Michael Dadson
B.C. Clinical Counsellor

My Perspective on Therapy

I believe that being compassionately present with others and using fine tuned clinical skills helps create the space and place necessary for growth. I have a deep belief in humanity’s capacity to find real life resolutions to injuries and challenges. Research has shown that this happens best when we have access to understanding, support, respect and skilled therapeutic interventions.

My practice is guided by the following principles:

• All people possess intrinsic worth and have the capacity to realize this.
• All individuals are worthy of respect. My therapy space is one of acceptance and safety. Gender, race, sexual orientation, age, religion, relationship and family status pose no barrier to the therapy process.
• Everyone has the ability to change; readiness depends on each individual.
• Clients take responsibility for their gains in counselling and for their personal successes; the counsellor’s role is that of guide.
• Understanding comes first. If we jump prematurely to tools and strategies, clients are left with generic, depersonalized interventions.
• Most people benefit from counselling at some point in their lives. This includes counsellors too! At its best, counselling is a healthy dialogue that identifies, promotes, and mobilizes clients’ strengths to reach personal goals.

My Background

I have worked professionally caring for people for over 35 years. For over 20 years, I have been certified as a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. Though now retired, I have been ordained as a Chaplain for over 25 years. I have also worked as a level 3 childcare worker with the Ministry of Children and Families and Intensive Child Care Resources for over 30 years.

My wife Jeanette and I have also been assisting children with special needs and their families for over 30 years. As a therapeutic foster parent, I have lived with and worked therapeutically with Caucasian, Afghanistan and First Nations children who have ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, FASD, major brain injuries and stroke. I have been a Level III therapeutic foster parent who has worked with special needs foster children and have contracted with Intensive Child Care Resources Vancouver (ICCR).

Within these roles, I have experience with a culturally, economically and religiously diverse population challenged with a range of concerns like teenage prostitution, violent crime, trauma, crisis, cross cultural issues, gender crisis, identity issues, addictions, depression, anxiety, attachment, parenting and relationship problems. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have to serve and care for hurting and work hard to make counselling services comfortable because taking that first step to seek help can sometimes be the hardest.

Licensures and Associations I'm a Part Of

• Licensed in the Province of BC
• Registered Clinical Counsellor, BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
• International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD)
• Ordained Minister/Chaplain (Retired)
• Board Member and Fellow, International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation

Certifications I'm Proud of

• Crime Victims Assistance Counsellor
• Certified Myers Briggs Personality Type Assessor
• Certified Strong Interest Inventory Assessor
• Certified Observed & Experiential Integration (OEI) Therapist and Trainer
• Certified QPRT Suicide Risk Assessment and Management
• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level One and Level Two
• Enactment Therapy Trainer Level One and Level Two
• Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy Level One
• Certificate of Excellence for delivery of Foster Parent Care

Some Publications I'm in

• Cox, D. W., Westwod , M. J., Hoover, S. M., Chan, E. K. H., Kivari , C. A., Dadson , M. R., & Zumbo , B. D. (2014). The evaluation of a group intervention for veterans who experienced military related trauma. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 64(3). doi 10.1521/ijgp.2014.64.3.367
• Stewart, B. & Dadson , M.R. (2012). Integrative therapeutic interventions of phase oriented treatment: Additional reflections on the case of Lynne. The Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 21, 3, 331. doi : 10.1080/10926771.2012.659800
• Stewart, B., Dadson , M.R., &, Fallding , M. (2011). The Application of Attachment Theory and Mentalization in Complex Tertiary Structural Dissociation: A Case Study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 20, 3, 322. doi:10.1080/10926771.2011.562477

Works In Progress

• Dadson, M.R., McDonald, M. & Stewart, B. Stories of father child closeness: A conceptual model. Manuscript in preparation for submission for publication to the Men’s Studies Press, 33
• Dadson, M. R., Westwood, M. & Oliffe, J. Review: The relationship between attachment style and male gender role identity formation. Manuscript submitted for publication to Men’s Studies Press, 15 pages.