Tennille PhippsRPC, MPCC
Owner / Counsellor
Tennille Phipps (RPC, MPCC) is one of the owners of Living Bridges Therapy Collective. She is passionate about supporting clients and the community in building bridges to a strong and hopeful future. Her desire is to inspire others to fall in love with life, even in the messy and hard moments, and to walk in their truth and purpose.
Tennille has been working in the field of mental health & addictions for the past 15 years. She has an educational background in counselling & psychology, leadership, and is currently working on her Master’s of Social Work. In addition to her extensive experience in therapeutic work, her portfolio includes case management, development and facilitation of programs and workshops, as well as team leadership. Specifically, she was a program coordinator for a recovery program for women here in Kamloops before relocating to Calgary. There, she spent three years with the Mustard Seed supervising a Housing First program for individuals with high needs in the downtown core. In her counselling practice now she focuses on trauma, grief and loss, burn out, addictions, support for first responders, attachment, and identity development.
Tennille is certified in trauma-informed practice, and Observed Experiential Integration (OEI),which is a specific technique used in the treatment of trauma (read more about this form of therapy on our blog entitled OEI). More recently she has begun to apply this technique to assist athletes in overcoming obstacles and enhancing their performance. Her work with athletes also includes teaching leadership and team building skills.
KAIAHThe wonder dog
Tennille uses an integrative approach to counselling, respecting the individuality and autonomy of each client, and believing that there is no “one size fits all” method. Accordingly, she collaborates with her clients as she supports them in their healing journey, believing that creativity and curiosity are our most important tools in therapy. This collaboration strengthens the therapeutic relationship, and sometimes even includes her dog, Kaiah, whose presence in the therapy room helps to provide grounding and comfort. Kaiah comes in at the request of the clients.
Born and raised in Kamloops, Tennille enjoys exploring the many trails around the area with her partner and Kaiah. She finds joy and peace in music and art, creating, she loves to cook, play games, and is learning to garden. Traveling has always been a passion for her as she loves adventure and experiencing different countries and cultures. Even though she has moved away a few times, her love for the community of Kamloops keeps calling her home. She feels honoured to be serving in the Interior and has a passion to make a difference in the health and wellness of the members of her community.
Favourite Quotes:
“Choose courage over comfort. Choose whole hearts over armour. And choose the great adventure of being brave and afraid at the exact same time.” (Dr. Brene Brown, 2019)
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” (Thurman, 2010)
