A bit more about me...

CREDENTIALS

​Masters Degree in Counselling (MC)
​from City University, Seattle.

Diploma in Advanced Art Therapy (DVATI) from Vancouver Art Therapy Institute.

Bachelor Degree in Fine Art (BFA)
from the Alberta University of the Arts

Diploma with Distinction in Visual Art from the Alberta College of Art & Design
MEMBERSHIPS & CERTIFICATIONS


RCC #17984
Professional Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)

CCC #10005286
Professional Registered Member with the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

RCAT # 330-R-22
Professional Registered Member with the Canadian Art Therapist Association (CATA).

Professional Member
British Columbia Art Therapist Association (BCATA).

Professional Member
EMDR Canada

Professional Member
EMDR International

Professional Member
Canadian Menopause Society (CMS)

TQS certification
Ministry of Education
Province of British Columbia.
Additional Training
BRIA
Menopause Mental Health Provider Certification Training
Spring 2026

Dr. Jen Gunter, BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre
Menopause Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Basics
March 2026

Colleen E Carney, Meg Danforth
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
September 2025

Dr. John Gottman, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman
Gottman Method Couples Therapy - Level 2
Summer 2025

​Sheila Rubin & Bret Lyon, Centre for Healing Shame
Healing Shame Core
February 2024

Dr. Abi Blakeslee, Dr. Arielle Schwartz, Dr. Janina Fisher
Somatic Therapy for Complex Trauma Certification Training
Winter 2024

Dr. Janina Fisher
Complex Trauma Certification Training Level 1 & 2 (CCTP/CCTP-11)
Winter 2024

Linda Curran, Robin Shapiro 
EMDR Step by Step Plus
November 2024

Dr. John Gottman, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman
Gottman Method Couples Therapy - Level 1
Summer 2024

Julie Miller: EMDR Therapy for First Responders
Fall 2023

First Responder Health
Occupational Awareness Training
Understanding Firefighter Culture and Trauma
Summer 2023

First Responder Health
Occupational Awareness Training
Understanding Emergency Worker Trauma
Summer 2023

Lisa Mortimore, Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy Training; 
Bringing the Body into Practice
Completion: Spring 2023

Carol Miles, EMDR Basic Training
Completion: Winter 2022

Gathering of the Creatives
September 2022

Suicide Prevention Summit
August 2022 

Skills for Facilitating Emotional Mastery
April 2021 

CATA-ACAT 2020 Virtual Conference
November 2020 

SAN'YAS, Cultural Safety & Awareness Training: 
Core ICS Mental Health
September 2020

Peter Levine, Trauma First Aid: 
Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing 
July 2020

Gabor Mate, Master Class for Healers
August 2020

Chris Walling, Contemporary Somatic Psychology:
Research & Applications
July 2020

And here are some short and sweet facts about me:

Masters in Counselling Degree (MC)
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)
Relational Talk Therapist
Registered Canadian Art Therapist (RCAT)
I Also Offer: EMDR, Somatic, CBT-I, Women's Health Therapist

I am a retired, Certified BC Educator (20 years teaching secondary school).

A Mother to 3 adults, and I am a grandmother to 2.

A Practicing Artist, who loves many different art processes (the list is HUGE)!

Celebrating being a lifelong learner! (Never to old to learn!)

Every moment outside is a GOOD MOMENT (regardless of the weather).

I always say yes to searching for fossils and mushrooms.

Spontaneity, whimsy and laughter in my life is an important measure of balance.

Being authentic and genuine are 2 traits that I strive to actively "be"

I am very passionate about reading books (both fiction and non-fiction).
​
Believe it or not, I learned how to be a tattoo artist at the age of 49 and had a part-time tattoo practice for 5 years! Learning to tattoo at 49 was an "if not now, then when" approach to fulfilling an earlier goal in life.

I LOVE to plant gardens (filled with hope) and I REALLY STRUGGLE to weed the same gardens!

Yes, I willingly share life hacks such as: using "strategic lighting" as a remedy to mute the presence of dust bunnies.

Camping whenever we can gives peace filled moments away from technology.

The Aurora Borealis, any Meteor Shower, Full Moons, Sunrises and Sunsets will draw me outside to sit, watch and wonder.

My favourite sign of spring is when the frogs begin to sing at night!

And there is more.....
​                          ~ Leanne