My name is Suzana Dujmic and I am Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counselling from City University of Seattle (Vancouver campus) and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Child and Youth Mental Health. I have over 12 years of post-secondary education and over 18 years of experience working with children, adolescents/youth and their families in a variety of clinical settings (education, collaborative practice-social work, clinical counselling). The individuals, children and families I work with face diversity of all kinds on a daily basis. Their strength and will to live a life that makes sense to them and to find the strength to overcome personal, health, environmental and social barriers is a constant inspiration to me.
My goal is to listen, understand, educate, empower and inspire as well as to help people reach into their inner strengths, cultural values and personal/spiritual beliefs in order to achieve a successful transition, overcome life’s challenges and move forward. I am also a bilingual and a bicultural clinical counsellor with passion for social justice and cross cultural issues.
My philosophy of counselling & worldview
My philosophy of counselling is rooted in Narrative, Humanistic, Existential, Relational and Collaborative Therapeutic Modalities. I believe that the stories people tell themselves about their problems shape not only their lives but they also keep them from achieving their own potentials and prevent them from being who they really are. I understand problems as socially constructed entities that are not inherited or self-imposed. Within this understanding is a notion that neither the person nor the relationship between people is the problem. As White (1990) said, “the problem becomes the problem”.
I believe that one way to conquer problems and to reclaim our authentic life is to reach into what we already have, our inner power. This power within each one of us is what sustains us despite perceived weaknesses, unhelpful attachments, addictive behaviors, diversity, social constructs and self-defeating behaviors. We often forget what gets us going in the first place and what we stand for or believe in. Consequently, we give in to negative self-talk or we cave in under the pressure of social expectations, perfectionism and roles we internalized. There is a power within each end every one of us. It is up to us to reach into it so we reclaim our authentic state of being; living and loving.
My clients describe me as “helpful, caring, passionate and compassionate” as well as “easy to talk to, nonjudgmental and unconditionally accepting”. I believe in my clients desire and ability to make changes and get to the bottom of things. I take pride in my work and I take every moment I spend with a person as an incredible gift of connection-the gift that keeps giving.
Counselling Services
As a clinical counsellor and social worker, I offer individual and couples counselling to adults as well as family counselling. For more detailed information, please refer to my website.
