Meet Shivani
Registered Clinical Counsellor & Trauma Therapist
(Shivani's pronouns are: she/her)
Shivani believes that her clients are already resilient and that their symptoms are adaptive responses to trauma rather than indications of brokenness or deficiency. She has a passion for helping her clients feel connected and present in their bodies, for exploring the underlying causes of their symptoms and current issues, and for helping clients reclaim their sense of wholeness and aliveness after trauma.
Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Shivani was in private practice as a trauma-informed yoga therapist for 11 years. She also served on faculty for a number of training programs and taught public yoga and meditation classes. Currently, her main approach integrates EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and Inner Child Reparenting.
As a white, cis-gendered, heterosexual, able-bodied woman, Shivani acknowledges her many privileges and engages in on-going personal and professional learning/unlearning in order to work from a trauma-informed, feminist, LGBTQ+ affirmative, and anti-racist approach. She strives to create a brave therapeutic space where all people feel welcome, respected, and seen.
Meditation, breathwork, and walks in the woods are important aspects of Shivani's self-care practice, and therapy has played an essential role in her own trauma healing journey. She is honoured to support her clients in discovering their own unique paths to healing and in reconnecting with their sense of embodied aliveness.
Shivani is a registered provider with the Crime Victims Assistance Program (CVAP). Once your claim is approved, CVAP covers $80 per session and clients pay the balance of the session fee.
Shivani is also a registered provider with ICBC. If you need mental health support after a car accident, you are automatically pre-approved for 12 counselling sessions within the first 12 weeks from the date of the accident, regardless of fault. Additional sessions can be requested. ICBC covers $124 per session, and clients pay the balance of the session fee.
Education & Training:
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Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (#17248)
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MA in Counselling Psychology - Yorkville University
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BA in Psychology - University of British Columbia
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Research on post-concussion syndrome with UBC Psychiatry
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Internship at Avalon Women's Recovery Society, North Vancouver
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Comprehensive EMDR training and consultation with Jasmine Alexander
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EMDR Defense and Affect Restructuring with Andrew Leeds
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Treating Dissociative Disorders with EMDR: The Progressive Approach; EMDR Therapy for Suicidal Clients and Self-harming Behaviors; Hostile Parts of the Personality in Complex Trauma with Dolores Mosquera
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Decolonizing 101 with Ta7taliya Michelle Nahanee & Jacqueline Jennings
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Integrating the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation into EMDR Clinical Practice with D. Michael Coy
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Advanced Equity Skills for Clinicians: Anti-Racist, Trauma-Informed Care with Rebecca Davis and Shea Lowery
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DeprEnd: EMDR for Depression with Arne Hofmann & Maria Lehnung
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Somatic Experiencing® (Intermediate level)
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Applied Suicide Intervention Skills, Crisis Centre Vancouver
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Continuing education on trauma, somatics, and Polyvagal Theory through NICABM with Dr. van der Kolk, Porges, Ogden, Siegel, etc.
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Spiritual Activism 101 & 102 (Racial Justice) with Rachel Ricketts
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LGBTQ+ Competency for Therapists with Rachel Harlich
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Power Dynamics Between White Women and Women of Colour with Layla F. Saad, Ebony Janice, and Sinikiwe Dhliwayo
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Brainspotting, Phase 1 with David Grand
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Movement for Trauma, Level 1 with Jane Clapp
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E-RYT 500 Experienced Yoga Teacher
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Trauma-Informed Yoga Training with Yoga Outreach
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Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist & former faculty member
*Shivani offers in-person and virtual therapy and is currently offering online therapy during the Covid-19 pandemic*