Associates
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Tommy Spence
MSW, RSW Pronouns: He/him I am excited to be working with Tommy Spence as an associate in my practice. Tommy is an experienced therapist who is passionate about working with both teenagers and adults who find themselves facing challenges in their lives. He believes that meaningful change happens when problems are understood within the context that they occur and when individuals are supported to reconnect with their values and hopes. Tommy often works with individuals facing challenges such as:
Tommy has trained extensively in a therapeutic model called Narrative Therapy, a collaborative and conversational approach to therapy that helps individuals to renegotiate their relationship to unhelpful stories and patterns and to develop deep connections to their values, hopes and preferences. Tommy is a skilled meditation instructor. For those interested, mindfulness practice can be included as part of the therapeutic process to support well-being and a deeper connection with oneself. Tommy has many years of experience in the helping profession including in non-profit, healthcare and independent practice settings. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia School of Social Work and has been an invited guest lecturer at several post-secondary institutes on topics such as Narrative Therapy and collaborative therapy with youth. A Registered Social Worker (RSW) in the province of British Columbia, Tommy holds both a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) and a Bachelors Degree in Social Work (BSW) from the University of British Columbia. It is Tommy’s sincere privilege to be invited into the lives of those he works with. To book a time to meet with Tommy please contact us. |
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Alexis Baker
MSW, RSW I am also very excited to be working with my long-time colleague, Alexis Baker.
Alexis comes to counselling work after being in the field since 2012. Alexis strongly believes that people are the experts in their own lives and she has a strong passion for working collaboratively with people in renegotiating their relationships to the various struggles they face. Alexis comes to this work with the understanding that people are in relationship to problems within the larger world - “Our stories are created in relationship with the broader stories in the world we live in". She helps people to unpack the social context that has helped to create various struggles. Her therapeutic practice has been influenced by Narrative Therapy and anti-oppressive practice. Additionally, Alexis comes to this work after many years of working in the DTES, with queer and youth communities, and in treatment centres. Alexis is especially passionate about working with grief and loss, with Queer folks, burnout, people living with substance use and addiction, depression, anxiety and many other major life transitions and challenges. A Registered Social Worker (RSW) in the province of British Columbia, Alexis holds a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of British Columbia. She has completed additional training in a variety of therapeutic modalities, including the completion of an advanced certificate program through the Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy. To book a time to meet with Alexis please contact us. |
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Pau Compean
MA Pronouns: She/her Pau comes to our practice from Mexico and has worked in private practice for over 8 years. She recently decided to leave her practice in Irapuato, México to come to Vancouver to learn about different cultures, be near family and experience the West Coast of BC. As a practitioner, Pau is influenced by narrative practices which makes her hold her clients´ own experiences, background, values, and knowledges as the guide to answer any questions they might have and help navigate the concerns they are coming to counselling with. She speaks both English and Spanish and brings a special warmth and levity to the counselling sessions making her clients feel comfortable and safe. Pau always pushes herself and never assumes she is experienced enough to stop learning and consulting with other professionals and her own clients. She has a Bachelor´s Degree in Psychology, a Master´s Degree in Systemic Family Therapy (MSFT) and a Narrative Therapy Yearlong Training In Evanston Family Center in Chicago, among other courses. She is currently studying a diploma in Aboriginal Studies at Langara College. Pau es una terapeuta mexicana que ha trabajado en la practica privada desde hace 8 años. Decidió dejar su consultorio en Irapuato, México para venir a Vancouver y aprender de diferentes culturas. Como terapeuta Pau esta influida por las practicas narrativas, lo que le hace mantener las experiencias, historia, valores y conocimientos del cliente como guía a cualquier pregunta que los mismos clientes puedan tener. Habla tanto inglés como español, y una de las cualidades que trae a la consulta es calidez y ligereza haciendo que sus clientes se sientan cómodos y seguros. Siempre se reta a sí misma y nunca asume que tiene la experiencia suficiente para dejar de seguir aprendiendo y consultando con otros profesionales o con sus mismos clientes. Pau tiene una Licenciatura en Psicología, una Maestría en Psicoterapia familiar sistémica, y un diplomado de un año en prácticas narrativas en el Evanston Family Center en Chicago entre otros cursos. Actualmente se encuentra estudiando un diplomado en Estudios aborígenes en Lagara College. To book a time to meet with Pau please contact us. |
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Jess Lenihan
MSW, RSW Pronouns: She/her I am thrilled to have Jess Lenihan join as an associate in my practice. Since 2005, Jess has worked in diverse social service programs supporting both adults and youth addressing a wide array of challenges. The majority of her past work is related to resisting housing insecurity and working alongside community members to navigate systems related to food security, health care and income/employment. These experiences have gifted Jess with an understanding of the complexity of how problems present themselves and an ability to walk alongside those she works to navigate through the issues they are dealing with. Jess’s practice is informed by Narrative Therapy, feminism, post-stucturalism and anti-oppressive practice. Jess holds the understanding that people are not problems, that problems are problems. She knows that you are an expert in your own life and thus have the unique skills and knowledge that will sustain you in the collaborative act of therapy. Your own expertise will support you in finding movement towards preferred ways of being. She recognizes that people/relationships/communities are multi-storied. Not one experience or story captures the totality of who that person/relationship/community is. She is excited to explore this with you. Jess has a Bachelors (BSW) and Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Victoria and is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) in British Columbia as well as a member of the BC Association of Social Workers. She has additional counselling training through a feminist-narrative praxis immersion program with the Prochoices Narrative Therapy Community Clinic. To book a time to meet with Jess please contact us. |
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Scott Harrison
Pronouns: He/him It’s a pleasure to be working with Scott as a student this year. Scott is a student of the Master of Counselling program at Yorkville University and comes to our practice with many years of experience working in the helping fields of addiction and nursing. Scott has been a Registered Nurse for 30 years, with a focus on mental health, problematic substance use, HIV, Indigenous wellness, and people facing the challenges of social exclusion and the mental health of first responders. This experience has equipped him to contribute compassionately and positively to the well-being of others. He has worked extensively with people who have been navigating life transitions, challenges within their social and cultural contexts, substance use, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and unhealthy relationships with food. He has a passion for supporting individuals who care for people in their personal and professional lives, knowing first-hand how important it is to proactively create space for our own mental health before we can support others well. Scott’s work is influenced by Narrative therapy and anti-oppressive practices that focus on empowerment, seeking understanding of people’s experience and working from a highly compassionate perspective. There are many challenges to being human — everyone is unique and has their own important story to share. Scott believes that everyone is the expert in their own experience and story, and hopes to support people along the journey. Scott works collaboratively on the goals folks feel are important; is person-centred and strengths-based; and most importantly makes people feel safe, seen, and supported in their time together. To book a time to meet with Scott please contact us. |
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