Melissa Drabbant

MA, RCC, CCC

Registered Clinical Counsellor (#): 20637

Locations: Surrey Therapist Online

Serving: Adults Young Adults Children (5-12) Couples

Youth Families

Many of us can feel stuck, exhausted, lost, and much more as we encounter the pain and suffering that inevitably comes along with being human. Over time, we may feel a greater sense of isolation and disconnection from ourselves and those around us. It is not my belief that we are meant to make sense of our pain alone. My hope is that counselling may be a space where all parts of you can feel safety, belonging, and acceptance. All of you are welcome here. Together, we can explore these parts and your experiences, moving towards relieving pain where possible, stimulating growth, and deepening connection within yourself, and in your relationships. 

In my time as a counsellor, I have had the honour of coming alongside clients as they process some of their most wounded and vulnerable experiences. It has been powerful to witness their courage, resourcefulness, and innate self-healing capacities throughout the therapeutic process.

GET TO KNOW MELISSA

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GET TO KNOW MELISSA

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GET TO KNOW MELISSA

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GET TO KNOW MELISSA • GET TO KNOW MELISSA • GET TO KNOW MELISSA •

My Professional Background

    • Developmental Trauma, Childhood Abuse, and Complex-PTSD

    • Relationship Issues (family of origin, singlehood/dating, partnership/romantic, & friendship)

    • Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Self-Esteem & Personal Growth

    • Grief & Loss

    • Life Transitions

    *if you want to work with me and don’t see your concern here, mention it on your inquiry form! I’ve worked with many areas and it’s possible I have experience working with yours before, too.

    • Attachment-Based

    • Trauma-Informed

    • Relationally-Centered

    • Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)

    • Structural Dissociation Model & Parts Work

    • Somatic Approaches

    • Mindfulness and Compassion approaches

    • Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy Level 1 (AEDP Institute)

    • Trauma, Dissociation, and the Body: A Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Approach Webinar (Sensorimotor Institute)

    • Sandtray Workshop (Dr. Bart Begalka)

    • Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (Trinity Western University)

    • Bachelor of Arts (Trinity Western University)

    • English

Get To Know Me Personally

  • I take care of myself by connecting with close people, exercising regularly, and wandering through nature.

  • I have always felt drawn to the stories of others, as well as a desire to journey with people through the ups and downs of life. Through my own therapeutic experiences, I realized that I also wanted to cultivate a space where others could feel genuine belonging and connectedness amidst their healing.

  • I moved to Australia for a period between my degrees. This was never a part of the plan, but I am so glad I followed through on that adventure!

  • An actor and a singer.

  • I am spending time with my close people, heading to the ocean, watching a movie/show, or doing physical activity. I also enjoy listening to a range of podcasts, going to concerts, and travelling.

  • Counselling is not for “broken” people who need “fixing.” It is not my belief that people are broken, or that they need to be fixed. Counselling can help clients explore and unlearn the survival strategies they have been using for a long time, which are no longer serving them. It can be a place for clients to rediscover the wisdom and resources that already lie within them, as well as learn other helpful strategies for reducing pain and enhancing connection.

  • The moments when clients have made a connection or sense of something they have never been able to understand or articulate. I find these moments very powerful.

  • Genuine, empathetic, and relatable, along with a calming presence.

  • “Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

    the world offers itself to your imagination,

    calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting-

    over and over announcing your place

    in the family of things.” – Mary Oliver

New Clients

Please fill out the New Client Inquiry form below to book an appointment with Melissa.

Existing Clients

Our online booking feature is available to clients who have already had a first appointment with Melissa.