Özlem Mavis, Student Counsellor
Özlem Mavis, Student Counsellor (she/her)
AREAS OF FOCUS:
Existential Issues
Relationships and Sexuality
Cross-Cultural Issues, Identity and Belonging
Chronic Illness or Pain
LGBTQ2SIA+
THERAPY MODALITIES:
Body-centered and Somatic Approaches
Expressive Arts Therapy
Focusing-Oriented Therapy
Embodied Experiential Dreamwork
Spiritually-Integrated Psychotherapy
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT WHEN WORKING WITH ÖZlem
My aim is always to provide a gentle, creative, collaborative, and non-judgmental space. I deeply respect the courage it takes to begin this journey and approach each session with kindness, curiosity, openness, and a touch of playfulness to foster a supportive healing environment.
My sessions often include body-centered and somatic approaches, alongside a deeply relational approach. I also offer expressive arts therapy for interested clients, which can include creative processes such as painting, writing, storytelling, movement, or music, leading to surprising insights and unimagined possibilities. No prior experience required!
Özlem’s EXPERIENCE & TRAINING
My fascination with creative expression, psychology, and the existential-spiritual dimension of life led me to a B.A. in English Literature and World Religions from McGill University. I then earned a Graduate Certificate in Spiritually-Informed Psychotherapy from St. Stephen’s College. Since 2017, I've undergone extensive training in Focusing, an experiential therapeutic modality facilitating access to unique bodily-felt knowing. Additionally, I hold a certificate in embodied experiential dreamwork—a somatic, client-led process of working with dreams and nightmares.
I am currently pursuing my RCC designation as a Master’s student in the Expressive Arts Therapy and Psychology program at the European Graduate School. My previous roles, from supporting adults with diverse abilities to offering individual expressive arts therapy sessions to elementary school students, enrich my training with real-world empathy and understanding.
ON A PERSONAL NOTEThirteen years ago, I undertook a life-changing journey, moving from Turkey to Canada alone. This experience deepened my understanding of cross-cultural challenges, belonging, and self-discovery. My personal therapy journey, which has helped me explore my sexual identity, spirituality, chronic illness, and anxiety, informs my empathetic and non-judgmental counselling approach. I highly value authenticity and aim to remove shame from the process of self-exploration. No topic is off-limits in our work together.
In my free time, I find solace in freediving, nature walks, music, meditation, journaling, and painting, which keep me grounded and inspired.
FEESSessions with Özlem are $60 per 50 minute session for individuals, plus GST.
HOURSÖzlem is available Sundays, Tuesdays 2:30-8, and Thursdays 11:30 - 2:30.
Trainings:
Trauma-Informed Grief Support - 2024 - with Shauna Janz
Kink Education for Therapists - 2024 - with Sexual Health Alliance
Intro to AEDP - with Diana Fosha
Transform Trauma Through Fierce Love - AEDP Institute - with SueAnn Piliero
Making Good Use of Suffering - AEDP Institute - with Jerry Lamagna
Getting Started or Restarted with AEDP - AEDP Institute - with Ben Lipton
Graduate Certificate in Spiritually Informed Psychotherapy - St. Stephen's College
Focusing Level 4 - with The International Focusing Institute
Embodied Experiential Dreamwork Certification - with Dr. Leslie Ellis
Nature-based Expressive Arts Therapy Certification - with World Arts Organization
All of the counsellors at Bodymind Counselling gratefully live and practice on the lands of Lekwungen peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples.
