Therapists
Serena Visser
Country: Canada
State: Alberta
I am especially passionate in my work with folks on journeys of gender and sexuality, loss and grief, trauma, unpacking religious trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, and life transitions.
I am a Registered Clinical Social Worker. I have been working in community based and post-secondary counselling settings since 2006. My location and identities frequently afford me visible and hidden privilege as a white settler, cis, queer, currently able-bodied, conditionally middle class, woman, and parenting human.
I would describe my practice as person-centred, relational in focus, trauma and structurally informed, and kink and poly friendly. In our work together I aim to nurture authentic and compassionate space, where we can bring honesty, transparency, creativity, and even humour to the counselling process. When relevant or requested we can also draw various therapeutic processes, including EMDR, affirming therapies, mindfulness and self compassion, creative therapies, Internal Family Systems, body focused therapies, DBT, CBT, and other therapeutic modalities.
I am passionate about continued learning and growth – as a human in relationship, and as a professional. On the human in relationship front, my family – both biological and chosen – invites and supports learning everyday. In terms of professional growth, I am currently undertaking doctoral studies exploring how power moves through the institutional norms practices trans and gender diverse clients face in the mental health system. I also hold an assistant professor (teaching) appointment in social work.
Languages Spoken: English & Some Japanese
