About Continuing Connections
Our Story
Continuing Connections recognizes your journey towards exploring your needs does not have to end in the counselling room. We work together to develop tools, strategies, stories and resources that can continue to be there for you outside of the counselling space. Healing and strengthening your well-being requires ongoing connection and we focus on ensuring you are getting the support you need once you leave our space.
The two words, continuing and connection came to me early in my career. I began working in the field of social services in 2011, predominantly with youth in and from government care who were navigating many systems. My role as a Youth Worker was to support systems navigation, community resources and advocacy. I often heard service providers use the term “continuity of care” and I had to ask myself, what does this truly mean and how can we provide a continuity of care if files are being closed? As a continued my career and returned to post-secondary to pursue my Masters in Social Work, these thoughts continued to stick with me. Now, as a practicing clinical counsellor, I have learned that the continuity of care model means developing supports alongside clients that become life-long connections in their journey as they continue to grow, heal and explore themselves.
An anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens is applied to the work we do together. We acknowledge that the ongoing harms of colonization and systemic barriers have created barriers and impacted folks, specifically who are racialized and/or 2SLGBTQIA+ and those who have experienced sexual assault/violence. When these lenses are applied to the counselling experience, this means your counsellor acknowledges systemic harm done beyond one’s control and center your needs and identity as we navigate this while reclaiming your power.
Meet Karen
Founder/CounsellorRegistration number: 15820
Karen (she/her) is a South Asian counsellor and a Registered Social Worker (RSW, MSW) currently practicing in Kelowna, BC and is available for virtual sessions throughout BC. In sessions, Karen centers your voice, your needs, and your story. Areas of specialty include anxiety, depression, PTSD, identity, concurrent disorders, life transitions sexual violence, identity, life transitions, work-related stress, cultural beliefs, spirituality, family dynamics, and race-based trauma. When exploring these areas, time is spent understanding your worldview, how you see yourself and your values.
Karen approaches the counselling space by creating a welcoming environment, providing empathy, and compassion for clients. She offers a specific space for racialized clients to bring forward incidents of racism and discrimination and to be able to unpack and debrief them in a safe therapeutic space. Karen supports people with reclaiming their power while addressing systemic level challenges. Clients are invited to explore their own racial identity and impacts of these experiences.
Karen strives to enhance the counselling experience by including cultural ideologies and methods of healing, therefore ensuring your own ways of healing, spirituality and cultural beliefs are included and feel welcome.
Compassion: She values empathy and creates a safe space for clients to explore their emotions, treatment plans and goals.
Cultural Awareness: She recognizes racialized clients may already have their own approaches to wellness and includes this in sessions
Collaboration: She values a strong therapeutic alliance and collaborates with clients to develop tailored treatment goals and strategies.
In her spare time, Karen enjoys art, poetry, music, cultural events, and spending time with family and friends.
Starting this process takes time and ensuring a sense of safety and comfort with your counsellor is essential. A free 15 min consultation is offered for clients to identify their needs in session and determine if they feel Karen would be a good fit as their counsellor.