Michele L. Gardiner, MC, 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, Misha, a Registered Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)/Psychotherapist in "good standing" and the founder of ELEMENTAL Psychotherapy. Helping individuals, families and communities around the awareness, prevention and recovery of Eating Disorders, Addictions, and co-occurring Mental Health issues have been a key passion and dedication.
As an Eating Disorder, Addictions and Concurrent Mental Health Therapist, I work with individuals age-11 and up applying a Humanistic Theoretical approach through an Attachment-based and Trauma-Informed lens, while applying a collaborative, client-centered approach that balances openness, respect and compassion with humanity and a touch of humour and the belief that every person can create positive and meaningful change in life. My therapeutic perspective is nurtured by 15-years' of Direct Counselling Experience with individuals, families and groups, age-11 and up, in the Public, Private and Not-for-Profit sectors around Youth, Adult and Family counselling in the areas of Complex and General Mental Health, Eating Disorders, Sexual and Substance Addictions, Domestic, Workplace, and School-based Violence, Sexual Assault, Complex and Disaster Trauma, Crisis Response, and Intensive Behaviour. My experience is further informed by a personal recovery from an eating disorder with 20-years of sustained recovery and 18-years' experience in Volunteer Roles with organizations dedicated to promoting awareness and prevention around Eating Disorders, Addictions and Mental Health. These roles have included: Peer Counsellor, BC Eating Disorders Association (BCEDA); Community Prevention Educator, ANAD; Member of the Board of Directors, ANAD/Jessie's Hope Society; a brief consultancy role with MCFD's Abbotsford Eating Disorder Team. Recent volunteer roles have included working as an External Editor with the Canadian Mental Health Association’s esteemed BC Mental Health Journal, Visions, as a Psychological Disaster Responder with BC's Disaster Psycho-social team and as a Member of the National Review Committee for the CCPA Conference Proposals. Education that supports and informs my role as a therapist includes an MA in Counselling, a BA in (SS) Psychology from the University of Victoria with a focus on Behavioural Neuroscience and Para-Linguistics, and Post-Graduate Training in my areas of competency: Behavioural and Substance Addictions, Anxiety and Compulsive Disorders, Adult Attachment, Respectful Relationships, Suicide and Self-Harm, Trauma (C-PTDS, PTSD, Critical Incident, Disaster), and Eating Disorders in children, youth, adults. Training in Eating Disorders includes the successful completion of the CEDS curriculum and final examination with the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp) and 700-Direct Supervised Counselling hours in the treatment of Eating Disorders. In additional to my Professional Certification (C.C.C.), I hold Certificates in: The Assessment and Treatment of Trauma (in children, youth, adults, couples, and families), Critical Incident Stress Management, Substance Misuse Counselling and Case Management, Assessment and Treatment of Sexual and Pornography Addiction, SASSI Certification in Assessment and Interpretation of Substance Use, and the Certified Integrated Mental Health Provider designation, and Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and Families. Professional Memberships in "good standing" include 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), 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 learning is enhanced by my belief that a solid foundation of education, training and on-going professional development and supervision provides the knowledge and skill set that guides safe, informed practices and promotes healthy, sustainable recovery for each individual, family, and group. Outside of practice, I enjoy reading, photography and being in the outdoors. Wind, rain, snow or shine, I feel my most inspired and balanced self in Nature and take it in by hiking, skiing, snow-shoeing and paddling with my family and Canine Co-therapist, Ash. Whenever appropriate, I encourage clients to develop a connection to Nature as a means for improving coping, confidence, emotional-regulation and a healthier, wholistic connection with one's body. 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 30-minute consultation, feel free to contact me at michele@elementalpsychotherapy.com, or call 250-859-8671. Ash and 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