More About Renee:
Renee Parker is a mother in a long term relationship. She has personal and professional experience with learning disabilities and knows how it feels to be different from those around you. She is familiar but not actively involved in the LGBT Community.
As a child, she began a 30 year period of dealing with chronic pain. One result of this was that she experienced depression at an early age and been a counselling client herself. Through her own experience she has gained an understanding of what people need in times of great suffering. These experiences shaped her philosophy that only through a gentle and kind approach can people choose and work towards their own goals. With compassion and a non-judgemental stance, she supports people in finding their core beliefs so they can live their lives with confidence and self respect.
To learn more about How She Works, click here.
Education:
- Masters Degree in Clinical Counselling from City University
- Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University
- Major: Psychology
- Minors: Gerontology and Woman Studies
- Certificate in Women Studies from Langara College
- Certificate in Social Service Work from Douglas College
Workshops and Courses:
- 2012 Noboby’s Perfect Group Facilitation Training
- 2009 Parent Connectors Training
- 2007 Introduction to Hypnosis (Dr M. Yapko)
- 2007 Treating Co-Morbid Anxiety & Depression (Dr M. Yapko)
- 2004 E.M.D.R (Trauma Therapy)
- 2004 Dealing with Anger (Dr Burns)
Experience:
- Dragonstone Counselling
- Associate Counsellor, 2003 – present
- Qmunity (previously known as “The Centre”)
- Counselling practicum with LGTB community members, 2003
- A.S.K Friendship Society
- 1983 – 2003
- Caregiver Support and Community Liaison
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Program Coordinator, and occasional Acting Director
- 411 Dunsmuir Seniors Centre
- Coordinator of programs and services for LGTB seniors, 2001
- Contract position under the Generations Project
- Strong Start
- Parent Connector, 2009
- Staff Member, 2011
- Generations Project Support Group, Co-facilitator
- Developed and co-facilitated a new 8 week group for LGTB men and women, 2008
- Focus on coping with emotional and social changes that typically occur around midlife
- Nobody’s Perfect
- Parenting Support Group Facilitator, 2012
- YWCA
- Single Mother’s Support Group Facilitator, 2013