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KENDRA POMFRET   MC, RCC

Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)

Master of Counselling & Psychotherapy (Hons.),

City University of Seattle

Bachelor of Arts (Sociology), University of Victoria

Former National Team Athlete (1500) and Collegiate Team Captain

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Throughout the last decade of competing for - and working within - Canadian University Athletic Departments, I have identified and experienced significant gaps in mental health services for student-athletes, teams, and coaches. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of these barriers extend to high school, club, post-collegiate, and elite levels of sport as well. Accordingly, I created Strides Counseling & Mental Performance in hopes of making therapeutic services more accessible, meaningful, and client-oriented. While completing my Master's, my research efforts focused on examining the institutional and interpersonal barriers to U-SPORTS student athletes' accessibility to adequate, mental health supports on campus. Drawing from the data collected, I began tailoring my practice to better suit athlete needs (e.g., flexible appointment times, locations, therapeutic approach, formats, etc.). This allowed, and continues to allow me to more effectively reach the needs of my clients that compete across high school, collegiate, and Olympic levels. It has also allowed for more efficient lines of communication and extended supports when facilitating mental performance workshops with teams/coaching staff, and engaging with various affiliated multidisciplinary support staff members, such as Dr. Forsyth!  

 

Prior to graduate school, I spent two years gaining clinical experience and training working with a diverse range of children and youth in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings. Within my current private practice, I continue to enjoy working with a diverse range of clients (14+) and couples with uniquely presenting concerns. These areas include but are not limited to, challenges with performance and social anxiety, depression and/or low mood, trauma and interpersonal abuse, grief and loss, disordered eating/RED-S, communication challenges, and relational conflicts. 

 

When I am not working, you can find me spending time with my golden retriever, Doug, running, cycling, crafting, and enjoying quality time with friends at my cabin on Gambier Island! 

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CONTACT KENDRA

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I am currently welcoming new, virtual clients (individual and couples). If you're interested in working together, please email me to set up a free 20-minute consultation where we can discuss your specific goals and determine if we are a good fit for one another! 

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C: 778-678-7595

COUNSELLING PHILOSOPHY & APPROACH

 

Drawing from client centred, collaborative, and strength-based approaches, I bring a refreshing mix of patience, compassion, curiosity, and humour to each individually tailored session. My goal is to facilitate a space that feels safe enough to be challenged by difficult conversations, and familiar enough to feel genuinely understood, accepted, and capable of creating meaningful change.

My skillset helps you rediscover your pre-existing strengths that can be used to create new or more useful ways of coping with the distress and discomfort you may be experiencing. This includes purposeful consideration of how your past experiences could be influencing your current state of being and the direction/pace of where you would like to go.

My services are safe, welcoming, non-judgmental, and confidential.Given the diversity of individual's presenting concerns and desired outcomes, I draw from a number of therapeutic modalities, including, but not limited to, 

 

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

  • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EMT)

  • Family Systems Therapy

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Trauma Informed Practice

  • Response Based Practice

  • Mental Fitness Training 

  • Performance Consulting 

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Mindfulness, Imagery, and Visualization. 

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