- Registered Clinical Counsellor (Reg# 18424)
- MA in Counselling Psychology, Trinity Western University
- BA in Child and Youth Care, University of the Fraser Valley
- BA in Fine Arts, Trinity Western University
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy- Basic Training
- The Complexities of Complex Trauma, Dissociation, and EMDR
- Fairytale Method for EMDR Therapy
- Somatic Integration Processing Level 1 + 2
- EMDR with Dissociative Clients
- Family Breakdown and the Law
- Domestic Violence Safety Planning
- Skillfully Responding to Distress
- Understanding Abuse in Relationships
- Trauma Informed Practice Training
- Observed and Experiential Integration (OEI: Level 1)
- Addictions + Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
- Mild to Moderate Brain Injuries
- Trained in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Burnout
- Stress Managment
- Trauma (from childhood, current, and/or situational)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) + Complex PTSD
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Dissociation
- Addiction
- Grief/loss
- Adults with Developmental Disabilities
- Domestic Violence + Abuse
- Low Self Worth + Shame
- Suicidal Ideation
ABOUT
Shawnda Johnston
MA, RCC
EMDRIA Approved Consultant
“When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge” – Tuli Kupferberg
There are many ways to approach human hardship and suffering. My goal is to assist you in your journey by providing a safe environment in which to grow and heal. In both my personal and professional life, I continue to be amazed by how we adapt and persevere through life’s challenges and difficulties. I believe we are not meant to go through this journey alone, and in our difficult times it is important to find extra support. It is my hope, as a counsellor, to encourage you in this journey and provide you with some extra tools for the road ahead.
My history includes 20 years of working in non-profit settings with vulnerable children, youth, and adults of various backgrounds. This experience started in the downtown east side of Vancouver working with high-risk youth and has expanded throughout the lower mainland where my focus has predominantly been in individual trauma. Throughout my experiences on the front line of community service, I have worked with many individuals who have varying histories, with overarching themes of: intergenerational trauma, foster care involvement, extensive childhood abuse or neglect, concurrent and complex mental health concerns, addictions, adults with developmental disabilities, previous incarceration, and homelessness. In my work as a therapist, starting as a Stop the Violence counsellor, I worked predominantly with issues concerning domestic violence, harmful power imbalances in relationships, cycles of abuse, sexual assaults, family justice and child custody concerns, and safety planning for women fleeing violence. The culmination of my frontline community work and work as a therapist, within very difficult systemic and interpersonal concerns, has taught me a lot about human suffering and human resilience. The people I have worked alongside to support, have taught me that change, although hard, opens the door to new possibilities and growth.
As a therapist, I take a person-centred approach to therapy and customize my approach to an individual’s needs. I am committed to providing a collaborative, non-judgmental, safe environment, as a way to explore new possibilities for growth. I bring a calming presence and genuine care into sessions, and have found that this provides an openness for deeper understanding, which aids in the healing process. Finally, it is my sincere hope that therapy will empower you to build the life you want to live.