The Heart Behind the Whispering Way

My path to becoming a counsellor is rooted in a deep belief in the body’s innate wisdom. This isn’t just a theory I learned in a classroom; it is a truth I have lived.

25 Years of Wisdom

Before transitioning into clinical counselling, I spent 25 years as an educator. That time taught me how we learn, how we grow, and how we struggle. Today, as a mother and grandmother, I bring that quarter-century of perspective into every session.

Lived Experience as a Guide

I know what it means to survive. My life has been shaped by the grit of lived experience—from navigating the heavy weight of poverty to finding my voice after the silence of spousal abuse.

These experiences didn't break me; they taught me how to listen to the "whispering way"—those subtle signals our bodies send us that hold the keys to our survival and, ultimately, our healing.

My Commitment to You

What excites me most is witnessing that moment when a client moves from feeling "stuck" or "noisy" to feeling truly at home within themselves. I am here because I believe—in my very bones—that everyone deserves to feel safe, grounded, and authentically connected.

I bring a lifetime of empathy and clinical training to your side, helping you repair, rewire, and reclaim the connection to your own intuition.

Meeting Valerie 

Roots & Credentials

 

  • Credentials: MPCC-P (Provisional), RPC

  • Education: Counselling Therapist Diploma, Stenberg College

  • Memberships: Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA)

  • Experience: 25+ years in Human Services and Education

 

Where My Practice Settles

While I support a wide range of life transitions, I specialize in helping clients navigate the intersection of physical sensation and emotional weight. My approach is particularly suited for:

 

  • The Changing Body (Menopause & Aging): Navigating the profound hormonal and identity shifts of midlife. I provide a grounded space to settle the nervous system as your body finds its new rhythm.

  • Neurodivergent Living (ADHD & Autism): Supporting those who process the world differently. We focus on managing executive function, sensory overwhelm, and the exhaustion of "masking," moving away from burnout toward a life that honours your natural wiring.

  • Anxiety & Depression: Moving through the fog of low mood or the static of constant worry. We work to quiet the "inner critic" and rewire the thought patterns that keep you feeling stuck or small.

  • Chronic Pain & Tension: Working with the body’s "alarm system" to move from a state of high alert back toward ease, soft awareness, and repair.

  • The Weight of Grief: Holding space for the "heaviness" words cannot describe. Together, we find ways to carry sorrow without being consumed by it, allowing you to reclaim your sense of self.

  • Systemic Exhaustion & Burnout: Supporting those navigating the "long-term survival mode" of burnout or life's heavy pressures. We work to settle the stress response and find sustainable paths forward

 

 

The Heart of My Work

 

  • Patience: We move at the speed of your nervous system, never rushing.

  • Dignity: Honouring your lived experience and your innate wisdom.

  • Presence: A soft, grounded place to land when life feels noisy.

  • Curiosity: Looking at "symptoms" as your body's way of trying to protect you.

 

What’s Inspiring Me Now

I am currently deepening my study of Polyvagal Theory and the Window of Tolerance, exploring how we can find safety in the body even after long periods of intense stress.

Life in the Whispers

When I'm not in session, you can find me walking the trails of Victoria, gardening, sipping tea by the ocean, or enjoying time with my three grandchildren.