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Meet Shivani

Clinical Director & Registered Clinical Counsellor

(Shivani's pronouns are: she/her)

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CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE

 

Shivani's practice focuses on treating stress and trauma-related symptoms in ways that go beyond traditional talk therapy to support healing in your brain, body, and nervous system. She believes that symptoms are your brain's adaptive attempt to cope and survive, and are not an indication there's something wrong with you. An important step in overcoming symptoms is understanding why they developed in the first place, which is why Shivani takes a comprehensive approach to treatment planning. 

 

Shivani's approach combines EMDR therapy, Somatic Experiencing, pain management interventions, and Inner Child Reparenting. She has advanced training in EMDR to support clients with dissociative disorders, complex trauma, depression, chronic pain, and personality disorders.

 

Inner Child Reparenting is Shivani's way of integrating Dolores Mosquera's Progressive Approach, the Theory of Structural Dissociation, Ego-State Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and EMDR to treat dissociative symptoms. This work involves identifying wounded and protective parts of the self, resourcing and strengthening the Adult Self, making sense of triggers and reactions, reducing inner conflicts and fears, repairing attachment wounds, facilitating inner harmony and collaboration, and working with parts to reprocess distressing memories.

 

Shivani is a wife, a mother, a Jewish convert, and a white, cis-gendered, heterosexual woman with chronic pain. She acknowledges that upholding a feminist, LGBTQ+ affirmative, and anti-racist lens is a lifelong pursuit and she strives to create a brave therapeutic space where all people feel welcomed and respected. She is deeply honoured to walk alongside her clients, hold their stories, and witness their growth and healing. 

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Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Shivani was in private practice as a trauma-informed, mindfulness-based yoga therapist, and yoga and meditation teacher for 11 years.

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Shivani is a registered provider with the Crime Victims Assistance Program (CVAP) and ICBC. 

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Education & Training: 

  • Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (#17248)

  • Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology - Yorkville University

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - University of British Columbia

  • Research on post-concussion syndrome with UBC Psychiatry

  • Internship at Avalon Women's Recovery Society, North Vancouver

  • Comprehensive EMDR training and consultation with Jasmine Alexander

  • EMDR Defense and Affect Restructuring with Andrew Leeds 

  • 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

  • DeprEnd: EMDR for Depression with Arne Hofmann & Maria Lehnung

  • Integrated Treatment of Chronic Pain and Chronic Health Conditions: EMDR and Nervous System-Driven Skills with Gary Brothers

  • Decolonizing 101 with Ta7taliya Michelle Nahanee & Jacqueline Jennings 

  • Integrating the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation into EMDR Clinical Practice with D. Michael Coy  

  • Advanced Equity Skills for Clinicians: Anti-Racist, Trauma-Informed Care with Rebecca Davis and Shea Lowery

  • Somatic Experiencing® (Intermediate level)

  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills, Crisis Centre Vancouver

  • Continuing education on trauma, somatics, and Polyvagal Theory through NICABM with Dr. van der Kolk, Porges, Ogden, Siegel, etc. 

  • Spiritual Activism 101 & 102 (Racial Justice) with Rachel Ricketts

  • LGBTQ+ Competency for Therapists with Rachel Harlich

  • Brainspotting, Phase 1 with David Grand

  • Movement for Trauma, Level 1 with Jane Clapp

  • Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Outreach

  • Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist & former faculty member

 

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