Registered Clinical Counsellor + Neurofeedback Practitioner

Special Interests

Depression, Anxiety, Addictions, Grief/loss, Immigration, Relational conflicts, Self-harm, Suicidality

Education

• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Religious Studies, Columbia Bible College
• Master of Counselling Psychology (MCP), Yorkville University

Professional Registrations & Certifications

• Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). RCC #22056. 

Advanced Training

• Certificate from LIFETEAMS (School of Youth Work)
• DBT Skills with Marsha Linehan (Behavioural Tech)
• The Healing Power of AEDP Viewed Through the Lens of EFT – Dr. Richard Harrison

About Jonathan

In life there are many different voices telling us who we are, what to do, what our lives should look like. Counselling is a protected and sacred space where we take a courageous and honest look at our lives, what we’ve been through, and who we want to become. Therapy is a refuge and a safe context to let down our guard and know that what is revealed will be held with tenderness and reverence.

Throughout my life I have received this sort of attention and non-judgmental concern and it has been instrumental in helping me mature as an individual, manage life’s disappointments, and navigate the intricacies of giving and receiving love.

I credit much of my growth in these areas of my life (the best parts) to wise mentors and counsellors who gave me the time I needed to think critically, asked the hard questions that other people weren’t asking, were safe enough for me to be honest about my life, and encouraged me when I really needed it.

This is why I am a therapist: to be with people and offer the attention that is needed to understand ourselves, those around us, and to navigate our way forward to health and healing.

I work from a client-centred position. This means trusting that you already have all the internal resources necessary for growth and healing, despite any mental health difficulties or challenging life events you’ve been through, and that we can find the way forward together.

As a therapist, I am influenced by several therapeutic modalities: Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and I look forward to working with you to find the approach that fits best for you.

When and why did Jonathan join Alongside You?

I started hearing about Alongside You from multiple sources around 3 years ago. I was blown away at the genuine compassion and concern held by the staff and the practical service that Alongside You has provided to their community. I thought, “if I ever get to work here, I will have scored big!” Now look at me, I ended up scoring big!

How does Jonathan relax when he is outside of work?

I love reading books. My ongoing goal in life is to get as many books as possible. I am often reading 4 or 5 at one time. Some areas of interest for me are: psychology, spirituality, and personal growth.

What would Jonathan be doing if he did not pursue the career path he has right now?

I would be an event planner. I got married on an island and had to coordinate many moving pieces to make that big event happen. And I loved it. I loved organizing all the little and big details and making the event a success.

What does Jonathan consider to be the most important value?

I love the legend Judith Herman, in her book Trauma and Recovery, when she writes, “the fundamental premise of the psychotherapeutic work is a belief in the restorative power of truth-telling.” The values of honesty and integrity are guiding forces for me.

Interested in hearing more from Jonathan?

You can read his blog posts here.