Jennifer L. Cole

MA, CCC, MACA, SEP

Bio

I received my undergraduate degree in Applied Human Sciences and Theological Studies in Montreal. I then went on to serve college students and  staff for 12 years in a parachurch organization. I hold a Master of Arts degree in Counselling and I have been practicing counselling therapy since 2006 in various parts of Canada, the United States, and Australia. I, like you perhaps, am no stranger to emotional and relational pain. I bring perspective to counseling from a range of professional as well as personal experiences.

I have recently embarked on a Doctor of Ministry degree in Spiritual Formation and Direction. My research interests include looking at the impact of early trauma on spiritual formation--essentially how inter-generational and early trauma impacts our embodied knowing of ourselves and the Holy Spirit. I enjoy travel and I have a 'wonder' and 'curiosity' for life and people! At home I enjoy hosting and feeding family, friends, and sometimes strangers. I love bird watching and I have two very sweet dogs. 

My Approach

My counselling style is highly relational, non-judgemental, and empathic: I am a client centered therapist. I believe that each person carries within themselves the blueprint for healing and recovery. 

I work from a holistic perspective in that not only do I work with the mind and emotions, but I also work somatically (with sensation in the body). I love to work with trauma, especially developmental and complex trauma, as these are formative experiences which impact our relationships.

With couples and families, I work from a family systems and somatic attachment-based paradigm. I enjoy working in inter-cultural and cross-cultural settings. Other therapeutic modalities I draw on include Internal Family Systems and Narrative Therapy.

My Specialties

  • Pre-marital and marriage counseling
  • Infidelity and/or betrayal
  • Domestic violence and abuse
  • Co-dependency
  • Addictions
  • Family of origin issues
  • Grief and loss
  • Trauma (pre- and peri-natal, developmental, complex, shock, etc.)
  • Spiritual formation and direction
  • Inter-cultural and cross-cultural issues.

Education, Certifications & Training

  • Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies and Applied Human Sciences
  • Master of Arts in Counselling
  • Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP)
  • Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCC #3224)
  • The Association of Counselling Therapists of Alberta (ACTA #2430)
  • The Australia Counselling Association (MACA level 4 #17077)
  • PSI CHI - The International Honour Society in Psychology
  • SMART Recovery
  • ENRICH Canada – prepare and enrich for marriage
  • Externship in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
  • Certificate in Narrative Therapy (Narrative Practices Adelaide SA)
  • Intercultural Competency Inventory Qualified Administrator