Brandy Holownia

Brandy holds a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology from UBC (2022) and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. Prior to becoming a counsellor, she graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (1994) from the University of Alberta and worked for several years in business until she moved to Vancouver to complete a Master of Arts in Theological Studies (2000) at Regent College. She worked at Regent for 20 years in a variety of roles supporting graduate students. The rigorous academics, internationally diverse, and vibrant community at Regent were formative for how Brandy learned to experience and offer care and presence to others.

Her interest in becoming a counsellor began from formative experiences of connection to marginalized people. Through these experiences she developed into someone who seeks to offer acceptance, empathy, and support to those vulnerable, isolated, oppressed while also creating hope for self discovery, resilience, and transformation. She acknowledges being a settler to the Vancouver area and honors the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples on which she lives, works, and plays.

Brandy brings a non-directive, person centered approach grounded in the belief that every person has value and holds the capacity for self discovery and growth. Her approach is trauma-informed, relational, and experiential. She incorporates mindfulness, self-compassion, and somatic awareness in her work with clients and understands the counselling relationship to be built on safety, trust, and hope. Brandy has interest in working with young adults and adults with various concerns including spiritual and cultural crisis, life transitions, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, identity issues.