Meet Mackenzie B.

About

Hi! My name is Mackenzie (she/her), and I am a pre-doctoral psychology resident at the University of Victoria Student Wellness Centre. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa and my graduate studies at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, on the traditional lands of Fort William First Nation. Throughout my training, I have had the opportunity to work with people ranging from age 2 to 80 in hospital settings, community mental health, and private practice.

I take a holistic and collaborative approach to counselling, recognizing that our mental and physical health are deeply interconnected. I have a passion for supporting people living with ongoing physical health concerns or chronic pain, and in helping people develop skills that support their overall well-being, manage stress, regulate their emotions and improve relationships. I also recognize that our experiences of health are shaped by the systems and communities around us, including experiences of inequity, discrimination, and barriers to care. I strive to approach my counselling work with the values of social justice, curiosity, humility, and an awareness of the broader social and cultural contexts that shape people's lives.

I draw from a range of evidence-based approaches, including self-compassion, mindfulness, family systems, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). I adapt these approaches to each person and their goals, and believe that counselling works best as a collaborative process. My hope is to create a warm, non-judgmental space where we can make sense of what you are experiencing, build on your strengths, and work toward the changes that matter to you.

Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors - swimming, climbing, hiking, paddling, or simply soaking up some sunshine. Nature is an important source of grounding for me, and I welcome opportunities to explore our relationships with land and the natural world in the therapy space.