About Stevee
Hi! My name is Stevee McDade (she/her). I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (#23135), as well as a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (#15261). I hold a master's degree in counselling and a bachelor's degree in social work. Western education has provided me with the professional titles listed above; however, my greatest teacher in showing up for others comes from my own lived experience of grief and loss (something that touches us all) and my ongoing work, as both a counsellor and social worker, within systems known to perpetuate colonial violence.
I believe the connection between human beings in a shared environment is what matters most, more than any counselling technique used. We all possess an innate knowing of what we need and want, where to begin, and what to do next; yet, this knowing often becomes blurred by social expectations and cultural norms we have come to internalize about what is acceptable and what is not. I like to think of counselling as a way to hold oneself accountable for how one wants to feel; an opportunity to recognize desired feelings and work towards them.
I have completed additional trainings in Somatic Embodiment and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, as well as an End-of-Life Doula program. I have worked in correctional facilities and recovery programs (as a yoga instructor), child protection, acute care, and psychiatry (as a Social Worker), and currently, with the health authority (as a Mental Health & Substance Use Consultant).
Outside of the counselling realm, I can be found outdoors with my four large dogs or taking in a farmers’ market for local and sustainable goodies! I aspire to have a large farm one day, where counselling occurs in the barn, and the land is a place of acceptance for everyone; a sanctuary for those who are dying, those experiencing substance-related concerns, and anyone looking for a place to belong.
Why work with Stevee?
I did not find my way into this work from a place of having it all figured out. I have wept on therapists' couches (Yes, plural!) and have done things that hurt myself and others in the process. I did not learn humility or accountability in a textbook. I see a part of myself in everyone person I work alongside. Our stories may be different, but the feelings are the same.
Stevee's counselling style
I look to understand people through the way their earliest experiences have shaped their nervous system and brain development. I’m interested in working with the root causes of emotional pain and value our bodies as one of the most reliable sources of information (if we can become comfortable enough to listen to them). From a theoretical perspective, I am drawn to somatic, relational, and attachment-based approaches; however, the foundation of my approach is always person-centered and trauma-informed, with a focus on using language that is invitational and collaborative, so each person experiences therapy that is a good fit for them.
What to expect in a session
I come to this work from a place of humility and compassionate curiosity. I look forward to holding space for your evolving emotional experience, no matter its complexity. Tears, sobs, snorts, uncertainty, and laughter are all welcome!
"On Earth, everyone loved butterflies, but I trusted the caterpillars more. I trusted the ones who knew they were not done growing".
- Andrea Gibson
I humbly acknowledge that my work takes place on unceded Indigenous lands belonging ancestrally to the Pentlatch, E’ikwsan, and K'ómoks peoples, who are the past, present, and future stewards of this place I call home.