Who I am.

My name is Sherina (pronounced “Sha-ree-na” as many people have asked) and I am a registered social worker (#11808) with over ten years’ experience working in the mental health profession. Born and raised on Vancouver Island, I have a true appreciation for all that this land has to offer.  While I lived and worked in Vancouver for 10 years while obtaining my B.A. (2009) and M.S.W. (2014) from the University of British Columbia, I always remember the feeling of calmness that would come over me every time I returned to the island. This was one of the many reasons why I always knew I would return to the island and in 2014 I was able to transition home.

What I Do.

I have worked in diverse settings including:

• Life skills programming at an adult correctional facility

• Youth worker at a youth safe house

• Coordinating a women’s recovery centre

• Facilitating a recovery program at a community residential facility

• Assessment and treatment for youth forensic psychiatric services.

• Sexual Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP) counsellor

  This work has allowed me to connect with a variety of child, adolescent and adult populations with a broad range of mental health and substance use issues in individual, family and group settings. I have taken these years of experience and learning from every person I have met to build my practice to be as inclusive and diverse as possible.

What I believe.

Working with such a variety of people I have witnessed an abundance of resilience and compassion. As such, my approach to therapy is rooted in a foundation of being strengths-based and client-centred. This means that I believe:

• Every person has an innate ability to heal

• A trusting relationship with your counsellor is fundamental to change

• You are the expert of your own growth

  It is my privilege to help individuals on their healing journeys. I will tailor’s my approach to suit my clients needs through a variety of therapeutic modalities.