MEET THERAPIST

Vicki Farnell
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Vicki Farnell is a therapist at Lighthouse Therapy in Kamloops, BC.  She is passionate about working with birthing people, parents and adults to support understanding and healing.  Vicki’s practice combines many theoretical frameworks to best suit the needs of the client and family.  She works holistically, recognizing and supporting the benefits of integrating left and right brain experiences and somatic energies.   Vicki’s practice is rooted in the ideas of attachment and connection.

In addition to being a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Vicki has completed her post-graduate certificate in Complex Trauma through the Justice Institute of BC.  It was within this program that Vicki recognized her passion for helping childhood trauma survivors validate, work through and heal from the experiences that they had.  She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and uses this tool to support folks who are struggling with PTSD or C-PTSD.  She works with the client to allow them to guide their healing while providing supportive strategies and nudges forward. 

Vicki is passionate about working with birthing people and their supports to help provide care and healing for those struggling with pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders as well as those who have experienced birth trauma. She has taken additional training from Postpartum Support International, Pacific Postpartum Support Society and Canadian Perinatal Mental Health.  As a mom of two, Vicki understands the intensity of the early parenting experience and the challenges that can come up for families during this time.  In addition to working one to one with birthing people, Vicki is a faculty member for Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings, offering ongoing training for practitioners across Canada.  She also runs an ongoing Postpartum Support Group within the community.

Vicki has extensive experience working with parent-child dyads to support and develop the relationships between parents and child.  She works with parents of all ages to encourage them to understand their child differently, recognize their own triggers and integrate these things to “level up” their parenting; helping them better understand the function and dysfunction of attachment systems.  Vicki is trained in Modified Interaction Guidance, Connect Parenting, and Circle of Security.  She has combined what she knows to create a parenting education program to provide parents with the best of the best when it comes to parenting knowledge.  She hopes that with greater understanding and better communication, families can begin to come together and be each others’ support system in times of stress.  Vicki believes we can always repair relationships with a bit of vulnerability and a whole lot of learning.  

Vicki has experience working with folks who are struggling with a range of mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, substance misuse, trauma, self-harm, suicide and family relationships. She approaches each client with kindness and understanding, recognizing that the client is the narrator in their story.  She will meet you where you are at and encourage you to take a step forward to meet your goal.  Vicki validates all emotions and hopes to assist clients to increase their emotional intelligence through mindfulness and reflection.   Vicki has a special interest, and experience working with members of the LGTBQ2S community.   She continues to engage in post-graduate learning and prides herself on her ongoing professional development.

In her spare times, Vicki is an avid gardener and hiker.  She finds calmness in being outside with her family: enjoying nature, sitting by a campfire or wandering through the forest.  She enjoys community events and advocating for those who need support.  Vicki is outgoing, calm and thoughtful.

Vicki provides in-person sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; in addition she offers virtual sessions on Thursdays. She is registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCC).  Vicki’s session fee is $150 +GST for a 50-minute individual session and $165 +GST for a 50-minute couple or child/caregiver session.  Longer sessions are pro-rated.

Availability: Vicki understands the importance of timely service for birthers in the postpartum period, she does her best to provide ongoing intake.  Please contact her to see about her current availability or get on her postpartum waitlist.

Vicki has some space to take on general clients for virtual sessions. Unfortunately at this time, Vicki does not have space to take on general clients for in-person sessions.