ABOUT
ME
Passionate About Helping Others
Hilary provides a respectful, non-judgmental and encouraging environment to support people in accessing their ability to work through challenges. Having an empathic, safe and neutral person to share one’s struggles with provides the opportunity for healing and a positive inquiry into the individual’s capacity for strength and resiliency.
As we live in a culture where we are often encouraged to view ourselves as ‘not good enough’, many of us develop a rather negative self-view. The result can be a self-defeating monologue playing on in our heads. This critical narrative can make it challenging for us to let go of unhelpful patterns and problematic ways of coping and take steps towards a preferred way of living. Hilary supports people in recognizing any internalized criticism that may be preventing them from moving forward. Her straightforward and sincere approach aims to develop a greater sense of happiness, confidence and well-being.
Hilary encourages people to develop new and more positive stories of themselves, their relationships and the struggles they face. By creating a therapeutic relationship built on trust and collaboration, Hilary supports people working to reach goals and overcome challenges related to:
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Life Transitions
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Addictions & Recovery
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Shame & Guilt
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Grief and Loss
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Self-Esteem, Persistent Negativity & Criticism
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Sadness / Hopelessness / Depression
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Worry / Anxiety & Stress Management
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Self Harm and Suicidal Thinking
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Trauma & Abuse
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Body Image / Anorexia / Bulimia
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Goal Setting
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Fertility
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Separation & Divorce
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Parenting
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LGBTQ Identity & Relationships
Over the past eleven years, Hilary has worked with people of all ages, providing individual counselling, couple / relationship counselling, family counselling, group counselling, clinical supervision and workplace support. She has the desire, skills and experience to work with people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities.
Hilary has worked as an Individual and Family Counsellor with Family Services of Greater Vancouver, South Vancouver Youth Centre, The Peak House Program and BC Children’s Hospital, as a Clinical Supervisor at WAVAW, Women Against Violence Against Woman and as a Prevention Specialist with the Vancouver Coastal Health / Vancouver School Board, SACY Program.
Hilary is committed to professional development. She is a certified Narrative Therapist with additional training in Family Systems Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Feminist and Anti-Oppressive based frameworks, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Addictions, Group Facilitation and Mediation.
Hilary has been certified by Collaborative Divorce Vancouver to work as both a Child Specialist and Divorce Coach. The Collaborative Divorce Team provides support to families utilizing a court free approach to working through separation and divorce.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Hilary has recently moved with her family to Bowen Island. An avid lover of the outdoors and a total foodie Hilary’s grateful to be getting the best of both worlds. Immersed in the West Coast Wilderness with her dog, while still having time in the city where she can find diverse culinary delights that continue to inspire her love of cooking. Hilary is very fond of time spent with her wonderfully wacky large and extended family and especially of the time spent with her young child.
Certifications
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Child Specialist / Divorce Coach, Collaborative Divorce, BC, 2012
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Certified Narrative Therapist, Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy, 2011
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Registered Clinical Counsellor, BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, 2011
Qualifications
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City University - Masters of Counselling Psychology, 2007
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University of British Columbia - BA, Social Studies, Humanities, 2003