With a Masters in Counselling, Rupinder is an experienced therapist with a passion to help. She has held various supervisory roles, including work at an Employee and Family Assistance program. She has worked in private practice, at a crisis line, and has had a lengthy career with BC Mental Health and Substance Use, in Correctional Health Services, as a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Supervisor. Rupinder’s career has allowed her to work with people with various challenges and mental health concerns.
Abbotsford Clinical Director
MCP, Registered Clinical Counsellor
She/Her
Rupinder Sidhu
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Words to live by
Life isn’t about finding yourself
it’s about creating yourself
Q & A With our Staff
A little bit more about me
Education?
I completed my Master’s in Counselling Psychology at Adler University, after doing a double major in both psychology and criminology in a Bachelor of Arts from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, along with an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology.
Top three specializations?
Primary modalities used
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Solution Focused Therapy
Professional Clinical Counselling Certification
BC Association of Clinical Counsellors: Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) # 13786
What do people say your biggest strength is?
I’ve heard people say that I’m consistently real. I’m authentically myself – who I am is who I am, no matter who I’m talking to. I’m told I have a good sense of humour and have a passion for helping those wounded by life.
One thing you’ve learned from working with people?
People are resilient! I’ve had the honour of working with various people going through various challenges and have been blown away by how strong they are. This understanding is paired with knowing how individual trauma can be. A lot of times, we compare our trauma to others, when in reality, this just isn’t feasible. We may have had similar experiences, but the meaning we make from that trauma is our own.
What led you to counselling?
Trauma and curiosity pushed me towards a career in counselling. From a very young age, I had an intense desire to learn ways to help those struggling with whatever hardships they were experiencing in their lives. It’s truly amazing how sometimes what seems like such a simple conversation can lead to such great insights.
Favourite quote?
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I adore this quote because it speaks to the innate strength that every individual holds. We cannot change what happened in our past and we cannot predict what is going to happen in our future, but the power and courage we all hold within ourselves is much greater than any experience… We just need help to unlock them sometimes!
Favourite book and why?
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. It is such a powerful book about the importance of needing to live life authentically and wholeheartedly. I recommend this book for anyone curious about the courage behind vulnerability and the importance of being true to ourselves.
What/who inspires you?
I find that emotions inspire me. Amazing things happen when we realize that emotions are, ultimately, ever changing. This awareness unlocks that potential to remain completely present and genuine while riding out whichever wave of emotion is being experienced. I believe this removes self-judgement from emotions.
Favourite things to do?
My favourite way to recharge is spending time with loved ones, and this includes my dogs! I love to read and go for walks to clear my mind. I’m also not opposed to occasionally lounging on the couch and losing myself in some serious TV time.
What would you tell a client who is meeting you for the first time?
It is absolutely ok to have your guard up! The relationship between a counsellor and client is dependent on trust and sometimes it can take a bit of time to build that trust. It isn’t easy to sit down and just start talking about intimate parts of your life with a complete stranger. I will work with you to build trust in the therapeutic process, as well as build trust between us so that you can live your life as your most authentic self!
Other languages spoken?
- Punjabi
