Mikaela is a Registered Massage Therapist practicing on the land of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations (Richmond and Vancouver), BC.
As a child she played many sports with abandon, frequently leading to sprained ankles and a few broken bones. As an adult she has settled into her chosen sport of triathlon - she still can’t choose just one sport. She has been consistently training and racing for 6 years. As a solid age-group mid-packer she understands the joyful pain of racing, and the devastation of being sidelined with injury.
With her background in sports, she is a strong believer that movement is for everyone. Her objective as she works with her patients is to improve pain free movement and assist them as they pursue their goals. She understands that those goals can range from enjoyment of short walks through to elite sports performance. Her desire for each patient she sees is to improve their longevity in movement and in their chosen sport.
She graduated in 2014 from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy and later returned as a member of the faculty to assist with instruction of the Regional and Spinal Orthopaedics course as a teaching assistant. She soon took on the role of lead instructor for two semesters. This experience has reinforced her passion to effectively provide conservative and non-invasive treatment options for many orthopaedic conditions. When orthopaedic conditions require more invasive procedures, such as surgery, she works to compliment her patients’ rehab processes and help them return to healthy movement.
Stefanie is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and has over 15 years of experience working with children and families in non-profit, public health, and private practice sectors.
Using a mind-body approach, Stefanie joins clients to explore the experiential qualities of emotion to support change in their lives. Her work with children, individuals, and families is guided by Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, and Emotionally Focused Therapy. Stefanie’s developmental play background and her experience as a dance educator offer clients of all ages creative approaches to transforming relational and behavioral patterns. Rooted in Family Systems therapies, Stefanie believes emotional shifts experienced in the body create healing for generations.
Stefanie holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy (MCS-MFT) with additional training in play therapy and dance/movement therapy. In her Bachelor of Arts program, she majored in both early childhood education and organizational leadership. Stefanie is a certified member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (C.C.C.).
Additional Training:
Transforming Trauma in the Sand Tray - Madeleine De Little
Neuroscience in the Sand Tray - Madeleine De Little
Emotion Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) Level 1 - VCEFT
Introduction to Dance/Movement Therapy Levels 1 and 2 - The Movement Arc
The Moving Child: Developmental Movement and Dance Therapy for Ages 0-7 - The Movement Arc
Neufeld Intensive 1: Making Sense of Kids - Neufeld Institute
Trauma-Informed Practice: Developing Awareness to Support Others and Self - Vancouver Coastal Health
Growing Up in Play Therapy: Assessing Emotional and Chronological Age - Lisa Dion
EMDR and Play Therapy: A Playful Journey Towards Healing - Ana Gomez
The Embodied Trauma Conference - Rooted Global Village
