Elizabeth Jonas
Community Liaison for International Students, Counselor/Therapist
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Certifications/Degrees/Licensure:
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Registered Clinical Counselor (Province of British Columbia, Canada)
Education:
- Master of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Canada)
- Bachelor of Social Work, University of the Fraser Valley (Canada)
Can provide assistance in the following languages: English, Oshiwambo and Afrikaans/Dutch
Professional interests:
Elizabeth has experience supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma from interpersonal violence, life transitions, geo-political forced displacements, intergenerational trauma, intersectional Identities, and academic burnout.
Elizabeth is a Mental Health clinician with lived experiences as an immigrant, as an expat, and as an international student at various stages in life and in various countries around the globe. Elizabeth's approach to therapy is best described as caring, compassionate, and nonjudgmental. She works from a phenomenological approach to human life that supports understanding the client’s worldview. Elizabeth is drawn to multicultural, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed practices as she does acknowledge that human beings are wired for connection. Elizabeth utilizes a strength based, solution-focused therapy model that fosters a collaborative approach with clients to courageously achieve wellness. Elizabeth's therapeutic modalities are informed with evidence-based approaches such as Narrative Therapy, Emotions Focus therapy, CBT, and DBT. She has practiced counseling internationally, in Namibia and Canada as a consultant and counselor in communities, medical and private settings and off course universities. In therapeutic spaces she is aware and mindful of the impacts of colonization and intergenerational trauma while also recognizing the resilience and wellness in communities and cultures.
Personal interests:
When Elizabeth is not working, she enjoys volunteering or fundraising for a great cause. She enjoys reading a great nonfiction book, watching American football, the Premier League or Bundesliga, working on her podcast, traveling, adventuring off to the outdoors activities like hiking or cooking up a good meal with her collective.