JOY GILLETT 

In 1996, Joy became registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors in the midst of twelve years of serving First Nations communities in northern BC as a health educator with the federal government. 

 

Because of Joy’s public health background in developing countries, in 1991, she was sent north to assist Aboriginal communities in addressing the emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, she soon learned from the elders, residential school survivors, health and social service providers, and other community members that the work to be done was much more than dealing with a contagious viral disease. The real underlying issues were about loss and grief; recovery of identity, culture and language; and the promotion of not just physical – but mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational health and well-being in the context of Aboriginal culture and worldview. 

 

While working closely with community leaders and members, Joy learned to take a positive, strength-based, capacity development approach; an orientation she brings to her clinical counselling practice today. She believes that individuals have the wisdom and capacity within to reframe and find peace and healing for their life losses and challenges.

 

Joy brings a holistic, body/mind/spirit perspective to clinical counselling. She works with women and men of various ages who are interested in learning to cope with challenges such as anxiety and depression; loss and grief; stress and conflict; traumatic backgrounds; family dysfunction; anger, shame, and fear; or major life changes, illnesses or injuries. Within a psycho-educational approach, Joy integrates aspects of Bowen Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems, understanding and respecting personality and temperament, and taking care of and listening to one’s physical self alongside imaginative approaches such as story-telling, visioning, meaning and purpose exercises, and self-hypnosis (for sleep improvement) in response to individual client needs and interests.

 

While always interested in psychology, Joy studied science at UBC (Vancouver), theology at Regent College (Vancouver), spiritual direction at Carey Theological College (Vancouver), conflict resolution at the Justice Institute of BC (Burnaby), public health at UCLA (Los Angeles), and clinical counselling at Colorado Christian University (Denver). Joy has worked as a Medical Technologist, lab supervisor, medical researcher/writer, educator/trainer, and manager while at home in Canada and abroad – and most recently, as a part-time clinical counsellor in Victoria.

 

Joy loves to practice Tai Chi in the fresh air by the sea with a small group of avid practitioners, hang out with friends and family, cook, read, study and learn, walk, swim, bike, and hike – and take time to smell the roses.