Jacqueline is a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) and a Registered-Counselling Therapist (RCT) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT). She holds a Master of Education degree in Counselling from Acadia University and she has earned a PhD in Educational Studies (Psychological Aspects of Education) from the Nova Scotia Inter-University Doctoral Program at Acadia, Mount Saint Vincent, and St. Francis Xavier Universities.
Jacqueline’s employment background spans twenty-five years as an educator and counsellor in public schools, post-secondary institutions, governmental agencies, and in private practice as a counsellor. She has a depth of experience supporting adolescent and adult clients experiencing a range of personal concerns, including:
- Acute and chronic stress and anxiety
- Nervous system dysregulation
- School related stress (school refusal/avoidance)
- Relationship difficulties and family stress
- Trauma, crisis, and debriefing traumatic events
- Grief and loss
- Depression and low mood
- Chronic illness and pain management
- Career development/career exploration
- Life/work transition
- Spirituality and existential concerns
Jacqueline’s counselling orientation is strongly person-centred. She believes a positive therapeutic alliance is fostered through a partnership between equals (client-therapist) in curious exploration of personal experiences, perspectives, and possibilities. Building trust and understanding in a non-judgemental, safe space underpins her therapeutic approach. As Jacqueline accompanies her clients, she supports them in the full articulation of their personal stories, helping them recognize and validate their innate strengths, beliefs, and values. In this way, the client is assisted in authentic self-discovery, while they are held in positive regard and anchored in self-awareness and in self-acceptance.
Jacqueline works co-creatively with her clients whereby mutual dialogue between client and therapist is essential to the effectiveness of therapy. Personal discovery and meaningful insights are co-constructed to illuminate a way through the many challenges encountered in life. In taking this approach, Jacqueline strives to help her clients create compassion for themselves as they come to a better understanding of their innermost feelings, concerns, fears, experiences, and goals. Strategies to achieve positive changes are suggested and implemented based on what holds resonance and value for the individual undertaking therapy.
Keeping in mind that therapy is an emerging and dynamic process, Jacqueline selects from a variety of psychotherapeutic tools and modalities to raise personal consciousness and to fluidly and appropriately respond to the needs of each person in her care. Some of the strategies she draws upon are:
- Narrative Therapy
- Rogerian Therapy
- Mindfulness Approaches
- Trauma Informed Approaches
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Feminist Counselling/Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Choice/Reality Therapy
- Art Therapies and Creative Strategies
- Guided Meditation
- Career Development (Identity Work)
Jacqueline takes a special interest in working with people who are environmentally sensitive/highly sensitive people (HSP) who are managing fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, nervous system dysregulation, and emotional/physical overwhelm.
Jacqueline works with clients who are in all phases of adulthood and adolescents (high school age).
