The Nook Counselling

1) Are the forms used in your practice inclusive of various sexual orientations and gender identities (e.g. opportunities to fill in different pronouns etc.)? Yes

2) Do you collect and use preferred names (rather than legal names) for all
communications? Yes

3) Do you and your colleagues have experience providing services that support clients with navigating gender dysphoria*? *TransCareBC describes gender dysphoria as a term "intended to describe the distress some trans people experience with relation to their gender identity, particularly if they would like to transition but have not yet done so". Yes

4) Please tell us how equipped you feel to support a client in determining if/when their mental health symptoms are related to their gender-related experiences or other factors? We absolutely feel comfortable having these conversations and helping clients navigate this. It is always a good idea for new clients to reach out first to discuss presenting concerns in order to determine who might be the best fit at that time. While we all have experience in this area, some therapists might be a better fit over others depending on context.

5) Do you/your colleagues understand the difference between gender dysphoria and mental health conditions/symptoms that are unrelated to gender dysphoria or distress? Yes

6) Do you and your colleagues have experience working with people who identify as living with a disability or chronic illness? Please tell us more about your experience and any training you have received. Yes; we have all worked/ work in healthcare and have extensive experience working with those living with a disability or chronic illness. Our social workers also have experience completing PWD applications and navigating disability-specific resources and subsidies through the government/ non-profits. Our team members are familiar with resource navigation and brokering in order to assist our clients with connecting to options that might be helpful for them.

7) Are you and your colleagues comfortable asking relevant questions about gender identity and sexual orientation? Yes, we all have experience with this, some more than others, so I would encourage clients to reach out to determine best fit before booking in directly. Our practice emphasizes inclusivity, anti-oppressive, and trauma informed practice. As such, our therapists are all respectful and open to having these discussions though some may have more experience than others.

8) Do you offer Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ specific resources, for example Indigenous Elders or Knowledge Keepers? We have not had this come up, but would be happy to help anyone explore options and connect with these services if clients are interested.

9) Do you and your colleagues ask clients about pronouns and use them appropriately? Yes

10) Are you and your colleagues aware of what specific barriers may exist for Two-Spirit, queer, or trans Indigenous individuals accessing your services? Yes

11) Are you and your colleagues aware of what specific barriers may exist for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals accessing your services? Yes

12) Are you and your colleagues aware of what specific barriers may exist for trans individuals accessing your services? Yes

13) Are there clear anti-discrimination policies that include gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation in your organization or practice? Yes

14) Are all individuals involved in service provision actively engaged in decolonizing their practices and/or organization? If yes, please type below what actions you and/or your organization are taking. Yes. Reflecting and acknowledging our own social locations and how these can lead to internalized stereotyping and/or biases in regards to ourselves and clients. We have open peer consultation meetings with each other and are comfortable discussing what has been coming up for us and how to navigate if needed. We have also done additional training such as the San’yas program to help inform our practice.

15) Are all individuals involved in service provision actively engaged in anti-racist practices, policies, and systems in their care model? Yes