My name is Christie Behrisch Kumar. I've been working as a Registered Clinical Counsellor for nearly 15 years, and have been in various helping professions for over 25. My passion for helping others began in childhood and has remained the largest part of my life through school, work, and international travel.
I approach my work with clients holistically: a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual approach that I tailor to the distinctive needs of each client and couple. I believe the client-therapist relationship is paramount to any healing and forward progress. Working from a strengths-based perspective, I may utilize motivational interviewing, mindfulness, elements of cognitive behavioural therapy, solution-focused techniques, and EMDR to help clients make lasting changes. No matter the approach I take to your unique situation, you can be sure that I will keep the safety and security of our relationship as a top priority. (Please see below for further details on therapeutic approaches).
I provide a warm and compassionate atmosphere where you can feel comfortable beginning to open yourself up to new ways of being. I am also very real, and will never shy away from pushing you to move beyond the familiar and comfortable to become the best version of yourself.
See Specialities
My name is Christie Behrisch Kumar. I've been working as a Registered Clinical Counsellor for nearly 15 years, and have been in various helping professions for over 25. My passion for helping others began in childhood and has remained the largest part of my life through school, work, and international travel.
I approach my work with clients holistically: a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual approach that I tailor to the distinctive needs of each client and couple. I believe the client-therapist relationship is paramount to any healing and forward progress. Working from a strengths-based perspective, I may utilize motivational interviewing, mindfulness, elements of cognitive behavioural therapy, solution-focused techniques, and EMDR to help clients make lasting changes. No matter the approach I take to your unique situation, you can be sure that I will keep the safety and security of our relationship as a top priority. (Please see below for further details on therapeutic approaches).
I provide a warm and compassionate atmosphere where you can feel comfortable beginning to open yourself up to new ways of being. I am also very real, and will never shy away from pushing you to move beyond the familiar and comfortable to become the best version of yourself.
Professional Qualifications
Academic Training
Master of Counselling
(University of Lethbridge)
Registered Clinical Counsellor
(British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors #3823)
Bader-Pearson Developmental Model of Couples Therapy
(The Couples Institute)
EMDR Certification, Levels 1 & 2
(EMDR Consulting)
EMDR Advanced Flash Technique Certification
(Dr. Philip Manfield)
Substance Use Certificate
(Justice Institute of BC via SHARE Family & Community Services)
Core Addictions Practice
(Fraser Health Authority)
Strengths-Based CBT
(Cognitive Workshops)
Trauma-Informed Practice
(University of British Columbia)
ADHD Training
(Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance)
Clinical Experience
I began my professional counselling career with Share Family and Community Services in both their adult drug and alcohol program and their fee-for-service program.
I worked for over 5 years with the Fraser Health Authority in substance use services, both inpatient and outpatient.
I worked with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority's adult ADHD pilot program for over 2 years.
I currently work part-time as an associate at another private practice that specializes in couples therapy.
Continuing Competency
I currently engage in regular professional supervision, continuing competency training, and I am part of a professional peer mentoring group so that I can keep current with today's best practices.
Therapeutic Approaches
Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be described as a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Used as a therapeutic technique, it can allow for stress reduction, reduced rumination, decreased anxiety and depression, less emotional reactivity/more effective emotion regulation, increased focus, more cognitive flexibility, and improved working memory. (https://www.mindfulnessstudies.com/)
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
EMDR is an extensively researched and effective therapy that is proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing experiences including PTSD, anxiety and depression. It does not require talking in detail about the disturbing experience or completing homework between sessions. Using eye movements that replicate REM sleep, the brain is able to resume its natural healing process. (https://www.emdria.org/)
Developmental Model of Couples Therapy
Developed by Dr. Ellyn Bader and Dr. Peter Pearson of The Couples Institute in California, the developmental model of couples therapy integrates attachment theory, differential theory, and neuroscience. It does not look at pathology; instead it focuses on mapping out growth for both partners through stages. (https://www.couplesinstitute.com/)
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing, developed in part by Miller and Rollnick, is a client or person-centred approach to therapy. It is more a way of being with clients rather than a specific technique. Its guiding principles are designed to develop the therapeutic relationship and build motivation for change at the client's pace without incurring resistance.
Let's Talk
The first step in therapy is talking. Let's find a time where we can meet and talk about what's on your mind.
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