John Murray, MA, RCC-ACS, CCS, CT
email at: john@sandalwoodcounselling.com
Everyone comes to counselling with a variety of lived experiences that I treat with compassion and curiosity. Each new individual client and couple comes with a story that is unique to them. This story includes elements of culture, family background, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious background, experiences with social norms, and so much more. I work with each person to create an environment that is safe for them to explore their lives, difficulties, and strengths. Together we create goals that guide a journey toward wellness. I always feel honoured when clients choose to see me.
I work with teenage and adult clients desiring personal growth, experiencing interpersonal difficulties, or more specifically struggling with trauma, PTSD, chronic pain, depression, suicidal thinking, anxiety, grief and loss, and more. I work with couples and those in diverse relationship structures who are struggling to determine their right way forward, looking for deeper connection, better communication, or even trying to determine whether they want to remain together. I also provide consultation and supervision to currently-practicing counsellors and therapists.
I welcome individuals and couples from all walks of life and backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQ+ community and non-traditional relationships. I work from an attachment-based, emotionally-focused, and person-centered perspective.
I have my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia. I have certifications as a Canadian Certified Counsellor and as a CCC-Supervisor (CCS #13099) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, as a Registered Clinical Counsellor with Approved Clinical Supervisor designation (RCC-ACS #15459) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, and as a Counselling Therapist (CT #1797) with The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta. I am also part of the clinical team with Wounded Warriors Canada, where I help deliver group programs to members of the Canadian military and first responders in the following programs: COPE (Couples Overcoming PTSD Everyday), TRP 1 & 2 (Trauma Resiliency Program), SRP (Spousal Resiliency Program), and SFP (Surviving Families Program).
I have completed the following trainings: Externship and Core Skills training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and Level 1 and 2 training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals; basic training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy with the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD); and basic certification in trauma therapy with the ISSTD. I have also completed training in supervision through the University of Lethbridge.
It is always my honour to get to know the people who come to me and their stories, to learn what life is like them, and then become a part of how they write their story moving forward. Whether you are an individual or couple looking to change or improve something in your life, or a therapist looking for supervision and support, I would be privileged to be a part of helping you create your story of wellness.