Meet Emma Mason

About

I am a woman of English-Scottish origin (second-generation on my father’s side, third-generation on my mother’s). Born in Alert Bay, I have been a settler on unceded Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw and Coast Salish (Musqueam, lək̓ʷəŋən, W̱SÁNEĆ) territories for most of my life. I was also a visitor on Mohawk territory for six years while I studied at McGill University in Montreal.

I speak French. Yoga, cooking, meditation, cycling, hiking and music all help me with work-life balance, although since becoming a mother and a stepmother, it’s more challenging to fit it all in!

Counselling approach

Since 2005, I have been privileged to support diverse UVic students with personal, mental health and career-related issues including:

• stress and anxiety
• depression
• relationships
• uncertainty about academic or career direction
• grief and loss
• sexual orientation
• gender identity and expression
• alcohol and drug use
• navigating transitions

My focus is to help you discover, trust or reconnect with what brings you fulfillment in university, work and life. Often this requires healing from hurt and overcoming challenges. In fact, challenges that you experience can eventually become your greatest strengths.

My counselling approach is mindfulness-based (learning how to bring awareness and acceptance to all aspects of our experience), client-centered (I believe that you are the expert on you) and holistic (your physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual well-being are all important).

I incorporate elements of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), cognitive-behavioural (CBT), body-centred, dialectical behaviour (DBT) and solution-focused therapies. I am passionate about how mindfulness meditation and yoga can contribute to mental health and wellness.

I regularly facilitate groups including mindfulness skills for stress and anxiety, and career exploration.