Melinda Freitas

She/her/hers

Counsellor
Supervisor
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My passion for counselling grew from personal experience with grief, loss and trauma and completing University later in life has fueled my drive to fully enable and empower others.  I graduated in 2005 with a BA Hons Psychology from the University of Ottawa, and hold a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University (2009). I enjoy continuously building on my education and skills with various learning opportunities.  I’m a member of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors, organize & host a clinician peer-support group and connect to yoga, meditation and cycling regularly for self-care.  

My clinical experience and over thirty years of work experience have provided me with a sound foundation to work with clients and provide supervision to clinical learners.  I’ve supported people in a wide variety of settings and programs:

  • hospitals providing support to pediatric patients and their families,
  • safe-house/second-stage and third-stage transition homes supporting survivors of domestic violence,
  • university counselling centres providing counselling support to both undergrad and graduate populations, as well as supervisory oversight of the counselling centres.
  • Indigenous health organizations with time spent in the North providing facilitation and learning in collaboration with Health Canada,
  • course instructor for clinical counselling to adult learners,
  • facilitated grief/loss support groups in non-profit environments, 
  • worked with police to provide victim services support to victims of trauma and assault, and support families impacted by suicide or sudden death,
  • provided complex support to groups through critical incident and stress management programs,
  • delivered psychological first aid through BC’s disaster psychosocial program,  
  • supervised large networks of clinicians (staff and contractors) in an EFAP program.

Specialization

My areas of specialization include navigating challenging life changes (divorce, grief/loss, change of career), expertise in chronic anxiety/depression, communication skill development in addressing family conflict or to improve interpersonal relationships, stress management for anxiety, panic disorder and burnout prevention/treatment, assessment of self-limiting behaviours that prevent growth & positive change, and stabilization/safety planning for survivors of domestic violence.

Approach

I approach both my work and personal life from a holistic, whole-system methodology. I acknowledge the importance of backgrounds, personality, lived experiences, interests, strengths, family dynamics, work/career, spiritual and existential issues in one’s journey. I truly enjoy walking alongside clients in their work to create more harmony and balance in their lives. Rooted in being client-focused and solution-oriented, I draw from evidence-based approaches such as Mindfulness-CBT, DBT, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Family Systems, Solution-Focused/Brief Therapy and Holistic Therapy.
About
Melinda

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