Morgan, a nonbinary person with short dark hair and glasses wearing a black sweater with visible tattoos, leans on a railing and smiles softly at the camera

HELLO! I’M MORGAN

(they/them)

I’m an artist, counsellor, compassionate communication facilitator and life cycle celebrant with a mission - to help tender hearted people live lives filled with meaning, purpose, connection and most importantly, love - for themselves, each other and the wider human and more than human world.

As a queer, nonbinary, and neurodivergent therapist and parent of neurodivergent teen and young adult children, I know what it’s like to struggle with the expectations of the cis-hetero and neuro-normative world. I am especially passionate about supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community and folks who understand themselves through the lens of ADHD and/or Autism, regardless of diagnosis, in the process of unmasking and uncovering their authentic selves. I’m honoured to walk alongside so many amazing folks as they create lives and relationships that make sense in a world that too often doesn’t.

My practice centres diversity and inclusion and my clients have a wide range of ages, identities and lived experiences. As a settler of British and Scottish ancestry, living and working on the lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples in so-called Victoria, BC, I am committed to anti-colonial practice, and engage in active solidarity with decolonial movements, from Turtle Island to Palestine and everywhere people struggle for freedom and liberation.

HEALING BEGINS WITH TRUST

At its best, the therapeutic relationship is a safe container in which to risk sharing our whole authentic self.

Counselling shouldn't feel like a mystery to you and your counsellor shouldn't feel like a stranger. My intention is to show up as my whole self, bringing honesty, openness and curiosity to each session. 

Oh, and when I say I welcome your whole authentic self? I don’t mean the version you show to polite company. That means that laughter, tears and the occasional f-bomb are all invited to the party.

My work is rooted in anti-colonial, critical, queer and social and ecological justice perspectives. I take a feminist, embodied and relational approach, focusing on your strengths and collaboratively generating goals for our work together.

In my work with individuals and groups, I take an experiential, compassion and mindfulness based approach, primarily drawing from Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT). And with couples I draw on Gottman Couples Therapy, Nonviolent Communication and attachment and emotionally focused approaches.

Perhaps most importantly, my practice is grounded in a deep trust in the resilience and capacity of people to heal, grow and change.

HOW I WORK

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

  • I'm a (formerly) homelearning parent of teen and young adult children and I take a collaborative problem solving approach to parenting in the context of neurodivergence.

  • I'm late in life queer. I didn't start openly exploring my gender or sexuality until my late 30's. 

  • My lived experiences include trauma, poverty, sexual and intimate partner violence, chronic pain and illness, invisible disability and ADHD.

  • I'm experienced with kink, ethical non-monogamy and psychedelics and hold a solidly de-stigmatizing view of those of us who do sex work or use substances. 

  • Besides counselling, I am also a certified life cycle celebrant and ritual and ceremony facilitator - what the heck is that you ask? 

  • I feel most alive in the act of creative self-expression, whether through art, craft, writing, music, dance, design, cooking, ritual & ceremony or facilitation. Most recently I’ve been developing my skills as a potter!

  • I have too many pets, never enough cute socks and I always forget to drink my tea until it's cold. 

  • I regularly and shamelessly hug actual trees. 

It can feel overwhelming trying to find a counsellor who we feel comfortable working with. I so get it and I want you to find your person - whether that's me or someone else. I do think there are some things to know about me that might help you decide whether we’d be a match

Registered Social Worker (RSW) - BC College of Social Workers

Masters of Social Work - Wilfrid Laurier University, 2022

Bachelors of Social Work - University of Victoria, 2007

Social Service Worker Diploma - Selkirk College, 2003

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

  • Mastering ACT with Dr. Robin Walser - Praxis

  • ACT for Anxiety and Depression with Russ Harris - Psychwire

  • ACT for Beginners with Russ Harris - Psychwire

  • Gottman Couples Therapy Level One - Gottman Institute

  • Ethical Non-Monogamy for Therapists - Therapeutic Diversity Training

  • Crisis Intervention Skills Training (CIST) - Vancouver Island Crisis Society

  • Foundations of Narrative Therapy - Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy

  • Ceremonies for Healing and Transitions - Celebrant Foundation & Institute 

  • Solutions Focused Coaching Level One - Erickson Coaching International

  • Counselling as if the Earth Mattered - Royal Roads University 

  • NVC Parent Peer Facilitator Certification - NVC Academy