Jennifer Aberman
Trauma-Informed Counsellor, Vancouver, BC
- Käri-Ann Thor, M.Ed., Registered Clinical Counsellor
My Mission: To Bring a Gentle Presence to the World
My work is motivated by making mental health support more accessible, particularly for marginalized communities and people with limited financial means. Weaving therapeutic methods & holistic healing for collective liberation is a large part of my work.
I’m passionate about sharing my compassion in a world filled with hurt and trauma. It’s a privilege to help my therapy clients become kinder with themselves, so they are free to be who they are at their core.
When clients become more self-compassionate, they can spread their compassion to others, helping to make the world a safer and better place.
My hope for my clients is that they discover how being compassionate with themselves leads to greater self-knowledge and development, and how this not only brings growth but can be fun as well.
Professional Background
I’ve worked as a counsellor, educator and wellness professional since 2010. I’ve been a child care provider, a yoga and mindfulness teacher, and eventually became a counsellor.
I have experience working with many types of clients, including first responders, neurodivergent clients, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. I also work with clients who have PTSD and complex post-traumatic stress.
Since 2017, I’ve also facilitated workshops for various organizations across Canada on the following topics: mindfulness, suicide intervention, how to respond to distress, and managing stress and burnout. I’m passionate about making complicated subjects easy and to understand and accessible for all.
Counselling Training and Related Experience
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- ACCT Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
- Educator with the BC Crisis Center
- Mental Health First Aid© Facilitator
- Somatic Experiencing© Practitioner
- Vancouver College of Counsellor Training
- Katalyst Training Group with Dr. Hillary McBride and Danielle Braun-Kauffman
- Trauma Coupling Dynamics with Kathy Kain
- Sa̲n’yas: Indigenous Cultural Safety Training
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Training with Janina Fisher, PhD
- Interpersonal Neurobiology Course with Dr. Dan Siegel
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST Facilitator)
- SafeTALK Suicide Awareness Course Facilitator
- Mindfulness Educator Essentials Course
- Yoga Teacher Training; Multiple Trainings with United Yoga Montreal
- Educator with the BC Crisis Center:
I also teach workshops on Mindfulness, De-Escalation Skills, Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) & Tools for Managing Stress & Burnout.
My Uniqueness as a Counsellor
I place great emphasis on hearing and seeing you at your deepest level, with patience, compassion, and acceptance. I connect deeply with my clients even when our backgrounds are very different.
My ability to be fully attentive to you enables us to build trust quickly, allowing you to feel safe to share your troubles.
I stay grounded and connected with clients when working with the intensity that can come from distressing experiences and trauma.
My clients often tell me that my capacity to listen and be present for an entire session is something they have never experienced before. “You’re with me the whole time” is a comment that a recent client shared with me that touched my heart.
I’m authentic, honest, and have strong communication and critical thinking skills. I love helping others develop these skills. They’re not difficult skills to cultivate, but they do take practice. I’m also skilled at making complicated subjects easy to understand.
“Jennifer is a highly regarded member of our education team, delivering innovative programming on crisis/suicide response and resilience building with youth and adults. A highly skilled facilitator and trainer, Jennifer possesses a strong ability to create a safe and engaging learning environment. In all aspects of her work, Jennifer brings clear observations, compassion, professionalism and a down-to-earth approach.”
- Lu Ripley, Director, Community Learning & Engagement,
Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre BC
An Eclectic Lifestyle and Passion for Life
I’m fascinated with being alive. “Let everything be my teacher” is a mantra that guides me. I apply all my learnings to myself before sharing them with clients.
Many years of studying and practicing Mindfulness, Somatic Experiencing, yoga, and meditation have enabled me to develop my core self. I’ve worked hard to heal my wounds, so I know if I can do it, so can you!
I have an undergraduate degree in Visual arts, and the arts remain a huge part of my life.
I’m an enthusiastic ongoing student of the neurobiology of human connection. I’m grateful that I’ve turned it into a career.
I love the outdoors. Cross country skiing and cycling around BC are part of my self-care rituals. Play is also important to me, as are my connections to my family and friends. Taking time to enjoy being human and acknowledging how hard it can also be at times is a balance I strive for daily.
I hope this page helps you get a feel for who I am as a person and as a counsellor.
If you're ready to take the step towards a more fulfilling life, please book a 20-minute, no-charge inquiry session with me:
You can tell me your concerns, and I'll explain how I can help you.
Recognizing and continuing to deepen my understanding of the effects of the trauma of colonialism and its impact is essential to my work as a counsellor, educator and cis-gendered white woman, as I live, work and play on the unceded & exploited territories of the Coast Salish peoples – sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations.