About Me

Pronouns: they/them

I live and work in Victoria, BC on the unceded, Coast Salish Territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ nations.

I have been working with children, youth, and families for over 10 years in a variety of settings including residential care for children with complex trauma and behavioural needs, school-based counselling, trauma and abuse counselling, victim services, child and youth advocacy, and transition homes.

In addition to my work with children and youth, I have experience providing support to adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma, as well as working in sexual assault crisis response.

I hold a Master’s Degree in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria and am a PhD candidate in the Social Dimensions of Health Program. Alongside my direct practice with individuals, I continue to be involved in research and writing on a variety of topics including gender, identity, trauma, and violence. You can learn more about my research and my past publications and presentations on my research page.

I started Seawolf Counselling to offer a grounded approach to counselling that is client-centred and focuses on creating safe spaces for conversation and exploration. I look forward to working with you.

- Mattie W

About My Approach

When we talk about problems, they become less scary and less overwhelming. We all face challenges throughout our lives and sometimes we need someone to talk to and someone who will listen.

I work from a perspective of justice-doing and solidarity. My approach is centred around resisting and addressing oppressions and social injustices in our everyday lives, framed through a social constructionist, queer, intersectional feminist lens.

My practice draws on a variety of approaches including trauma-informed practice, narrative therapy, feminist theory, neurobiology of trauma, response-based practice, and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).

I offer counselling for a variety of life’s challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, gender-based violence, sexualized violence, gender and sexual identity, 2S/LGBTQ2+, grief and loss, stress management, and relationship and family challenges.