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Student Wellness

Lorna Breen

Pre-doctoral Psychology Resident

Counsellors

Contact:

About

Hi there! My name is Lorna (they/she), and I’m one of the pre-doctoral psychology residents here at the Student Wellness Centre. I’m a white settler of European ancestry (Irish, Scottish) born and raised on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstis, also known as Calgary, Alberta, which is the territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy (the Piikani, Kainai, and Siksika Nations) and the Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations, and also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6). I’ve been an uninvited visitor on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples since I started graduate school in 2019 here at UVic, where I’m currently completing my PhD in Clinical Psychology.

In my downtime, I enjoy playing Dungeons & Dragons (I just finished a 4-year campaign!) video games, painting and other crafty pursuits, as well as hiking, camping, gardening, and other outdoorsy activities that allow me to slow down, be present, and be human.

Counselling Approach

I use an integrative approach, drawing from different therapeutic frameworks (CBT, DBT, ACT, Narrative therapy, IFS) to meet you where you are and move towards the goals for our work that feel most meaningful to you. My intention in the counselling process is to work with you in navigating challenges in ways that honour the complexity and wisdom of your unique experiences, including your strengths. I believe in creating a collaborative, non-judgmental space where we can explore your concerns together, and expand the space around places where you feel stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed to make room for new possibilities that feel aligned with your hopes for yourself and your future. I hold a relational view of healing and well-being that prioritizes the value of interdependence and community, and the belief that none of us are meant to face obstacles by ourselves – it’s hard to do it all alone, because we were never supposed to.

Through my clinical training, I've had the opportunity to work with people from diverse backgrounds facing a wide range of concerns. Some areas I'm particularly passionate about include:

  • Depression and anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Substance use concerns
  • Eating concerns and body image
  • Relationships with self and others
  • Neurodivergence and neurodiversity
  • Identity exploration, including gender and sexual identity
  • Navigating the effects of marginalization and social inequality on mental health and wellness