About
Meet Amanda Hecimovic
Learn about my approach, credentials, and values that guide my practice.
Registered Clinical Counsellor
A steady place to make sense of what you are carrying
Hi, I’m Amanda (she/her), and I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor (license #29097) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.
While my counselling work currently focuses on eating disorder recovery and disordered eating, I also welcome clients who may be looking for support with anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-worth, and burnout.
Early on in my undergraduate degree, I had the pleasure of meeting people in eating disorder recovery. They shared their stories with me, describing the isolation and stigma they felt and the lack of resources available to help them in their recovery.
Hearing their stories and witnessing their resilience and vulnerability inspired me to volunteer with a local non-profit, Looking Glass Foundation, to help increase access to mental health support for those in eating disorder recovery. I deeply cherished my time there, so I returned as a practicum student during my graduate program to deepen my skill set.
I am truly passionate about this work. I have seen people make incredible strides in their recovery, from their eating disorder completely ruling their lives to thriving and leading lives aligned with who they are at their core, not their eating disorder. They have shown me and others that recovery is possible.
When I'm not counselling, you'll find me helping youth with learning differences develop their literacy skills, discovering new music, attending concerts, going for long walks by the ocean, connecting (and usually laughing) with loved ones, and improving my watercolour skills.
My Approach
Because I believe that no two healing journeys are the same, I meet clients where they are and honour their individual pace, needs, and capacity throughout the counselling process. I strive to meet each person with warmth, empathy, non-judgement, and a desire to truly understand their unique experiences.
Folks have also appreciated these aspects of working with me:
- Authenticity: I try to be the same person in sessions as I am outside of sessions. I might swear, smile/laugh/shed a tear with you, or make a dated pop culture reference that makes it glaringly obvious I'm a millenial. Bascially, I'll be a real human with real responses when appropriate, not a robot or blank-slate.
- Playfulness & humour - When the timing feels right and its feels therapeutically relevant, I might crack a joke or say something silly to reframe a situation, soften a hard truth, or help process deeper emotions. Sometimes the most healing thing we can do in a situation is laugh about it. Dark, witty, quirky humour is welcome here.
- Accountability - Counselling can be hard work, and our systems may try to protect us from the discomfort in different ways. Although it can feel uncomfortable to confront, I may gently challenge you or direct your attention to the ways you may be getting in your own way, helping you stay accountable to your goals and values.
Through my own experience as a counselling client, I know how important it is to find a counsellor who feels like the right fit for you, where you feel safe, respected, and supported. With the right match, you can truly transform your life.
Modalities
My work is integrative, blending mind-body therapeutic approaches with a particular focus on how our early experiences in life impact our development and may continue to effect our mental wellness in adulthood. Together, we can explore the approaches and strategies that feel most supportive and aligned for you, tailoring counselling to your unique needs.
The therapeutic approaches I typically draw from include:
Education, training, & credentials
- M. Ed in Counselling Psychology, University of British Columbia
- B.A. in Psychology with Counselling Minor, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Counselling Practicum, Looking Glass Foundation for Eating Disorders
- Foundations of 2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusivity, QMUNITY
- Indigenous Gender Diversity, Trans Care BC
- Applied Suicide Intervention Training Skills
- Mental Health First Aid
How we work together
Counselling here is collaborative and practical, honouring your lived experience, knowledge, and wisdom throughout the process
Collaborative care
While I can help guide you, I am not an expert on your life and what works best for you. You know yourself best, which is why counselling tends to work beter when the goals, pace, and focus are shaped together. Throughout our work, I may encourage you to let me know what works and what doesn't, so we can make our time together feel as effective for you as possible.
Respect for lived experience
Experiences shape our lives and influence how we navigate the world, including our identities, beliefs, relationships, behaviours, and needs. And some of those experiences may have been caused by systems in society. I'm dedicated to my continued learning and unlearning to support folks impacted by these systems.
Practical support
What's practical for one person may not feel practical for another. You may want to create a dedicated space for self-reflection, explore what your body maybe communicating, or practice new skills during sessions. In between sessions, you may want homework, goals to work on, or time to process what came up during sessions. We can focus on what feels most helpful and practical for you.