I am so glad you are here.

Hello and welcome! My name is Olga Barrows (she/her). 

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I am a certified counsellor (CCC), member #10005613, registered with a nationwide Canadian Counselling and Psychology Association (CCPA).

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I am also a human being with my own personal flaws and wounds, who is no stranger to pain, worry and all other things on the spectrum of human emotions.

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I am also an immigrant, a mother, a partner, a feminist, a lifelong learner, and someone who believes deeply in human resilience and connection.

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Education & Training

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My education and training include:

• EMDR Basic Training - in progress

• Emotionally Focused Therapy & Interventions for Couples with Dr. Sue Johnson

• Certificate for Healing from the Bottom Up: How to Help Clients Access Resource States with Peter Levine

• Complex Trauma Training, PESI

• Addiction Care & Treatment, UBC CPD

• Complex Trauma & Assessment, Justice Institute of BC, Canada

• MA in Counselling Psychology – Yorkville University, NB, Canada

• BA in Sociology – UBC, BC, Canada

• BA in Communications – USU, Yekaterinburg, Russia

   

Background

 

I have been a counsellor for almost 7 years. Before this, in my early twenties, I have worked as an event manager, a journalist and an interpreter. For years, I have also worked and volunteered with at-risk youth in downtown Vancouver supporting teens in a variety of settings: from recovery through a detox facility to 24/7 crisis centre and front line youth work. My passion for supporting others - along with my own journey with mental health and healing - have inspired me to pursue a counselling degree and start my own counselling practice in Coquitlam in 2019.

 

Values
 

I remain grounded in community care and involvement. In addition to my counselling practice in Coquitlam, I run regular pro-bono mental health groups locally. My focus is on improving access to care and support for everyone in the community. I strongly believe that mental health care is essential. It is not a luxury and should never be out of reach. I work towards reducing and removing barriers in accessing mental health care and support. My belief is that we all can heal and grow in supportive, humane and caring spaces. 

 

Origin & Roots

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I was born in the USSR and grew up in post-Soviet Russia, where I lived until 2005. Over the course of my life, I have lived in three different countries: Russia, Argentina and Canada. I speak three languages: English, Russian and Spanish. These experiences have shaped and re-shaped who I am and continue to influence me. Diverse personal background also helps me see the layers of identity we all carry within ourselves. We are impacted by the places we come from and live in - yet we are so much more than that. 

 

In my practice, I welcome and invite all identities, cultures and lived experiences. I believe that we are all unique and that our lived experiences and cultural backgrounds shape us in incredible ways. I am fascinated by human journeys and our abilities to heal and grow through most challenging circumstances.

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Background & Gratitude

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I am a cis woman, straight, non-disabled.

I am a mental health professional - and also someone who had a personal journey shaped by trauma, anxiety and depression. My own lived experience and personal journey help me see clients with genuine care and compassion - and never reduce a person to their symptoms.

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Outside of my counselling work, I love reading, travelling, learning languages (I am learning Japanese right now), and adventuring with my two young children.

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My work brings me a lot of joy and meaning. It humbles me and inspires me daily. Since counselling is ultimately a human to human connection, I continue to learn from my clients every day. I feel extremely grateful for the healing and change that I am able to witness.

 

It’s an absolute privilege to walk alongside my clients on their unique healing journeys and to witness incredible human potential to heal, transform and grow.

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Thank you for considering me as a companion for your unique healing journey!

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