Nature-Based and Narrative Counselling
Restoring and restory-ing relationships with self, one another, and the land
There are many stories to peoples’ lives, and yet most people only know one version. Often, these stories are told about us and not by us, which can leave people feeling disempowered and disembodied. Shapeshift counselling was birthed out of a belief in relational healing and a curiosity for what’s possible when we boldly reclaim authorship over our own lives. By bringing awareness to the stories that have shaped us, we can shift the narrative and step into a greater sense of wholeness. I specialize in supporting people adjusting to the postpartum period. I am also passionate about working with people who are navigating life transitions, healing from racial harm, and experiencing grief or loss.I would be honored to walk alongside you through the new shapes and shifts of your life.
What is Shapeshift Counselling?
Hi, I’m Sarina. Welcome.
Many intertwining and often meandering paths have led me to this practice. I have over 15 years of combined experience supporting youth and families in social services, land-based healing, and Indigenous health and social policy research. Among others, I have worked with Hope Blooms Community Garden, the Skookum Jim friendship Centre, and Kackaamin Family Development Centre. I thrive when I am on the land and in community. I use she/her pronouns and am a grateful guest in the unceded territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt), Schian’exw, Ts’ouke, and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. (Victoria, BC). I hope that through my work I may uphold and truly embody principles of reciprocity and collective liberation for all beings.
As a mixed-race person, my passion for challenging fixed labels, celebrating unique perspectives, and building bridges across perceived differences, comes naturally.
As a mother and postpartum doula, I draw on my personal and professional experiences to support people holistically, collaboratively, and without judgment.
As a nature-based therapist, my connection with the land is rooted in my desire to cultivate places of belonging with and beyond our human communities, and to help others reclaim their own relationships with nature.
Licensure and Degrees
Registered Social Worker, BC College of Social Workers, RSW #17329
Master of Social Work, Indigenous Specialization (MSW), University of Victoria (2017)
Bachelor of Arts, University of Alberta (2010)
Selected Professional Training
Perinatal Grief and Loss, The Perinatal Collective (in-progress)
Standard First Aid and CPR, Canadian Red Cross (valid 2025-2028)
Narrative Therapy Foundations Certificate, Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy (2025)
Nature-Based Therapy in practice, Human Nature Counselling, Victoria, BC (2024)
Postpartum Doula Certificate, Nesting Doula Collective (2022)
Botanical Medicine for Motherhood, Little Yarrow (2021)
Trauma-Informed Care, Yukon College (2015)
Chartered Herbalist, Dominion Herbal College (2014)
What We Can Do Together
I believe mental health cannot be separated from broader structures of oppression. By bringing a deep awareness of the systems that impact your life, I offer a radical and affirming approach to therapy. Together, we can create a space to identify the root causes of a problem and help you put down what is not yours to carry.
Anti-Oppressive and Decolonial Social Work
Narrative Therapy
Helping you make sense of what you are experiencing by centring your own voice, values, and preferred life story. This approach is grounded in the belief that everyone has the skills and knowledge to change their relationship with the problems affecting their lives. Through tender curiosity and collaboration, I work alongside you to help expand your capacity for connection with stories of hope, adaptation, and possibility.
Nature-Based Therapy
This experiential therapeutic approach works collaboratively with nature to foster reconnection and reciprocal healing.
Sessions can take place at neighborhood parks, beachfronts, along forested walking paths, or other nearby nature areas. Activities may include movement, mindfulness, nature art, nature play, and more. Sessions are tailored to meet your specific needs, preferences, and comfort level.
How I Show Up
-
Relational
I bring warmth, curiosity, creativity, and humor into the therapeutic relationship. Together, we can work to strengthen your resources and relationships.
-
Safety-Centered
What feels safe is different for each person. I will collaborate with you to find what safety in a therapeutic space means to you.
-
Choice and Collaboration
I believe everyone is the expert in their own lives. Your voice, goals, and feedback will direct the pace and direction of our work together. Whatever you need to bring into the therapeutic space is welcome.
-
Culturally Affirming
I believe in the power of reconnecting with traditional and ancestral knowledge. I also believe everyone should feel safe and respected in their own cultural identities and practices.
Postpartum Counselling
The Why
The shift into the postpartum period is undoubtedly one of the most transformative, yet also one of the most overlooked. Far too many parents feel judged, shamed, or isolated simply for experiencing the common challenges that come with one of life’s toughest transitions. If any of the following feel familiar, you’re not alone and you’re in the right place:
overworked and undervalued
identity confusion and loss of self
self-doubt, worthlessness, and guilt
frustration, rage, and anxiety
overwhelm
compromised needs and violated expectations
The How
I can support with:
Managing strong emotions
Intrusive thoughts
Processing grief and/or loss (I support all pregnancy outcomes including birth, miscarriage, abortion, and loss)
Adjusting to and making sense of this profound change
Anxiety
Rage
The What
Counselling sessions are tailored to meet you where you are at in your postpartum journey. Sessions can take place:
Virtually. Because getting out of the home with a baby can be really hard!
In Nature (6 weeks onwards). Let’s be real, postpartum can be deeply isolating. Engaging in nature-based therapy can help create a sense of belonging, reduce feelings of loneliness, and help you make sense of your experiences. Connecting in nature holds endless possibilities for exploring emotions, gaining clarity, and developing resilience in a calming and restorative environment.
Babies are welcome in sessions!
I am happy to work with parents up to 2 years postpartum.
One-on-one and group sessions available.
General Counselling
The Why
Life can be complex and messy, but you don’t have to do it alone. In fact, we’re not meant to. I am passionate about supporting people navigating a range of challenges. If any of the following feel familiar, your’e not alone and you're in the right place.
Parenting and Caregiving- struggling with how to show up for yourself while showing up for everyone else
Racialized Violence- mental and emotional harm caused by racism and discrimination
Grief and Loss- confusion, numbing, struggling to cope
Trauma- disrupting your sense of safety and self
The How
What we can work on:
Navigating stress, overwhelm, and the invisible load of parenting and caregiving.
Holding space for mixed-race people to find wholeness in a society that seeks to categorize
Understanding and healing from the unique stressors related to systemic racism, microaggressions, and intergenerational trauma experienced by racialized people
Exploring and honoring your preferred ways of grieving and remembering
Healing trauma through regulation and restoration
The What
Counselling sessions are tailored to meet you where you are at in your healing journey. Sessions can take place:
Virtually. Meeting you in the comfort of your own home.
In Nature. Engaging in nature-based therapy can help create a sense of belonging, reduce feelings of loneliness, and help you make sense of your experiences. Connecting in nature holds endless possibilities for exploring emotions, gaining clarity, and developing resilience in a calming and restorative environment.
