Michele L. Gardiner, MAC, CCC, CSAC, CFTP
"A Humanistic, HAES-oriented therapist, I am person-centred' apply an Attachment and Trauma Informed lens and bridge
Evidence-Based Treatments, CBT, DBT, EFT, & MI, with Expressive Arts, Play, Mindfulness, Somatic, & Eco-therapy."
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Welcome to the Therapists' page, I am Michele Gardiner, a Registered Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and Psychotherapist in "good standing" with the CCPA and the founder of ELEMENTAL Psychotherapy. Helping individuals, couples, families and communities around the prevention and treatment of Eating Disorders, Addictions, Trauma and Co-occurring Mental Health issues has been a personal passion and dedication for more than 20-years, a passion born of personal and professional experience.
As a Therapist, I work with individuals, couples, and families, age 10 and up, applying a Humanistic approach through an Attachment-based and Trauma-Informed lens, while applying a collaborative, client-centered approach that balances openness with respect, compassion, a touch of humour and the unwavering belief that people can create lasting and meaningful change in life. This perspective is comes from 15-years' of Direct Experience in counselling individuals, couples, families and groups within the Public, Private and Not-for-Profit sectors around General and Complex Mental Health including Behavioural and Substance Addictions, Eating Disorders, Crisis Response, and Trauma around Domestic Violence and Abuse, Bullying, Sexual Assault, as well as Anxiety, Substance and Intensive Behavioural Problems in children and youth. Expertise is further informed through a Personal Recovery Experience from Anorexia Nervosa and Compulsive Over-exercise which resulted from the collision of two traumatizing events in my 20s, and became a way of soothing and coping with intense emotions of loss, anger and fear - pains that I was unable to express at the time. Recovery gave me tools for self-expression and kindness in that loss, a voice, coping skills and awareness that has sustained for more than 20-years, and with it more empowering perspectives and freedoms in life. Recovery also led me to Volunteer Experience with organizations dedicated to promoting awareness and prevention around Eating Disorders and Mental Health. These valued Volunteer roles include, acting as a Peer Counsellor with the BCEDA, Community Prevention Educator with ANAD, as a Member of the Board of Directors with ANAD and Jessie's Hope, a consultancy role with MCFD's Eating Disorder Team, as an External Editor with the Canadian Mental Health Association’s esteemed BC Mental Health Journal, Visions, as a Member of the National Review Committee for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association's 2020 Conference, and as a Public Speaker and Community Educator on the topic of Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating and Body Image for over 15-years. In addition to these impacting volunteer roles is my Professional Education which includes an Masters Degree in Counselling, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in (SS) Psychology from the University of Victoria with a focus on Behavioural Neuroscience and Para-Linguistics, and Post-graduate Training and Certifications in my areas of practice and competency:
As a Certified Therapist (CCC), I participate in on-going 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™), the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED), the Eating Disorders Association of Canada (EDAC), the Trauma Association of Canada (TAC), the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP), and the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH). My love of counselling and helping people is enhanced by the belief that a solid foundation of education, training, and supervision provides the knowledge and skills to guide safe, informed practices and promote healthy, sustainable recovery for each individual, couple and family that I work with. Outside of counselling, I enjoy reading, photography and being outdoors. Wind, rain, snow or shine, I feel my most inspired, authentic Self when I am in Nature and take it in by hiking, skiing, snow-shoeing and paddling with my family and Canine Co-therapist, Ash. Whenever possible, I encourage clients to develop a meaningful connection to Nature as a way to improve coping, confidence and a healthy, wholistic connection to body-and-mind for an improved sense of Self. To learn more about the link between pets and positive mental health visit the following link at http://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/the-health-benefits-of-pets.htm To discover more about the benefits of nature for mental health, you can read the article by Rob Jordan, in Stanford University News. Or, the "30 Days Wild" article by Richardson, Cormack, McRobert, and Underhill.
If you have questions, would like to book a free consultation, feel free to 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