Naomi Woolverton
Master of Education (M.Ed)
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Here's what I believe.
I believe children, youth, and their families are doing their best every day.
I believe in the power of play, relationship, connection.
I believe in safety, feeling seen and heard, and co-regulation.
Kids have big emotions and behaviours in response to situations that are too much for their brains, bodies and nervous systems. My approach focuses on building a relationship with your child while my presence offers co-regulation and creates a safe space for their self-expression through right-brain approaches. Working with your child also means working with you! I believe that together, we can work to support the relational attachment that is the key to the development of your child's securely attached self.
Why I Care.
Sometimes childhood is interrupted by things that are messy and difficult leading to patterns and habits of adaptation forced by their nervous system. I care because a space for children to explore their feelings, to be as they are, and to be curious can make a real difference and I am passionate about how play, art, and expressive approaches hold space for children as they explore their inner world. As a child-centred counsellor, I make an effort to be present, heart-centred, and embodied, as they learn how to be connected to their thoughts, emotions, and bodies with self-acceptance and empowerment.
My Education & Credentials.
CREDENTIALS:
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Registered Clinical Counsellor
CLIENT FOCUS:
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Children and Youth
COUNSELLING FOCUS:
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Play therapy, creative-arts therapy, client-centered therapy, narrative therapy and relational
RECENT TRAINING:
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Play Therapy: Innovated Attachment-Centered Interventions to Treat Trauma, Emotional Dysregulation, and Behavioural Challenges
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When Love Hurts (Intimate Partner Violence)
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Nature Based Therapy
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Working with Autistic Clients: Foundations of a Neuro-Affirming Practice
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Strength-based Interventions toThrive with ADHD from Childhood to Adulthood (In Progress)
Why People Work With Me
I have worked with children and youth in the social sector since 2020, and I am committed to learning different ways to connect to children and youth: supervision, taking additional training, peer consultation with
my colleagues at MindWise, or feedback directly from my clients about what works best for them. When I work with children and youth I do my best to meet them where they are at, and I typically do this with play and creative-arts therapies. These approaches are different from typical talk-therapy approaches and can foster a different kind of communication in very meaningful ways. I have seen play and creative-arts strategies help children and youth process difficult things in their lives, express themselves with self acceptance, increase their self-esteem, and learn to attune to their bodies and emotions. The approaches I use bring
information into their conscious awareness over time.
I also see an importance in sharing that I am a cisgender, white female with European ancestries who was born and raised in Kamloops, BC, and I make an ongoing effort to challenge my Western biases and privileges.
I aim to always show my humanness as I work to see and understand the child or youth in the room with me. It is important to me that I continue to do my best to be an ally to the Pride community, make an ongoing effort to decolonize my ways of thinking, and continue to learn about other cultures. I love learning from my clients and I believe that children and youth have many wonderful things to teach us.