Shedeka Richards

Shedeka Richards (she/her) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) #23420 with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors, and holds a Masters of Education in Counselling and a Master of Arts degree in Gender Studies from the University of Northern British Columbia.

In my experience of over five years, I have worked with neurodiverse children, adolescents, adults and families who present with complex issues with a goal to motivate and empower them to lead and live more fulfilling, wholesome and happy lives. My educational background affords me the opportunity of having a multifaceted viewpoint which has permitted me to have a greater appreciation and understanding for the complexity and intersectionality of my clients.

As a counsellor, I aim to provide you with a safe space to be to your truest, authentic self which fosters your healing and growth in a healthier and more wholistic way. I am purposed and privileged to journey with you in recognizing and finding ways to process life’s traumas and to also heal on your own terms and in your own time. Clients who work with me live and embrace a more full life with improved physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being.

Areas of counselling expertise

Do you feel like life is a bit out of control and every step you take or decision you make you question it?

If yes, my goal is to facilitate you with taking back control of your life and making it your own again. I intend to do this by providing you with targeted strategies and treatment personalized to your needs.

Have you lost a loved one, your job, a pet, your health?

Whatever this loss may be, my goal is to help you work through the roller coaster of emotions that grief can cause and to help you acknowledge and process the intense feelings that come with the grieving process while providing a safe and supportive environment for you to feel strong enough to keep moving forward and at the same time acknowledging the loss you have experienced.

Do you feel like you’re easily triggered by any and everything these days? Are you feeling disconnected from reality?

If yes, I provide a space whereby, you can regain your sense of self and control, be better able to engage your senses and be able to replace this anger or dissociation with healthier coping mechanisms.

Are you feeling confused about your sense of self and social roles you play in your personal relationships and otherwise?

If yes, I hope to provide a space whereby you can challenge and understand these negative and intrusive thoughts, be better able to express yourself in a guided way, discover the necessary steps to identify your strengths and values, do self-esteem work and also be able to identify what leads you to these issues in the first place.

Does your spiritual goals and cultural identity feel somewhat misaligned with the life you lead?

I hope to provide a faith/spiritually-based and culturally sensitive approach where I aim to foster an environment that allows you to have the freedom to express yourself by discovering your own faith-derived principles and values and also being able to identify and acknowledge the cultural and diversity issues you’re experiencing and to be better able to discover ways in which you can lead a life that honors every aspect of yourself.

Are you feeling a sense of powerlessness, shame, fear and pain?

If yes, I hope to provide you with a space that fosters empowerment, collaboration, boundary repair and healthy emotional regulation strategies in order to be better able to desensitize and process your traumas and be able to integrate new and empowering coping strategies and beliefs into your experience.

Are you experiencing issues with relationship building, feeling misunderstood or disconnected from the ones you love the most?

If yes, I aim to help you to discover and acknowledge the negative behaviors and thought patterns that result in relationship difficulties in your life and aim to guide you with taking steps forward in order to enhance and improve your interpersonal connectedness with others.

Are you currently navigating emotions of constantly feeling misplaced, misjudged, misunderstood, undervalued and unappreciated?

My multicultural approach is aimed to provide you with a safe space to embrace your uniqueness and feel seen, heard and understood.

Adapting to a new country, job and even culture can be difficult.

My aim is to help you with identifying the social and psychological challenges that come with these major transitionary periods in a new country and being able to guide and assist you in navigating and identifying intercultural relationships, reconcile cultural differences and build a sense of belonging in your home away from home.

I provide a safe and non-judgmental space in which you can be better able to identify and overcome addictive habits and develop an internal locus towards living a healthier, happier life.

Are you experiencing work related issues which are affecting your job performance, mental health and overall well-being?

If yes, my approach is tailored to helping you with finding and rediscovering your skills, passions and strengths in efforts of guiding you towards a more informed decision and pathway that is more aligned with the goals you have in mind for a happier and healthier “You.”

Therapy modalities Shedeka uses in her counselling practice

My therapeutic approach is integrative and aims to pull from various therapeutic modalities, personalized specifically to the needs of my clients. My application of these modalities stems from trauma-informed lens.

  • Person-Centered Therapy (PCT)
  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
  • Family Systems Therapy
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Feminist Focused Therapy
  • Play Therapy
  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT)
  • Employment Counselling

My trauma-focused approach also implements Expressive Play and Sand Tray Therapy which provides a space for children to feel free expressing themselves, processing the traumas they have experienced while also engaging in sensory activities.

Personal qualities / strengths as a counsellor

I consider myself to be someone of a curious nature and I have always had the intrinsic feeling of wanting to help others. Therefore, I have made it a life mission of mine to continue to be in spaces that allow me to contribute to my community and those around me in this very way. My education coupled with my experience has allowed me to be better able to provide clients with the care they need from a more adverse skillset.

As a counsellor I strongly believe in the healing power of talk therapy and the benefits of sharing our burdens in safe spaces. My compassion, unconditional positive regard and acceptance of my clients allows them to feel a sense of safeness with me, which further allows them to be able to find the readiness to share their traumas and difficulties that negatively influence their lives and well-being. It is my greatest hope to help my clients create new perspectives to their stories and find joy in a new lease on life.

Education and professional development

  • Master of Education in Counselling, The University of Northern British Columbia, 2024
  • Master of Arts in Gender Studies, The University of Northern British Columbia, 2019
  • Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Philosophy, The University of the West Indies, 2016
  • Associate Degree in Natural Sciences, 2013
  • Diploma in Applied Sciences, 2013
  • ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Information Centre, 2023
  • Mental Health First Aid Certification (MHFA), Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2021
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences: Healing Childhood Trauma (ACE’s), Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI), 2024
  • Clinical Supervision Skills for Developing Counsellors, Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI), 2024
  • Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Crisis Prevention Institute, 2021
  • Suicide Prevention Training, Living Works, 2021
  • Nowh Guna Tseh Carrier Competency Training, 2024
  • Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behaviour Therapy- Medical University of South Carolina

Shedeka Richards, RCC

Email: info@repiphany.com

“As long as you keep secrets and suppress information, you are fundamentally at war with yourself…The critical issue is allowing yourself to know what you know. That takes an enormous amount of courage.”

Bessel Van Der Kolk
(The Body Keeps The Score)

“As long as you keep secrets and suppress information, you are fundamentally at war with yourself…The critical issue is allowing yourself to know what you know. That takes an enormous amount of courage.”

Bessel Van Der Kolk
(The Body Keeps The Score)

Schedule a free 20-minute consultation with Shedeka Richards, RCC