Bek (She/They)
Hello/Kamusta!
I am a queer, mixed, person of colour of Filipinx and Mennonite ancestry. My work centres on anti-oppressive practices within the mental health field. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with over a decade of experience spanning a variety of sectors.
I use an intersectional approach to care with clients. I strive to champion the incredible strengths and skills each client already possesses and work to utilize these in a collaborative and supportive way. I believe each person I work with has immense strength, capacity, and wisdom to heal and grow and with the right support anyone can and has the right to thrive and be well.
In my spare time I really enjoy travelling, hiking, laughing, music, art, and dancing. You’ll regularly find me hanging out at local queer events or supporting local BIPOC artists. I am also a parent and can often be seen biking around town with my incredible little human. Fully embodying silly expressions of play with my kid is one of my favourite things in the whole world.
Accepting New Clients
In-Person & Virtual
Availability:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday Morning - Afternoon
Certifications
• Advanced Racial Trauma Treatment: Go Beyond Cultural Competency with ACT, CBT & Polyvagal-Based Strategies: Go Beyond Cultural Competency with ACT (in progress) • Trauma-Informed Clinical Strategies for Equity, Inclusivity and Client Empowerment: Social Justice, Ethics, & Diversity in Therapy (In Progress) • 3 Day Core Emotion Focused Family Therapy - Provincial Health Services Authority (2025) • Implicit Bias: Building a Common Understanding - Fraser Health Authority (2025) • Fraser Health Experiential Learning Miyomahcihô: The Person is in Good Health (2024) • San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training (2024) • Trans Rights Toolkit - Provincial Health Services Authority (2024) • Harm Reduction 101A: Foundations of Harm Reduction - Fraser Health Authority (2024) • Ta Saantii Mamawapowuk - Metis Health Gathering - Fraser Health Authority (2023) • Introduction to Indigenous Health - Provincial Health Services Authority (2023) • Introduction to Eating Disorders for Service Providers - Provincial Health Services Authority (2023) • Eating Disorders and Substance Use - Fraser Health Authority (2023) • Introduction to Gender Diversity: Expanded - Fraser Health Authority (2023) • Psychological Safety and Resilience - Fraser Health Authority (2023) • Foundations in Diversity and Inclusion - Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (2021) • D&I Influencer - Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (2021) • Anti-Racist Supervision Practices: Upending The Way Things Used To Be (2021) • Healing Invisible Wounds: Working Through Past Sexual Trauma in Relationships. Presented by Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman - Clearly Clinical (2020) • Hey, White Therapist, Here’s Where We Start - Presented by Elizabeth Irias - Clearly Clinical (2020) • Externship in Emotion Focused Therapy - International Centre for Excellence in Emotion Focused Therapy (2020) • Increasing Supportive Caregiver Involvement in the Treatment of Mental Health Issues Across the Lifespan: Emotion-Focused Family Therapy. Presented by Dr. Adele Lafrance - The Children’s Foundation (2017) • Developmental Trauma and Trauma-Informed Systems: Transforming Knowledge into Action. Presented by Dave Melnik - The Children’s Foundation (2017) • Brain-based Symptoms and Solutions: Fetal Alcohol and Other Brain-based Conditions. Presented by Diane Malbin - The Children’s Foundation (2016) • Master of Arts Counselling Psychology - Trinity Western University (2015) • Introduction to Existential Analysis - Trinity Western University (2015) • Assessment/Treatment of Chronic Pain - Trinity Western University (2015) • Human Services Certificate - Trinity Western University (2013) • Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Psychology - Trinity Western University (2013)
Areas of Focus
• Complex trauma and post-traumatic stress • Anxiety, panic, and nervous system dysregulation • Depression and emotional overwhelm • Life transitions and periods of uncertainty • Identity exploration, formation, and life questioning • 2SLGBTQIA+ identity, coming out, relationships, and chosen family • Perfectionism, burnout, and people-pleasing • Chronic pain, chronic illness, and invisible disability • Building a life that feels more aligned with your values than external expectations • Relationship and interpersonal difficulties • Self-worth, boundaries, and self-abandonment • People of colour specific needs; culturally responsive, identity exploration, impacts of racism • Body Image and disordered eating • Somatic symptoms and reclaiming body trust • Religious trauma • Acute and chronic shame • Grief and Loss
Modality Tree
• Trauma-Informed • Strengths Based • Anti-Oppressive • Intersectional Feminism • Client-Centered • Community-Oriented • Harm Reduction • Somatic Awareness and Self Compassion • Experiential • Attachment Therapy • Emotion Focused Therapy • Emotion Focused Family Therapy • Psychoeducation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy •Integrative Approaches
I have extensive experience working with clients from the Global Majority. I intentionally adjust my approach to better serve folks from cultural backgrounds where current dominant culture counselling modalities may not adequately meet the needs presented. I draw from several counselling modalities with an overarching anti-oppressive lens; integrating anti-racism, intersectional feminism, disability, and neurodiversity inclusive concepts into how I practice. I am forever learning and unlearning to decolonize the way I practice.
I strive to be both a collaborator and coconspirator in your wellbeing. Especially in places and spaces where you have deserved to be seen, cared for, and supported, and where systems have continuously failed to hold you, your humanity, your dignity, and your worth. My hope is that I can foster an environment where you can show up and rest into what it means to be deeply and authentically you. Both in yourself and in community.
I regularly engage in continuing professional development trainings, some examples include: Emotion Focused Therapy, Emotion Focused Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Attachment Therapy, several Trauma-Informed practices, Eating Disorders, Cultural Safety and Competency, and Trans Rights, to name a few.
In my ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion I have also taken the initiative to obtain two additional certifications through the Canadian Centre of Diversity and Inclusion as well as Anti-Racist Supervision training. I am currently in the process of completing two additional trainings in Advanced Racial Trauma Treatment and Trauma-Informed Clinical Strategies for Equity, Inclusivity and Client Empowerment: Social Justice, Ethics, & Diversity in Therapy.