Lee (They/ Them)
Connect with them:
I find calm and rejuvenation wherever water meets sky. That means you can often find me at the beaches, looking up at the clouds, across the waves or down at the rocks, stones and pebbles. I also need ‘green’, so I am often in the woods, exploring trees, mushrooms, ferns and so many other wonders. Another favourite place is in my kitchen, where you’ll find me cooking and /or dancing— recharge activities are important!
Tunes to connect to:
I like music. Period. But my favourites are classical and choral music. Singing brings me joy and energy. I think it’s the perfect embodiment of present moment awareness, play, emotion and meaning.
Words to connect to:
“…we tend to think of healing as a binary: either we’re broken or we’re healed from that brokenness. But that’s not how healing operates, and it’s almost never how human growth works. More often healing and growth take place on a continuum, with innumerable points between utter brokenness and total health.” (Resmaa Menakem)
“It takes two people to create a pattern, but only one to change it.” (Esther Perel)
Some of my favourite words, personal and professional are: Joy. Presence. Laughter. Heart. Congruence. Gratitude.
I connect because:
I’ve always had a curiosity about how people learn and grow, and an enthusiasm to help them do this. There is so much space for this in counselling. In the counselling room, each person is seen and heard, while deeply connecting with themselves and/or others. The work that we do together develops new strategies, alleviates suffering, builds capacity, and generates wellness. It also creates a sense of hope.
Recently, it has also become more important for me to represent, and provide care for, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This includes working with individuals, families and couples of all genders, sexualities and relationship types.
Qualifications:
I started my career doing environmental work (B. ES), which grounded me in a holistic approach and systems thinking. It also cultivated a deep appreciation for the power of nature. I transitioned to teaching (B. Ed) because I had an excitement about education, as well as brain-based and body-based learning. I became a therapist in 2015, because I could no longer ignore how deeply our sense of self, our experiences, and our connections with each other, shape our thinking, feeling, wellness and ability to ‘show up’ in the world.
I integrate all of these experiences and knowledge into my work as a therapist and human. My other qualifications include:
Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCPA) since 2017
Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO) since 2016
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (2015)
Mindfulness Based Art Therapy certificate (2012)