Working with Indigenous People

Hello! My name is Katya. My ancestors are from the Altai Mountains in Siberia and the steeppes of Ukraine. They were farmers, bee keepers, artists, teachers, and healers and I always felt their endurance, creativity, and wisdom in me.  It is my natural and deep calling to SEE people and help them return home to themselves that led me to pursue a psychology & counselling career.

I am an uninvited settler in Canada. My mother brought our family to Canada when I was 13 years old.  She was hoping for the better future for me and my sister and Canada felt like a good place to land. It was not until my Master’s degree that I learned about the shadow side of this beautiful country. I don’t know why I was so drawn to learn about decolonization, perhaps its the fact that my native Siberian ancestors experienced the pain of colonization or maybe because my own Russian Slavic ancestors were the colonizers who have also committed genocide through artificial famine against my Ukrainian people.  But here I am working with Indigenous people in Canada. As a settler I acknowledge that wether I want it or not I am a  part of an oppressive colonial system and I try my best to be an ally and practice in a way that acknowledges the strength and resilience of indigenous people.


“it is extremely rare and unusual when indigenous accounts are accepted andacknowledged as valid interpretations of what has taken place. And yet, the need to tell our stories remains the powerful imperative of a powerful form of resistance”
​~Smith~

In recent years, there has been increasing awareness about Indigenous peoples’
experiences of colonization and marginalization within Canada, particularly with the idea
of reconciliation gaining attention in media and politics. At last, a window to publicly
acknowledge stories of trauma amongst Indigenous people seems to be opening. With
such stories brought forward, there has inevitably been a need to discuss ways of
healing historical/multigenerational/colonial trauma and a call to recognize not only the
problems Indigenous people face, but their resilience as well (McCormick, 1998).
Although Indigenous healing can come in many forms, such as methods rooted in
traditional cultural practices, some Indigenous people in Canada have opted to engage
in counselling as part of their healing journey. In order to best support the latter
therapeutic process, it is imperative that the nature of the counselling services be
carefully considered when working with Indigenous clients, families and communities
(Duran, 2006; McCormick, 1998).

Investment

$120/50 minute session or $60 for 25 minute session. ​

Please schedule a free 20 min call if you'd like to know more about my services, and like my facebook page or follow my Instagram for ongoing information and blogging! I always offer a free 20 minute consultation so that you can experience how it is to be in my presence and ask questions to see if my approach to therapy is something that will work for you.

Counselling in Vancover, BC
Counselling for Anxiety, Depression, & Stress
Trauma & PTSD Counselling
Car Accident Trauma Counselling
Counselling for Traumatic Birth
Therapy for Rape & Childhood Sexual Abuse