Services

  • As a counsellor of 30 years, my counselling approach integrates Response-Based Practice, Indigenous Healing Knowledges and family systems work.

    I am a co-developer of Response-Based Practice which draws from solution-focused, collaborative practice and an analysis of gender and power. I integrate Indigenous values and processes into my facilitation.

    I offer counselling services to adults, youth, couples, and families.

  • I advise on counselling, programming relating to mental health and well-being, safety initiatives and violence prevention. I work with teams across various environments, including schools, child welfare, shelters, safe houses, as well as government and social services. I have provided services in number of Indigenous communities, including the Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society, Cowichan Tribes, and South Island Métis Community Services. I have participated in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and have conducted research for the British Columbia Office of the Representative for Children and Youth. I advise on how to create dignity-centred places of work and study.

  • I offer individual and group supervision drawing from a number of therapeutic approaches. These sessions typically involve case consultation, conversations about philosophy, well-being, dignity, and social justice. I draw from the medicine wheel exploring the balance between mind, body, emotions, and spirit in the social world. I work online using zoom.

  • I offer a number of different kinds of workshops, both individually and with colleagues.  These include Response-Based Practice 101, Creating Dignity-Centered Service Delivery and strategies for helping people recover from violence.  I offer trainings on family therapy, working with children, and working with Indigenous Communities as an Ally.  As part of my role as Chair of Indigenous Healing Knowledges, I also offer meditations and rituals to address healing on a more collective scale.  

    I offer individual and group workshops for counsellors, therapists, and workplaces. I am a partner in delivering International Certificate Programs in Response-Based Practice.  To date, I have offered trainings in Canada, the US, Sweden, Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand.

    For inquiries about trainings and workshops, email cathyresponds@gmail.com

TESTIMONIALS

Anonymous on the integration between drama therapy and RBP -

“For systemic marginalized folks, drama therapy and response-based practice can also be a space where spirituality can regain an important place in their therapeutic process. In fact, drama therapy permits the presence of important symbols, stories, characters, etc. to exist, and sometimes to even talk in a more mythological way. Response-based practice permits a place where these symbols, stories, characters, etc. are respected and where spirituality is an important part of individual responses. For some individuals, this way of doing therapy might feel more validating and culturally safe”

Barb M. on RBP -

“I have worked here for 20 years and although I have heard and practiced RBP I can honestly say that I wasn’t 100 percent comfortable with it. Once I took the course, not only was I comfortable with it, but I actually learned that there were some things I didn’t know. I find now, not only do I understand RBP but the philosophy behind it I totally believe in. keeping a persons dignity is so important in todays society. I think anyone who deals with front line work of any kind or work with people in general should take this course!”

Flow G. on the integration between drama therapy and RBP -

“Drama therapy already has a lense which consider that ‘traditional talk therapy’ is not enough – the talk therapy might feel for some people like an extension of power dynamics: where, for example, people that work better with words, are more understood than others. In drama therapy, different person can feel a sense of home, honoUring the way each has a different way of making sense of the world (by drawing, moving, making sounds, etc).”

Kimberly C. on RBP -

“Response-based also has this lens that something is missing in the ‘’traditional talk therapy’’. Some persons, or some victims, or some marginalized folks, are not held in the right way, and needs to be validated more in their natural way of responding or making sense of their context. Response-based practice is a realm where mental, emotional, physical and spiritual responses are honored. Even when used with words, this is a practice that permits to feel deeply validation of natural responses, and their dignity.”