Yvonne Paquette, MSW, RSW
My Approach
“Yvonne is amazing! She’s a great listener. She pinpoints exactly what I’m saying & finds the solution.”
Similar to a puzzle or a painting, we often need to step back from something to figure out how it works or where to go next. Easier said than done? That’s where I can help you. I create a safe & dedicated space where you can get out of your head by unpacking what’s in there. With gentle guidance & a commitment to non-judgement & the messiness of learning & healing, together we will make clear what is important to you, what is blocking you, your innate strengths, what you want to do, & how you can achieve a more fulfilling life. My helping approach is person-centered & anti-oppressive. I will meet you where you are at, & we’ll go from there, together.
Offering Virtual Online Sessions Only
Individual Counselling: $140 per 1 hour (50 minute) session
CVAP, FNHA & ICBC coverage available
My Story
I come to you from the traditional unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Nations, also known as the settler area of Vancouver. I live, work, & play on many Coast Salish territories, including those unceded by the Lekwungen & WSÁNEĆ Nations in the settler area of Victoria. I am a cis-gender woman of Algonquin & German descent, born on Vancouver Island. Though I am privileged to know of my Aboriginal ancestry, I do not identify as an Aboriginal person. However, my ancestry informs & strengthens my allyship.
My own constellation of circumstances in life gave me an early exposure to social work & what we call ‘systems of care.’ This vantage point provided me with a deep acceptance & more nuanced understanding of how our ways of coping & adapting can have unexpected or problematic effects to ourselves & those around us. Personal experiences with substance use in the contexts of addiction & self-exploration, & the effects of childhood attachment disruption, have fostered my passion for the field of mental health & substance use, & my work in this area is what sparked my own journey of healing & inner work. As my own work progresses, I have a growing interest in spirituality.
I’ve been serving the Downtown & Downtown East-side areas of Vancouver for 10 years. I have worked in supported housing, recovery houses, in-patient mental health & substance use treatment centers, community drop-ins, & as part of a youth mental health/substance use care team. I strongly support harm-reduction and trauma-informed practices. My recent experiences delivering front-line mental health services & witnessing systemic oppression in action, have shown me that the system struggles to provide people with the time & space needed to address what’s important to them – & that’s what I really want to do. My aim as a counsellor is to help people reconnect with their true self, and build a life that reflects their values and desires.
Areas of practice
Substance usage, addiction or otherwise
Anxiety & depression
Hoarding & collecting
Healthy boundaries, communication, & conflict management
Mindfulness & other coping skills
Goal setting & follow-through
Advocacy & system navigation
Education & Training
Master of Social Work, University of Victoria
Registered Social Worker (#13348), British Columbia College of Social Work
Bachelor of Social Work, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
Social Service Diploma, Langara College
Attachment Theory, various workshops
Mental Health First Aid: Standard, Mental Health Commission of Canada
Mandt System Conflict Management
Harm Reduction and Naloxone Trainer, Toward the Heart
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW) Registered Social Worker #13348
Rates
Individual Counselling
1 hour session (50 min) - $140 (Sliding scale options may be available)
