MONIQUE HOVING-SMEETS

After receiving my BA in counselling in Melbourne Australia and having worked as a therapist, I moved to Canada to further to complete my Master in Marriage and Family therapist. You might detect a slight accent during our sessions, but that is because I've lived in 8 different countries and have learnt a few languages along the way!

During my journey as a therapist, I saw the need for understanding therapeutic approaches that truly reduce the impact of trauma symptoms. I see unresolved, unrecognized,  and hidden trauma and childhood development as a large contributor to the pain many people feel. This drove my interest to learn about the impact on our body, brain, mind and soul.

I have a special interest in how the brain develops, functions and changes upon experiencing distressing or traumatic experiences. It is essential to understand the connection between our mind, our body, our nervous system and our external experiences. I love learning about how our eyes and ears are gateways to our nervous system and how we can learn to put ourselves at ease and enjoy some rest.

As humans we are complex and comprehensive beings experiencing relationships, emotions, thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, and behaviors. These can all be impacted by distressing life events or circumstances. This is why I strongly believe that therapy has to be an integrative approach. This is why I developed T.R.I.P. Trauma Regulation & Integration Process.

The T.R.I.P approach uniquely combines different therapies into an effective tool to help you navigate and ultimately move towards healing in your journey. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BCACC and a Canadian Certified Counsellor, or CCC, of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

MEREL SCHEEPENS

It is an honor to be part of the healing process and to help you regain your life as you were meant to live it, with reduced influences of past trauma and a strengthened resiliency.

I highly value caring, compassion, connection, and competency in counseling. I am respectful, and I am deeply concerned about what matters to you right now. I have lived and worked in four countries during the past fifteen years.

I received my Bachelor of Communication Disorders at the HAN University of Applied Sciences in Nijmegen, Netherlands. When I worked as a Speech Therapist, I was always drawn to learning more about the psychological elements of voice disorders and stuttering.

Later I received my M.A. in Counseling Psychology at Yorkville University in Canada. I enjoy specializing in up-to-date trauma therapy modalities, like Internal Family Systems Therapy, TRIP (Trauma Regulation & Integration Process), Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness.

I work with a strength-based biopsychosocial lens and aim to be culturally sensitive. Depending on your presenting situation, I utilize several evidence-based modalities to best support you.