Jade-Elise Kirk, MA, RCC, CCC, DVATI

Quote: “Painful feelings are, by their very nature, temporary. They will weaken over time as long as we don’t prolong or amplify them through resistance or avoidance. The only way to eventually free ourselves from debilitating pain, therefore, is to be with it as it is. The only way out is through.”
― Kristin Neff

My Background:

My name is Jade-Elise Kirk (she/ her), I work as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), and Art Therapist. I have experience working with a wide range of individuals who are seeking a path to clarity, growth, and healing. If you’re seeking compassionate guidance to navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges, then you’ve come to the right place.

I was born and raised in the Maritimes, on the East Coast of Canada.  I moved to Vancouver in 2010 to start my career as a counsellor. I have worked in many different roles supporting people with their mental health, including the Canadian Cancer Society, John Howard Society, and Battered Women Support Services. I have also worked as an Art Therapist within the Vancouver School Board for many years supporting children, youth, and families. I have been with Alpine Counselling Clinic since 2019 and currently meet with clients ages 12+. I feel so grateful to be working as a counsellor here in beautiful British Columbia, and even more grateful for every client who chooses to share their healing journey with me.

Academically, I hold a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, a Bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology, and a Diploma from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. I remain committed to ongoing education and training to provide you with the highest quality care. I adhere to ethical guidelines and prioritize your confidentiality and well-being.

Therapeutic Approach:

My work with clients often begins by exploring patterns, core beliefs, and value systems. Gaining awareness of these areas can reveal why certain emotions or physical sensations take over, what they might be protecting you from re-experiencing, and how to reconnect with who we are at the core. I believe we all have the capacity to rewire our brain and reshape our relationship with our life’s challenges.

My goal is to help you build a deeper connection with yourself, creating space for curiosity, self-discovery, self-compassion, and growth. Together, we will work to understand the function of your symptoms, heal past wounds, and restore a sense of trust in yourself. I offer a collaborative, personalized approach that prioritizes your unique needs and supports you in developing confidence, coping skills, and a greater sense of well-being. Through our collaborative work, we’ll create a therapeutic relationship built on trust, empathy, and respect. It is also important to me that your individual experiences, identities, and cultural backgrounds are honoured and valued throughout our sessions.

I provide trauma-informed care and have a special interest in the relationship between self-criticism and self-compassion. My work integrates evidence-based modalities like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting Hakomi, and Art Therapy to gently guide emotional processing and strengthen inner resources. I also draw from Somatic Experiencing, Polyvagal Theory, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients further understand and manage automatic responses in the mind and body. By fostering a compassionate connection with your body, we’ll unlock a powerful tool for self-care, grounding, and emotion regulation.

If you’re ready to embark on a transformative journey towards healing, growth, and self-empowerment, I invite you to reach out.

Client Testimonials:

“I began counselling because I wanted to learn how to deal with my anxiety. Before therapy, I did not know how to describe my feelings or how to break down my thoughts. I felt stuck as I wanted to be more emotionally resilient but I did not know how to do it. Through my counselling with Jade-Elise, I learned how to accept my anxiety and understand what core values drove my emotions. I learned how to be self-compassionate, a tool I am still developing now, but one that I know how to develop because of Jade-Elise. I would recommend Jade-Elise to anyone who wants to try counselling and to anyone who wants clarity!” SL – Jan 2020

“In our sessions, Jade immediately created a comfortable, supportive, and safe atmosphere. She is an excellent listener, and she provided perceptive and insightful feedback and suggestions throughout our time. I felt that she understood my experiences and feelings, and Jade offered concrete strategies and approaches for me to pursue in order to address my challenges. I would unreservedly recommend Jade to anyone looking for a supportive and safe counselling experience.” M – Sept 2019

“Six months prior to my first session with Jade, I ended up in an emergency room with my first panic attack. It was a very terrifying experience since I had no idea what was happening to me; hence, the emergency room visit. Afterwards, I lived in constant fear of getting another panic attack and not being able to cope with it. Thanks to the therapy treatment I received at Alpine Clinic, I regained my life back. I am able to walk wherever I want again and I am free of panic attacks. Jade was very patient and understanding. She taught me coping techniques, which I was able to quickly apply in real life situations. The whole therapy took only 8 weeks.” GS – Sept 2019