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About Bronwen

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with 20 years of experience supporting expectant parents, parents, adults, children, youth, and families. My background includes roles in non-profit organizations and community-based government programs, and I currently dedicate myself full-time to my private practice.

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I deeply value the innate wisdom of the human body, the power of attuned connection, the beauty of the natural world, and the healing potential of somatic, play, and expressive therapies. These principles shape both my personal and professional life, enriching the holistic, client-centered support I provide.

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I believe in the inherent strength and resilience within each individual, regardless of age, guiding them toward healing and growth. With compassion at the core of my practice, I help clients understand their challenges, unearth their strengths, identify their needs, reconnect with their authentic selves, and move forward toward their aspirations.

 

In 2010, my husband and I relocated to the Cowichan Valley to embrace the rivers, lakes, and mountains, and to raise our family. We now have two daughters and cherish our time outdoors. I am grateful to have a home office surrounded by nature, where I can offer both in-person and virtual counselling services to my clients.


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Bronwen Smith, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Postpartum, Children, Adult, Youth, Counselling
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My Approach

 Through talk, somatic, and expressive therapies I support children, youth, adults, to explore and process their thoughts, emotions, senses, and experiences while making sense of struggles, strengthening self awareness, increasing confidence and creating space for new perspectives.

I have training in a variety of approaches including: Sensorimotor psychotherapy (SP), holistic expressive play therapy, body - centered /somatic and attachment-based therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) and mindful self-compassion.

Sessions are tailored to your unique needs and concerns. Together we will determine the therapeutic approach that best suits your goals.

Education

 

2012 Master of Counselling, City University of Seattle

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2006 Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria

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​Certification

British Columbia Association for Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)

   - Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registration #11299 (RCC)

Professional Development

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  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Developmental and Relational Injury (Level 2) - 11 month online course with live modules 2024-2025 (in progress)

 

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma Themes (Level 1) - Online, 6 month course with live - online modules 2023-2024 

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  • Nurturing the Heart with the Brain in Mind with Bonnie Badenoch, Sixteen-part LIVE webinar series 2023

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  • Expressive Play Therapy for the Grieving Child, 3 day live webinar, Marie Jose Dhaese, PhD, 2022

 

  • Postpartum Support International's Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy Training, 1 day, 2022

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  • Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care, Postpartum Support International's 2 day certificate program, 2022

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  • Foundations in Infant and Early Mental Health PracticeI, Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion (IEMHP), 26 hours online, 2022

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  • Expressive Play Therapy For Healing Complex Trauma, 3 day live webinar, Marie Jose Dhaese, PhD, 2022

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  • Sand Play Therapy, A Healing Journey for All Ages , 4 day live webinar, Marie Jose Dhaese, PhD, 2022

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  • Expressive Play Therapy – A Holistic and Integrative Approach, 4 day live webinar, Marie Jose Dhaese, PhD, 2022

 

  • Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy, Online, 6 month signature course, Lisa Dion, PhD, 2021- 2022

 

  • Attachment, The Body & Relational Repair: Three Pillars of Clinical Practice, Online 5 evening workshop, Lisa Mortimore, PhD 2021

 

  • Vancouver School For Narrative Therapy, Foundations: 5 day Narrative Therapy Practice Training, Stephen Madigan, 2020

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  • National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behaviour Medicine (NICABM), Advanced Master Program on the Treatment of Trauma, Online, 2020

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  • San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety, Core Mental Health Online Training, 2020

 

  • DBT Skills, 6 week online training, Marsha Linehan, 2019

 

  • Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), 2 day core EFFT and 3 day advanced EFFT training, Dr. Adele Lafrance and Natasha Files, 2019

 

  •  Investing in Girls and Women with ASD, 1 day – online live streaming training, Dori Zener, 2018

 

  • Non – Aversive Strategies to Assist Individuals with Autism and Challenging Behaviours, 1 day training, Dr. Andrew McDonnell, 2018

 

  • Bringing the Body into Practice: Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy, Training program for healing relational and complex trauma. Clinic One (4 day training), Lisa Mortimore, PhD, 2018

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  • Trauma Focused CBT, Online course, 2018

 

  • Cross Cultural Informed Practice, 1 day workshop, 2018​

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  • Trauma Informed Practice, 1 day workshop, Kim Barthel, 2016

 

  • Cognitive Behavioural Connections (CBT), 2 day training, 2016​

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  • Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk: Essential Skills for Clinicians (RRSR), 2 day workshop, 2015

 

  • Domestic Violence Safety Planning, Online training, 2015

 

  • Maples Connect Parent Group, Group Facilitator Training, part 2. Co-facilitated 10 week supervised group, 2014

 

  • Maples Connect Parent Group, Group Facilitator Training, part 1. 3 Day Training, 2012

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  • The Inner Workings of Attachment, South Island Training Initiative (SITI), ½ day workshop, Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, Ph.D, 2012

 

  • Finding the Way Through: Putting the Science of Attachment to Work, South Island Training Initiative (SITI), ½ day workshop, 2012, Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, Ph.D

 

  • Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), 4 Day Externship, Dr. Sue Johnson, Ph.D, 2011

  

  • Triple P Parenting Program, Group Facilitation Training, level 4, 2010

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  • Emerging Trends in Addiction Treatment, Client Directed Outcome Informed Practice,1 day workshop, Scott Miller, Ph.D, 2010

 

  • Assessment and Treatment of Complex Trauma/Dissociation in Children and Adolescents, Dr. Sandra Weiland, 2009

 

  • Marte Meo and Dynamic Play Therapy , ½ day workshop, Martin Söderquist and Bertil Ekstedt, 2009

 

  • Trauma from the Inside Out, South Island Training Initiative (SITI) ½ day workshop, Dr. Timothy Black, Ph.D, 2008

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