PROFESSIONAL
Yoga Therapist
Tupper Nova Adolescent Psychiatric Day Treatment Program, The Vancouver School Board and Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver
2017 – 2019
Yoga Therapist
Deborah’s Gate a program of care serving international and domestic women who have been trafficked into situations of sexual and/or labour exploitation, Vancouver
2017 – 2019
Yoga Therapist
The Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions & Riverview Hospital, The Provincial Healthcare Services Authority, Burnaby
2008 – 2017
Yoga Therapist & Yoga Program Coordinator
Onsite Rehabilitation Center- Vancouver Coastal Health & The Portland Hotel Society, Vancouver, BC
2009 – 2018
Project Coordinator & Instructor
Yoga Program Langara College Continuing Studies
2012 – present
Program Director for Incorporating Yoga as a Trauma-informed Practice to Enhance Drug Treatment Outcomes for Justice Involved Youth, Mentor & Teacher Trainer
Yoga Outreach
2006 – 2019
Faculty
Yoga Therapy International
2016 – present
Faculty
Vancouver School of Healing Arts
2012 – present
Guest Faculty
Stenberg College
2011 – 2016
Faculty
Ajna Yoga
2010 – present
Yoga Therapist
Reclaiming Our Spirits Aboriginal Women’s Intervention Study , University of British Columbia – School of Nursing
2014 – 2016
Contributing Author
The Breathe Network’s Trauma Informed Toolkit Project
September 2016
Curriculum Developer & Yoga Therapist
Thrive 5-week Mindful Movement Program for Single Mothers Returning to Work
June 2016
Community Partner & Research Assistant
Incorporating trauma and violence-informed care into patient-centered primary care: A realist review and knowledge synthesis
2016 – Present
Research Assistant
Yoga Outreach Environmental Scan: Trauma-informed Yoga for Youth in Conflict with the Law
June – October 2016
Yoga Therapist
Mindful Brain Yoga Research Project with Shivani Wells and the University of British Columbia examining Yoga’s impact on symptoms associated with brain injury/concussion
October – November 2015
Yoga Therapist
Jump Step: Exercise is Medicine Study – UBC Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver General Hospital & The Mood Disorders Association of BC
2013 – 2015
Facilitator
Mindfulness & Walking Group – The Mood Disorders Association of BC & the UBC Centre for Hip Health and Mobility
May – September 2014
Qualitative Research Interviewer
The Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS), The BC Center for Excellence in HIV Research
October 2013 – January 2016
Yoga Therapist
The Centre for Concurrent Disorders
2012 – 2013
Yoga Therapist
Pacifica Treatment Centre
2007 – 2013
Yoga Therapist
Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW)
September – November 2007
Community Health Worker & Yoga Therapist
The British Columbia Compassion Club Society
2003 – 2009
Volunteer Community Support Worker
The Kettle Friendship Society
2002
Volunteer Counselor & Support Group Facilitator
Battered Women’s Support Services
1995 – 1997
ACADEMIC
Master of Arts Degree, Yoga Therapy Studies
Lesley University, Boston, MA, USA
Graduation 2009
Thesis: “Using Yoga Therapy for Stress Reduction in Community Health Care Practitioners.”
Bachelor of Arts Degree, English Literature
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Graduation 2007
Modern and Classical Literature, studies included Communications and Education.
Field School in Eastern European Cultural Studies
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
2001 – 2002
Focus on Czech Literature, Eastern European Politics, History, Art & Architecture.
Arts and Sciences Diploma in Classical Studies
Langara Community College, Vancouver, BC
1997 – 2000
Study of Ancient Greek & Roman Civilizations, Art History, Latin & Philosophy.
Basic Counselling Skills Certificate Program
Vancouver Community College, Vancouver, BC
2008
YOGA
Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) Certification Program
The Trauma Centre at Justice Resource Institute, Brookline, MA, USA
September 2016 – April 2017
300 hours
Vijnana Yoga Teachers Training
The Vijnana Yoga International Association
2011 – 2014
800 hours
Fundamentals of Teaching Yoga & Meditation in Military Communities
Warriors at Ease, Silver Spring, MD, USA
April – June 2012
7 weeks
Trauma Sensitive Yoga Teachers Training
Professional Training at The Trauma Centre At Justice Resource Institute, Brookline, MA, USA
2010
40 hours
Master of Arts Degree, Yoga Therapy Studies
Lesley University, Boston, MA, USA
Graduation 2009
Pre-Natal Yoga Teachers Training
Professional training with Janice Clarfield, Vancouver, BC
2009
26 hours
Teachers Integration Program
Professional Development Training with Shannon Cluff, Vancouver, BC
2008
Professional Yoga Therapist Certification Program
Integrative Yoga Therapy, USA
2005 – 2008
1,000 hours
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Professional Training with Jon Kabat-Zinn & Saki Santorelli, Mount Madonna, CA, USA
2006
Advanced Yoga Teachers Training
Professional training with Beryl Bender Birch, Bellingham, WA, USA
2005
40 hours
Primary Series Teachers Training
Professional training with David Swenson, Vancouver, BC
2004
40 hours
Yoga Teachers Training
Professional training with Kim Roth, Vancouver, BC
2004
125 hours
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Healing Sexual Trauma
The Breath Network
September – November, 2019
Occupational Awareness Training for Therapists: Understanding First Responder Trauma, Level 1
Conducted by Steve Farina, Matt Johnston & Scott Young, BC Professional Fire Fighters Association and First Responder Health
April 19 & 20, 2019
Liberation Spring Autumn Series: Gaslight the System
Conducted by Anjali Nath, Liberation Spring
October 2 – December 16 (12 weeks)
Unlearn gas-lighting that may have been clouding our perception. Understand the role that gas-lighting, pathologizing, medicalizing and institutionalization has historically played in suppressing dissent. Deepen awareness of the relationship between oppression & mental health
Tackling the Hidden Crisis: Immigrant Anxiety and Trauma
Conducted by The Immigrant Learning Center
September 18, 2018
A 1-hour webinar uncovering the hidden public health crisis facing immigrants of all kinds and exploring tactics that can improve immigrants’ lives and allow them to achieve their full potential in these perilous, uncertain times.
Embodiment: Body-Mind Psychotherapy Intensive
Conducted by Susan Aposhyan
August 31, 2018 – September 2, 2018 & August 31, 2019 – September 2, 2019
A 3-day training in Body-Mind Psychotherapy with a focus on physiology, neuroscience and early motor development.
Liberation Spring Summer Series: Just Pleasure
Conducted by Anjali Nath, Liberation Spring
July 3 – September 18 (12 weeks)
Survivor centered space to unlearn pornographic propaganda, rape culture and this society’s hyper-sexualization.
Emotional First Aid
Conducted by The Icarus Project
May 18, 2018
A 2-hour webinar exploring how to provide emotional first aid for someone experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis.
Movement Work at the Intersections of Neurodiversity, Mad Pride, and Disability Justice!
Conducted by The Icarus Project
April 15, 2018
A 2-hour webinar exploring the lived experiences of diverse populations.
Queer Competency Training
Conducted by Qmunity
April 6, 2018
A 4-hour experiential workshop exploring diversity and how to make organizations more inclusive for queer, trans, and Two-Spirit clients and staff.
Liberation Spring Winter Series: Our Spirits, Our Selves
Conducted by Anjali Nath, Liberation Spring
January 2 – March 20 (12 weeks)
Unlearning hyper-individualistic consumerism, spiritual bypassing & materialism, neocolonialism, non-consensual appropriative entitlement, naiveté, & capitalist profiteering.
Pain Management in Indigenous People: Through the Lens of Culture, Society and Medicine Webinar
Conducted by The Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability
June 7, 2017
Conducting Research with Indigenous Populations Webinar
Conducted by Dr. Gwen Healey, Executive and Scientific Director, Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, Iqaluit
June 6, 2017
Trauma-Informed Practice with Indigenous Peoples across the Life Span Webinar
Conducted by Natalie Clark, Associate Professor, School of Social Work and Human Service, Thompson River University
May 25, 2017
Indigenizing Course Outcomes: Updating your Syllabus to Use the Medicine Wheel as a Curriculum Design Framework Half Day Workshop
Conducted by Dr. Marcella LaFever, University of the Fraser Valley
May 18, 2017
San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training
Conducted by Provincial Health Services Authority in BC
April/May , 2017
Langara College Instructional Skills Workshop
Conducted by Andrea Dawson, Lolita Gambroudes & Colin Mills
April 24, 25 & 26, 2017
Your Well-being Power Switch: The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Health and Healing Webinar
Conducted by Marlysa Sullivan
June 2016
Mindfulness, Mindsight and the Brain: What is Mind and Mental Health?
The Justice Resource Institute of British Columbia
Conducted by Dan Siegel
October 2015
The Body Keeps the Score
17th Annual Energy Psychology Conference
Conducted by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
October 2015
What Are We Actually Doing in Asana?
Online Workshop
Conducted by Matthew Remski
July 2015
Yoga & Mindfulness: Clinical Interventions for Anxiety, Depression and Trauma Webinar Series
Conducted by Mary Nurriestearns, MSW, LCSW, RYT
June 2015
New Frontiers in Trauma Treatment at The Justice Resource Institute of British Columbia
Conducted by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
April 2013
Advanced Webinar in Complex Trauma & Dissociation
Conducted by Janina Fisher, PhD
September 2012 – June 2013
“Our clients struggle with a variety of complex mental health and addiction issues, behavioral problems and medical conditions. Nicole has put in a tremendous effort into the development and implementation of a program that meets the unique needs of our clients and enriched their overall treatment and recovery. Nicole works with caring and compassion on the complex issues of our clients providing creative solutions in an independent and effective manner. She has developed strong therapeutic relationships with the clients, and has been helpful in the development of treatment plans and provided quality Yoga Therapy for our centre. In my opinion, she is an excellent Yoga teacher and therapist and is dedicated to her professional work.”
Steven Henne, MA, RCC, Clinical Practice Lead, Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions