About Me

Hi there! My name is Sofia, I am a registered clinical counsellor and founder of Palm Counselling, located in Maple Ridge BC. For as long as I can remember, I have been humbled and fascinated by the life experiences of those around me. My deepest passion comes from walking with others through life’s inevitable valleys and I am moved by opportunities and spaces where we can feel seen. Whether that means making space for silence and stillness or journeying together to find purpose, healing and belonging. My community of support has played a crucial role in navigating my diverse life experiences and is at the heart of why I do what I do.

My Personal Journey

My interest in becoming a counsellor came from my journey with grief, after the traumatic loss of a sibling, along with battling an eating disorder. I come to the counselling practice with full humanity and awareness that experiences can leave us feeling defeated and even hopeless at times. My heart is to cultivate a safe enough space and therapeutic relationship, where clients feel heard, valued, seen and supported through their unique needs. I am fascinated by human resiliency and hope to empower clients to find that within themselves.

Clinical Approach

I use a variety of personalized therapeutic approaches based on individual needs, to empower clients to lead meaningful and self-aware lives. The primary theoretical foundations of my work include being person-centred, anti-oppressive and collaborative, while placing an emphasis on emotion processing and somatic practices. My approach invites curiosity and evidence based findings, into the mind and body connection and the important role they play in our overall mental health.

Education

Registered Clinical Counselling (RCC)
Master of Counselling
Bachelor of Arts (Applied Criminology)

Completed Trainings

Trauma-Informed Practice Institute Trainings : Level 1 & 2
San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training 
Eating Disorders Treatment and Recovery
Gottman Method Couples’ Training: Level 1 and 2
Gottman Institute Training:
- Treating Affairs and Trauma
- Understanding Sex and Love Addictions