About Soulbrush Practice
In private practice since 2007, I have been a dynamic Clinical Therapist across diverse health settings since 1989.
Currently I practice with an office on Saltspring Island, in Vancouver and Vancouver Island as well as providing international consultation and sessions through Skype or zoom access. Raised and educated in Manitoba, I am now a resident of B.C. since 1998. Professional and Personal Development is a high priority for me as I continue to develop, hone and research my skills, knowledge and recent gains in the field. When you choose to work with me, I am as invested in your growth and wellness as my own! I am well versed in extensive trauma training and education and have a wealth of experience in healing complicated grief and loss, trauma, health crisis and chronic pain, cancer and other life threatening conditions, palliative care, caregiver burnout, and mid life issues. I am also deeply passionate about exploring creative re-invention, growth and vitality for both professional and amateur artists/creatives and those that tend to believe they aren't creative! Currently, an area of special interest is my work with Couples and Relationships. Whether you are in crisis or working on an area of growth; deepening connection, communication, playfulness and intimacy, navigating changing stages in long term partnerships or prepping new relationships for greater fulfillment and success, I am here to coach you through to more aliveness, vitality, connection, ease and creativity! |
What to expect: |
Personalized and creative care is what you can expect within a confidential, compassionate and respectful practice. Norma also leads with a highly intuitive and insightful approach.
A holistic health perspective informs and guides the therapy while holding your greatest good in mind. As an artist and writer herself, Norma bridges blocks and blindspots and is exceptional at weaving pieces together that we sometimes have trouble connecting ourselves. She believes healing and growth are a multilayered and expansive process to be embraced for optimal thriving. Living optimally and fully to our own capacity is the highest guiding principle. Therapy is available for Individuals, Couples and Family therapy at hourly, 90 mins or half day intensives. In addition, Clinical supervision and consultation are provided through this office. Groups and Workshop Options are also available through this practice. * Couples packages are under programs. |
Background: |
Norma has worked extensively with adults, children and youth, families at every stage of development, couples and the elderly. As a full time therapist for over 25 years with non-profit agencies , hospitals and mental health settings, she brings a vast set of skills, knowledge and experience. Early childhood trauma, the impact of sexual abuse on children and adults, PTSD, depression and anxiety, grief and transformation have all been at the core of her work. At the Cancer Agency as a therapist she worked with multiple issues from survivorship to palliative care, the impacts of treatment on patients and family systems and the stress of a critical diagnosis. There she further developed her life long interest in holistic health, stress reduction, mindfulness meditation, therapeutic touch, reiki, and the utility of creative expression in healing and finding one's true voice in the maelstrom.
She has also completed her white belt Nia dance teacher training which further integrates body somatic awareness and feeds her own health and creative growth. |
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Client Love: |
"Norma is exceptional! After my dear brother passed away, and a series of several unplanned transitions, I found myself at the depths of despair. Norma was like a gift in my life. Her patience, compassion and ability to cut through the veil of denial and shame, allowed me to open my heart and live fully again. Norma has a knowing that comes with a depth of experience balanced with creative energy that helped me feel fully with dignity. I highly recommend Norma as a therapist to reveal your truest , most alive self."
- Dori Howard "Working with Norma is powerful! She is so comfortable in herself and expressive that she helps you feel at ease and shows you how to be more assertive, confident and adventurous! I can't believe the change in both my partner and I. From anger all the time to spontaneous apologies and the ability to talk things through! She's helped us learn more in 3 sessions than our last therapist did in 9 months. I have been amazed at her ability."
- D.S./ Vancouver, bc "Norma is a very compassionate and articulate guide. She helped me open doors that had stayed firmly closed for my previous adult life. Her skill in encouraging me to develop an inner calmness that has given life a whole new beauty. I would recommend her counselling services to anyone who seeks to find new ways to cope with their closed doors and open up their lives. She is truly a gem."
- J. Brost / ssi, bc ""In the last few years, I have experienced unexpected family medical issues that dramatically changed my and our life plan. it almost overwhelmed me. With Norma's support & guidance, I was able to gradually modify my expectations, improve my self-care while grieving the losses. I now feel much more confident that I will still have a good life with the support of friends and, when needed, Norma's help. My confidence would not have returned without Norma's wisdom and help."
- Barbvb / ssi, bc "I don't know how to begin to thank you for all our work together and your support to get me to this stage. I am so grateful that through everything, you showed me what it is like to for someone to just be invested in me and my wellbeing. This became such a important anchor for me to better advocate for myself especially in relationships based on my productivity. I now feel like I have some solid tools to take with me so that I can keep doing important work, but in a more sustainable way. I would love to keep working together to sustain some of this progress..."
- M.J. Vancouver "Norma helped me more than any other mentor, guide or counsellor I have seen. She helped me put down the weight of the world I was carrying. I was in such a dark place when I met her and I never thought I could be so light and happy. I am so grateful for the changes in my relationship and my health as a result of our work together. She made my recovery possible, I had all but given up hope. She helped me find myself."
- M.L. / surrey, bc "Norma has helped our entire family tremendously. Even the kids don’t interrupt when they know we are having a session. We all challenge each other by saying, ‘what would Norma say?’ as a reminder of all we are learning. We can’t recommend her enough. Her heart is definitely in her work and you can feel that she cares."
- l.p. ssi, bc "We were so nervous and uncomfortable about the idea of couples counselling but we were in crisis. Norma helped us both feel at ease right away and even made the session enjoyable. We can’t believe how far we’ve come and couldn’t have dreamed 3 months ago, that we would be in such great shape! We are deeply grateful to have found her."
- D and A /Vancouver "Norma is an exceptional psychotherapist."
- S.M./Vancouver "Norma gifted me with just the right balance of comfort and challenge. I began therapy in crisis mode hoping for a short fix. I was immediately given hope and tools to deal with the situations at hand. More importantly, however, through her incisive and gentle questions, I am now able to live my life at a greater level of both enjoyment and effectiveness. I have complete confidence that Norma has the knowledge, experience and dedication to be the ideal partner in growth anyone could wish for.“
- Letizia Waddington, Vancouver, BC |