Why I Founded Reverie Therapy: My Journey to Empowering Parents Through Counselling
Reverie Therapy was founded in Maple Ridge, British Columbia in 2024. But for me, the journey toward building a clinical counselling practice with a focus on maternal mental health and couples counselling has been a lifetime in the making. As a mother, I understand how challenging the transition to parenthood can be, and how essential, yet overwhelming it can feel to find and build a strong support network. Parents were never meant to do all of this alone, nor should we have to. As a Registered Clinical Counsellor, I strive to play a role in clients’ network of support and care. I have seen firsthand the transformative impact that specialized support such as clinical counselling can have on individuals, couples, and families. This is what motivates my virtual and in-person counselling work with mothers navigating maternal mental health, and with couples choosing to prioritize their relationship throughout their parenting journey.
Reverie Therapy was founded in Maple Ridge, British Columbia in 2024. But for me, the journey toward building a clinical counselling practice with a focus on maternal mental health and couples counselling has been a lifetime in the making. As a mother, I understand how challenging the transition to parenthood can be, and how essential, yet overwhelming it can feel to find and build a strong support network. Parents were never meant to do all of this alone, nor should we have to. As a Registered Clinical Counsellor, I strive to play a role in clients’ network of support and care. I have seen firsthand the transformative impact that specialized support such as clinical counselling can have on individuals, couples, and families. This is what motivates my virtual and in-person counselling work with mothers navigating maternal mental health, and with couples choosing to prioritize their relationship throughout their parenting journey.
Shared Experiences
I believe in the power of sharing my personal experiences, both in my writing and sometimes even during sessions with counselling clients. Doing so allows me to be transparent and authentic, offering a glimpse into my own journey as a parent. This not only fosters a deeper connection with my clients but also demonstrates that I truly understand the unique challenges and emotions they experience. As a counsellor, it is important for me to acknowledge that I have been there, and that my insights come from both professional knowledge and personal lived experience. Sharing these experiences helps to create a safe, empathetic space where clients feel understood and supported.
Finding My Path as a Counsellor
Like many others who find their way toward work they are passionate about, my path to becoming a Registered Clinical Counsellor specializing in maternal mental health and couples counselling was deeply shaped by my own journey. Years ago, after waiting for what felt like the “right” time to start a family, I was delighted to discover I was pregnant. Twelve weeks into this first pregnancy, I suffered a miscarriage. At the time, miscarriage was rarely talked about, and I didn’t realize how common it was. I felt utterly devastated, overwhelmed by grief, and all I wanted was to talk to someone who understood. With my background and experience, I knew where to look for support, but I found it incredibly difficult to find the specialized mental health care I needed within my community.
“I felt utterly devastated, overwhelmed by grief, and all I wanted was to talk to someone who understood.”
Over the next few years, I gave birth to two healthy daughters, but my experiences with pregnancy, birth, and postpartum were far from easy. In addition to experiencing birth trauma, I found it difficult to adjust to my new role as a mother and noticed that many relationships in my life had changed. I knew that I, too, had changed, in ways that I didn’t yet understand, and at times, I felt incredibly isolated. Once again, I struggled to find the specialized support I needed, but eventually, I built a meaningful therapeutic relationship with a Registered Clinical Counsellor. This had a profound and lasting impact on my well-being and further reinforced my belief that finding the right “fit” when it comes to the counsellor-client relationship can be vital.
Observing a Need
As I connected with others in the parenting community through my parenting journey, I continued to hear the same concerns from mothers: they were struggling, feeling isolated, and disconnected from their partners, families, and support networks. I became determined to step up and bridge the gap I saw so many mothers and expectant mothers falling into. I didn’t want anyone else to endure what I had gone through. I believe that every parent deserves the resources and empowerment to thrive—not only for their family but for themselves. While raising my own young children, I tapped into this deep well of motivation to support parents in my community. After several years, a graduate degree in Counselling Psychology, and a few gray hairs, I became a Registered Clinical Counsellor and founded Reverie Therapy in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.
“I became determined to step up and bridge the gap I saw so many mothers and expectant mothers fall into.”
A Focus on Maternal Mental Health
Maternal mental health is often overlooked and underserved in the broader mental health landscape, despite its critical importance throughout the journey of parenthood. Encompassing pregnancy and the prenatal period, birth, postpartum, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, fertility struggles, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, family transitions, and more, maternal mental health is a vital aspect of well-being that affects not only the individual mother but the entire family unit. Addressing these issues with the appropriate care and support is essential to ensure mothers can navigate the challenges they face and thrive in their new roles.
Through Reverie Therapy, I provide a dedicated focus on maternal mental health because I recognize how essential it is to offer specialized support during this transformative time. I understand that the mental and emotional well-being of mothers directly impacts their ability to care for themselves, their families, and ultimately, their communities. By offering tailored therapeutic care, I aim to empower mothers to embrace their journey with confidence, resilience, and a strong support system. Through this focused approach, I hope to promote healing, well-being, and balance for both mothers and their families, creating a foundation for healthier, more connected relationships.
Observing the Link Between Maternal Mental Health and Couples Counselling
The challenges of maternal mental health and the impact on relationships during the transition to parenthood are deeply interconnected. This is why my work with mothers naturally extends to couples counselling as well. The transition to parenthood is a profound and transformative experience for every couple, and it can also place significant stress and strain on the relationship. Couples often find themselves navigating new roles, responsibilities, and dynamics, which can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and a sense of disconnect within the relationship. These issues are often not acknowledged as normative within our society at large, and therefore, many couples and individuals are left feeling like they are the only ones struggling.
Understanding the importance of a supportive and equitable partnership within the context of parenting, I have centred couples counselling as a core component of my clinical work at Reverie Therapy. By providing a space for parents to communicate openly, find a sense of equity, resolve conflicts, and strengthen their bond, I aim to foster a supportive environment that empowers couples and benefits families.
A Final Word
I hope that by sharing a glimpse into my personal journey towards founding Reverie Therapy, both current and prospective clients will feel a sense of connection with my story, and gain a deeper understanding of what motivates me to do this work. I believe that sharing this personal insight will provide clarity on whether we might be a good fit to work together and offer clients the confidence that they are supported by someone who truly understands the complexities of parenthood and mental health.
Through my clinical counselling work at Reverie Therapy, my goal is to contribute to empowering parents, offering them the tools, support and empowerment needed to thrive in their roles and build healthier, happier families. I envision a future where families are better equipped to handle the challenges of parenthood, and society as a whole becomes more understanding, compassionate, and supportive of the mental health needs of parents.
Let’s Connect!
I would be honoured to be a part of a transformative journey with you, and I look forward to the opportunity to connect, find insight and foster growth together as you navigate your path to well-being and fulfillment. Through this work, we can create positive change that reaches beyond individual families to create a ripple effect of growth and healing within our communities.
If you are interested in getting started on working together, please reach out. I look forward to hearing from you.
Warmly,
Jess