Marlae Vermeer (she/her) is a Registered Social Worker (BCCSW # 17149) and Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC # 23248). She draws from Narrative Therapy and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy to promote exploration of self and/or relationships. Marlae provides individual therapeutic support and specializes in family therapy. Marlae is passionate about establishing a safe and empathetic space that allows for deeper exploration of the significant stories and events that can ultimately shape our lives. In her spare time, she enjoys backpacking in the mountains, tending to her flower and vegetable garden, and tasting food from around the world.
Marlae commenced work in this field in 2009 providing support to families who were new to Canada. She continued providing family case management, counselling, intervention, and group facilitation (e.g., parent/child programs) through 2016. From 2017-present she has been providing mediation, counselling, parenting support, and consult/referral for families and individuals experiencing diverse challenges (e.g., substance misuse, mental health, relationship difficulties).
EFFT is rooted in a deep belief in the healing power of families. The therapist’s role is to empower and support caregivers to strengthen support strategies to attend to their loved one’s mental health needs. Caregivers are supported to gain skills in supporting the interruption of symptoms and maladaptive behaviours (e.g., anxiety, depression, self-harming). They are coached to increase emotional support, and validation techniques. EFFT addresses obstacles that impact the parent or caregiver effectiveness in their support efforts. For example, some parents are afraid that addressing concerns with their child will lead the child to feel depressed or suicidal, leaving the parents unsure of how to respond. Other parents may feel helpless because approaches they have tried did not work and therefore, find themselves relying on controlling or punitive techniques to motivate beahvioural change.
Throughout the past fourteen (14) years, I have facilitated a diversity of evidence-based, connection-focused parenting programs for parents with young children, including The Incredible Years, Nobody’s Perfect, and Make the Connection. I have also provided Parent-Teen Mediation services for over seven (7) years. I am passionate about providing targeted support to address conflict in the family home and work to support the restoration of safer communication and repair in relationship between parents and their children/youth. I provide family support for caregivers with children/youth who live with neurodiversity (e.g., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD],Oppositional Defiant Disorder [ODD]) and/or mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety, trauma) and associated risky behaviours (e.g., eating disorders, self-harming, aggression, behavioural issues).
Some of my specialized training includes:
I offer individual and family therapy and may be booked for phone or video sessions.
We would be happy to hear from you and book a free consultation for you. If you’re interested in getting in touch with us, fill out our contact form and let us know if there was a counsellor you’d prefer to work with. We will do our best to accommodate requests based on counsellor availability and specialty.
