About

As a registered nurse and clinical counsellor, my mission is to support transformation. I enjoy working with people who are actively seeking change in their lives or who need support handling life’s challenges.

Offering support for healing has always been a passion. I became a nurse first and was later drawn to psychology, so I went back to school to become a counsellor. Both means of contributing  to healing and health still engage me and are meaningful to me for different reasons. Being engaged broadly in this way contributes to a holistic body centred counselling approach that facilitates deep understanding of issues that clients bring and effective methods of creating change.

Reaching out for counselling can take significant courage, especially with certain sensitive issues. My compassionate and non- judgemental approach facilitates a space in which we can deal with issues that are concerning and do the work to transform you and the situation.

I assist individuals in Victoria and Saanich, BC, with any of the listed concerns as well as other concerns not listed.

Anyone Seeking Support

• trauma
• anxiety
• depression
• transitions
• grief

Parents to Be

• challenges with pregnancy, child birth or postpartum
• abnormality in pregnancy
• decision making, such as unplanned pregnancy or pregnancy with abnormalities
• pregnancy preparation or trauma work

LGBTQ2

• coming out
• exploring gender and transition
• discussing any issue related to sexuality
• exploring any issue at all in an LGBTQ2-friendly space

Sexual Health

• history of sexual assault or trauma
• sexual pain, such as vaginismus or vulvodynia
• sexual function
• pleasure

My aim is to help people become healthy from a holistic perspective. As a counsellor and psychotherapist, I believe that we all have the ability to heal and grow and that this process is innate and sometimes just gets off track a little. Counselling offers support for this innate process; you can be heard without judgement, explore issues, and learn new ways of being in the world that are meaningful to you.

“Vanessa is the least judgmental person I know. She has an intuitive ability to determine people’s strengths.”

Counselling is a collaborative relationship where you, the client, are the expert on your life and experience, and you know what is best for you. Your body is your barometer; with its guidance, you direct the process of counselling.

“In my practice, I also value the interconnected nature of the mind, body, and spirit and believe that all of these domains contribute to overall health and wellness.”

Often, easy changes can make life easier, happier, and healthier. Mind-body therapies are based on the premise that the mind and the body are essentially inseparable. Mind-body healing techniques enhance the mind’s positive impact on the body.

“The brain and peripheral nervous system, the endocrine and immune systems, and indeed, all the organs of our body and all the emotional responses we have, share a common chemical language are constantly communicating with one another.”

I have a passion for making a difference in the world. I am involved in advocacy work with other professionals to help improve service provision in the transgender community and to create wider positive change.

Contact me at (250) 858-7770 0r baileyvanessaa@gmail.com to book an appointment or to schedule a 30 min free consultation

Professional Affiliations

• British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors
• Association of Registered Nurses of British Columbia — with specialization in Contraceptive Management and Sexual Transmitted Infection Management

“Vanessa is invested in her personal growth, with the understanding that we’re all works in progress.”

Education and Training

• Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
  University of Victoria 2012
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  University of Alberta 2003

• Bringing the Body to Practice: Advanced Practices in Psychotherapy. Attachment, Trauma, and the Soul. (2017). A one year training for healing complex trauma with Lisa Mortimer.
• UBC Sexual Health Conference (2017)
• Trauma Treatment  Principles Research Modalities: Bessel van der Kolk (2015)
• UBC Sexual Health Conference (2015)
• Somatic Transformation: Sharon Stanley PhD (2013–2014)
• Transgender Hormone Readiness Assessment Training: Gail Knudson, MD (2014)
• Women’s Health: Counselling Strategies in Menopause (2013)
• Gay Men’s Health Workshop (2013)
• Therapeutic Conversations X–Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy (2012)
• OPT Clinical Perspectives on Sexual Education: Regional Education Session (2012)
• Supporting a Lost Dream: Perinatal Loss Workshop (2011)
• Nurturing Mothers: A Paradigm for Depression, Trauma, and Postpartum Healing: Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD IBCLC (2010)
• Birth as a Hero’s Journey. Birthing from Within: Pam England (2007)
• Advanced Fetal Monitoring (2005)

Fees and Policies
As of September 1, 2014, my rates for counselling services are as follows:

$110 per 60 minute session

Sessions may be covered through the Crime Victim Assistance Program or extended medical benefits.

I am a counsellor for the crime victim assistance program in British Columbia. This program pays for counselling for victims of crime, family members, and certain witnesses. The program aims to support these folks deal with violent crime. The application form can be found below.

http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/shareddocs/pubs/cvap-victim-application.pdf

I believe that therapy is an extremely worthwhile investment.  I also recognize that there are times when it is truly just not affordable, and so I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots to help make my services more accessible. Please call me to discuss this option. I can also provide referrals to lower-fee alternatives, if necessary.

24-hour Cancellation Policy: 24-hour notice is required to change or cancel appointments. Appointments that are changed or cancelled without the proper notice will be charged at the normal rate.

I welcome clients of all races, genders, abilities, sexual orientations, and class backgrounds.