education here). Post-graduate training between 2015 and 2018 in the Assessment and Treatment of Eating Disorders through the respected International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (ieadp™) solidified my longtime passion to support individuals around eating disorders and body image in a professional capacity. This training supports counselling children, youth, adults, and families in the treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating including:
As a Registered Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), I participate in regular Consultation and Professional Supervision and hold Professional Certifications and Memberships in good standing with: The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), the American Psychological Association (APA), the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp™), Eating Disorder Association of Canada (EDAC), and the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP). Outside of counselling, I enjoy reading, photography and being in the beautiful outdoors. Wind, rain, snow and shine, I feel my healthiest authentic Self in Nature and take it in by hiking, skiing, snow-shoeing, paddling and skygazing with my family and Canine Co-therapist in training, Ash. Whenever possible, I encourage clients to develop a relationship with Nature as a way of promoting healthy emotional regulation, esteem and a wholistic connection between mind, body and spirit. Welcome Co-therapist, Ash!In August of 2019, a cuddly new co-therapist, Ash, joined the ELEMETNAL Psychotherapy team! Ash is currently maturing and training to be a comforting presence in the therapy space. Watching Ash settle and out grow his puppy energy and behaviours, I am hoping he will join us in therapy more regularly soon!
To learn more about the link between pets and positive mental health visit the following link athttp://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/the-health-benefits-of-pets.htm. Discover more about the benefits of nature for mental health, in the 2015 article by Rob Jordan, posted in Stanford University News. Or the 2016 article "30 Days Wild" by Richardson, Cormack, McRobert, and Underhill. If you have questions, would like to book a free consultation, contact me at michele@elementalpsychotherapy.com, or call 250-859-8671. I look forward to hearing from you and learning how we can support you in creating the change you most desire. |
“Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees...
while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
John Muir
“Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees...
while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
John Muir