My Background
Hi! My name is Kendra (she/her). I am a Registered Social Worker with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (Reg. #15148). I graduated from the University of British Columbia – Okanagan with a Master’s Degree in Social Work with a clinical focus. I also hold a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Psychology from the University of British Columbia – Okanagan.
My past experience working as a mental health clinician in elementary schools allowed me to expand upon my natural ability to engage and connect with children and youth. I have witnessed the impact that involving caregivers can have in supporting meaningful change in my work with children, and I strive for this collaboration whenever possible. I have also worked in community mental health, both as a youth counsellor and in adult crisis support, providing me with comfortability and tools to support clients managing self-harm and thoughts of suicide.
My practice combines years of counselling experience with skills gained through various clinical and teaching roles, which has fostered my ability to offer patient, kind, knowledgable, and non-judgemental support to children, youth, and adults. Apart from individual counselling, I currently mentor student therapists in a community mental health setting. I have experience developing and teaching mental health curriculum to groups, and I continue to have this as an offering as a way to share meaningful skills in a way that is more accessible.
My Approach & Philosophy
My goal is to support all of my clients in uncovering insights, learning skills, and living a balanced life that aligns with their values. I provide my clients with a safe and supportive space where they can explore their concerns and work toward change by drawing upon their individual strengths. I am passionate about supporting adults in their pursuit of personal, professional, and academics goals, and I aim to help these clients build healthy relationships with themselves and others. I work alongside my younger clients to teach skills to manage emotions and relationships and foster growth and resilience in their home and school environments.
My practice is informed by various therapeutic modalities. I hold certification or have completed training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Play-Based Therapy, Schema Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT).
What Sets me Apart
- I offer daytime and evening availability.
- I am located in-person in Kelowna as well as online to reach those outside of the Okanagan.
- I provide individual counselling to children, youth, and adults.
- I have worked as a Counsellor in both the primary education and post-secondary education systems. This has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the complexity of these systems.
- I have over 7 years of experience offering both individual counselling and group support to children, youth, young adults, and caregivers in other mental health settings, including the non-profit sector and in crisis management.