Heartspace Counselling and Art Therapy
compassion connecting creativity
About Rachel
Rachel Aussem is a Registered Social Worker, Therapeutic Arts Practitioner, and Counselling Intern at Heartspace Counselling and Art Therapy.
Rachel offers Low-Cost Child and Youth Counselling, Expressive Arts Therapy for Adults and Open Studio.
Hello, my name is Rachel. I am a Registered Social Worker (#17803), and a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner. I am currently completing my Master of Social Work at the University of Northern British Columbia, and undergoing a supervised practicum as a Counsellor Intern at Heartspace Counselling and Art Therapy.
My previous experience includes 8 years in crisis intervention and suicide prevention, where I had the privilege of offering peer support to community members who trusted me with their stories. I especially enjoyed providing mental health education to children and youth through workshops on emotional regulation and suicide prevention. This work shaped me as a listener and deeply influenced my approach to counselling.
I integrate art and play therapy to support children, youth, and young adults experiencing struggles such as anxiety and depression, emotional regulation, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and life transitions. While I welcome a wide range of experiences, I am particularly passionate about supporting those navigating loss and grief. I understand loss as a self-defined experience- anything that disrupts connection, identity, or a sense of normalcy, whether it involves a person, pet, relationship, place, dream, career, home, or health. I believe expressive therapies offer a creative and imaginative way to release emotions that may be difficult to put into words.
I align with a client-led, emotion-focused, and strength-based approach. I aim to meet each person where they are, support emotional expression, build coping strategies, empower unique strengths, and co-create a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship.
As a Master’s Level student, I view counselling as a mutual process of learning and growing, and I encourage open dialogue about your hopes and needs so we can shape and adapt the work together.
In my personal life, I value nature as a grounding tool and connection to self-care. Growing up in Northern BC, I feel most at peace when hiking, camping, or touching trees, flowers, or water. When indoors, I express my own creativity through art, writing, music, and experimenting with baking or cooking.