Getting to Know Your Counsellor: Kristen Hydes
The counsellors at Peak Resilience work from a human-first approach to counselling. We believe in the power of being real humans who are authentic and vulnerable - just like you. This led to our blog post series called "Getting to Know Your Counsellor", where we'll feature our counsellors answering questions so you can:
1) get to know us better, and
2) hopefully feel even more safe/comfortable when you come in for counselling.
Q: What is your favourite thing about being a counsellor?
A: I think it is an immense privilege to be able to sit with another individual and witness their truth. The relationship between client and therapist is very sacred, and very special, and I enjoy creating a space where clients feel they can escape the buzz of the vibrant city, and be seen in all of their beautiful authenticity. I’ve often referred to the space at Peak Resilience as my ‘haven’ for both myself and clients, and I think stepping into a ‘haven’ for work, is pretty neat.
Q: What would you say to someone who is thinking about coming to counselling?
A: You don’t have to do it alone.
Often times when we arrive to counselling, it may be due to feeling stuck, frustrated, lost or alone. We often internalize these experiences and it can be challenging to have self compassion or kindness to ourselves when we are trapped in these thought patterns. Having a therapist allows for you to have someone beside you, helping you on this journey, providing different perspectives, and offering support and guidance every step of the way. I like to use the visualization of my clients in the driver's seat, and I am holding a map, with lots of possible routes, and the two of us work together to find the best way to our destination.
Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
A: Teleportation - so I don’t have to deal with traffic :)
Q: What is your favourite color?
A: The ocean.
Q: What do you love about living in Vancouver?
A: I love that Vancouver can be both energetic and lively, and also calming and grounding. I am grateful that I can walk outside and be a few steps from the ocean, or deep in a forest of green. For me, Vancouver provides a lifestyle where I can both escape and experience.
Q: How do you practice self-care?
A: I have a morning and an evening practice of self care that allows for a few moments of reflection and acknowledgement. I do yoga once a week, and also ensure I have some outdoor time on my days off. When I feel distracted, or lost, I walk down to the water and stick my hand in the ocean and usually I find a rock that I stick in my pocket for a few days.
I spend time with friends, take long baths, avoid CNN, read as much as I can, and practice saying ‘no’. The biggest learning over the last few years for me, has been the act of saying ‘no’, and having boundaries, and not absorbing the emotional guilt of disappointing others. What I have learned is that my encounters with friends and family are more intentional, and now I am more present. And when I am more present, I am a really fun person to be around :)
Q: What is the best advice someone has given you?
A: “You can’t read the label while inside the jar”
Q: Why is intersectional feminism important to you?
A: Intersectional Feminism is important to me, as it examines that there are different experiences and identities of women, which is quite different from earlier waves of feminism that were focused on the experiences of white, middle class, women. What I love about intersectional feminism, is that it acknowledges all parts of the individual, and as a therapist, I find it helpful to work from this lens to have a deeper understanding of my clients and also the barriers or power imbalances that may be present in their lives that impact their mental health.
Interested in knowing more about Kristen? You can check out her profile, watch her intro video, or send her an email at kristen@peak-resilience.com.
If you’re still not sure who might be a good fit for you, you can also fill out our GET MATCHED Form - we'll match you with the best counsellor for you within 24 hours.