Personal Life
I was born slightly premature with a number of health problems. The two biggest health problems for the first six years of my life were severe asthma requiring ongoing treatments, supplemental oxygen and regular medication in the hospital and a dozen allergies that required EpiPens and/or trips to the ER. These health problems were so severe that I was held back in Grade Two because I spent nearly a year in the hospital and missed too many classes. However, even though I spent 3-5 months a year in the hospital on those other years, I was not deterred from trying to make the most of each day. My survival and ability to thrive is due to my maternal grandparents, who were my main caregivers since i needed to be isolated to avoid infections, such as pneumonia, flu, etc. Their ‘old world’ Mennonite perspectives inspired me and they constantly encouraged me by offering support as I tried to exceed how I felt and what I did previous days. While I eventually outgrew both asthma and the allergies, and I was able to catch up with other kids my age, I definitely developed empathy and an understanding of how fragile and precious life is.
I am very indebted to my parents, especially my father who worked three jobs to help send me to a private high school. He grew up on a farm, and wanted to make sure my brothers and I could achieve far more than he did in rural settings. Being able to attend a private high school was a burden on my family, so I made the most of my education and opportunities. This lead me to raise money in order to stay in Zambia Africa for 3.25 months to help build a medical clinic for a doctor to help local people. I also volunteered at our local hospital one day each weekend and I volunteered with St. John Ambulance. Each day was a precious chance to grow healthier to make sure I wasn’t sick. I eventually joined the Army Reserves, parading once a week and spending my summers training on bases in Ontario. Having lived the first 19 years of my life in Niagara Falls, Ontario, I decided to go the ROTP route and move to British Columbia to pursue a career as a fighter pilot. Unfortunately, a year into my ROTP, I was diagnosed as a Type I Diabetic. Diabetes does not run in my family, so it’s likely a longterm complication of being born premature and other health issues. In the end, I decided to leave honourably from the Canadian Armed Forces since one cannot fly fighters and inject insulin.
After taking nearly two years off to reconsider life, my sense of meaning and purpose in life, and adapt to the changes, I completed lengthy education and training working with at-risk children, youth and young adults. I have spent 17 years working with this phenomenal niche, with 11 of those years exclusively spent with Indigenous children, youth and young adults; often living and/or working on-reserve. I enjoy designing and providing wilderness experiences from psycho-educational perspectives to facilitate culture-based innovations in the outdoors to work with all clients interested. Similarly, as a trauma therapist I also work in my private practice with the ‘warrior class’ (military, law enforcement, fire fighters, paramedics, etc). My vast educational journey and work experience is listed below this section. I am very passionate about social justice and advocating as a consensual ally working as a trauma specialist with clients. I was in the 3rd year of a PsyD in Clinical Psychology in Seattle when I discovered health problems from working full-time, being a full-time doctoral student driving 3.5 hrs each way, struggling to finalize my dissertation topic, etc created intense self-awareness to put this last stage of my educational journey on pause.
In the meantime, I have been to 49 countries and I enjoy making the most of each day that I am blessed to embrace. I encourage you to never give up. Definitely NEVER allow someone else saying negative things affect you, that’s merely their limitations and failures being imposed on you. Yes, life is hard, but the best things in life always require the greatest efforts; that’s why they are called either priceless and/or treasures! Reach out and connect, lets talk about what I can do to customize your healing journey to maximize the rewards for you as you grow forward.
Garibaldi Lake - Aug '18
Work Experience
360 Degree Well-being | Trauma Therapist | 2016 – Present
As a trauma therapist in private practice, duties range from conducting clinical interviews, collecting secondary information, perform assessments, write contextualized clinical reports, design evidence-based treatment programs focused in social justice, research long-term maintenance programs, collaborate support systems, and advocate as a consensual ally with clients in all aspects of their life.
First Nations Health Authority | Licensed Social Worker | 2015 – Present
As a licensed social worker, duties can include travelling to Reserves in rural areas or city centers, plus correctional facilities or hospitals to meet with Indigenous people. This allows for conducting clinical interviews, perform assessments, write socioculturally reflective clinical reports, design evidence-based treatment programs focused in social justice and cultural traditions for those interested, conduct evaluations, research long-term maintenance programs, collaborate support systems, and advocate as a consensual ally with clients in all aspects of their life.
Vancouver Dry Dock – Seaspan | Red Seal Mobile Crane Operator | 2010 – Present
Ocean fishing vessels, barges, tankers and cruise ships are raised out of the water on one of two dry docks to be repaired, retrofitted, serviced or painted. The 85 tonne and 15 tonne cranes can unload damaged equipment, old components or pieces of the ship. Equipment, supplies and even workers are transported via the crane. The crane is used to load new equipment, install components and supplies. This also provides opportunities to introduce youth and young adults to a Red Seal trade and to join a union for job security and extra benefits, such as a pension.
Aboriginal Child & Youth Mental Health Outreach Worker | 2001 – 2008
Facilitated psycho-educational activities and workshops teaching life skills that reinforced Indigenous culture and traditions while providing participants with opportunities to review education and careers that prevent self-destructive attitudes and thoughts. Helped advocate for clients with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, addiction, poverty, and other oppressional barriers. Started homework clubs at the middle school and high school, taught remedial lessons to assist completing GED, organized career info sessions and research, facilitated employment applications, and supported the youth as they completed high school, applied for university and careers. I chose to live on-Reserve to fully understand the culture and social issues facing youth. Facilitated physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health using: both mainstream and cultural activities for youth and their families through the smokehouse, sweat lodge, pow wows, hiking, canoe pulling, hunting for meat and hides for drumming, fishing, camping, archery, horseback riding.
Education
- PsyD: Clinical Psychology
- Antioch University Seattle
- Graduation TBD
- Masters: Social Work
- University of British Columbia
- Graduated 2015
- BA Honors: Therapeutic Recreation
- University of Waterloo
- Graduated 2010
- Certificate: Substance Abuse Counselling
- University of the Fraser Valley
- Graduated 2007
- BA Honors: Psychology
- Trinity Western University
- Graduated 2005
Community Service
Volunteer – BC Disaster Psychosocial Program – 2010 – Present
Mentor – Trinity Western University – 2018 – Present
Professional Publications & Presentations
Russell, M., Schaubel, S., & Figley, C. (2018). The darker side of american military mental healthcare – Part Three: Five more harmful strategies to manage its mental health dilemma. Psychological Injury and Law, 11(1), 69-104.
Russell, M., Schaubel, S., & Figley, C. (2018). The darker side of military mental healthcare – Part Two: Five harmful strategies to manage its mental health dilemma. Psychological Injury and Law, 11(1), 37-68.
Russell, M., Schaubel, S., & Figley, C. (2018). The darker side of military mental healthcare – Part One: Understanding the military’s mental health dilemma. Psychological Injury and Law, 11(1), 22-36.
Schaubel, S. (2016). Heuristic Bias in Cognitive Processing of Everyday Life: A military perspective on post-deployment. The Military Psychologist. American Psychological Association. 15-17.
Russell, M. & Schaubel, S. (April, 2016). Recognizing and Ending the Generational Cycle of Preventable Wartime Behavioral Health Crises. International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation: 33rd Annual Conference. San Francisco, CA.
Davis, J. & Gonzalez, A. (2016). To Fix or To Heal: Conflicting directions in contemporary medicine and public health. New York, NY: NYU Press. 231.
Vancouver Coastal Health. (March, 2013). Family Supports for Borderline Personality Disorder.
Professional Affiliations
- American Psychological Association – Student Affiliate
(Divisions: Military and Trauma Psychology) - Canadian Psychological Association – Student Affiliate
(Sections: Aboriginal, Military & Trauma Psyc) - Canadian Association of Social Workers – Full Member
- BC Association of Social Workers – Full Member
- Canadian Mental Health Association – Full Member
- BC Disaster Psychosocial Services – Full Member
Continuing Education
- Building Resiliency through Cognitive Reappraisal and Lifestyle Modification. Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. Baim, Peg, MS, NP; Fricchione, Gregory, MD; Kagan, Leslee, MS, FNP-BC; Mehta, Darshan, MD, MPH. (December, 2019).
- Motivational Interviewing: Engaging Service Members and Veterans into Mental Health Care. Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. Rodolico, John, PhD; Rauch, Paula, MD; Lilley, Cally, PMHCNS-BC. (November, 2019).
- Stress and the Relaxation Response: The Fundamentals of Mind Body Medicine. Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. Benson, Herbert , MD; Denninger, John , MD, PhD; Fricchione, Gregory, MD; Lazar, Sara , PhD. (2019).
- Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD: A Brief Treatment Approach. Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. Sloan, Denise. (2019).
- Think Differently: A New Approach for Parenting, Teaching and Treating Children with Behavioral Challenges. Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. Ablon, J. Stuart, PhD. (2017).
- Parenting, Teaching and Treating Challenging Kids: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach. Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. Ablon, J. Stuart, PhD. (2017).
- San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training: Core ICS Mental Health. Provincial Health Services Authority Aboriginal Health Program. (2017).
- 3-day Advanced Narrative Therapy Apprenticeship Training. Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy. (April 28-30, 2017).
- San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training: Core ICS Mental Health. Provincial Health Services Authority Aboriginal Health Program. (2016).
- 5-day Foundations Training. Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy. (September 14-18, 2016).
- Mental Health Care for Family Members of Post 9/11 Veterans: Practical Approaches to Addressing the Impact of Invisible Wounds of War on Families. Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. (October 17, 2015).
- Gottman Couples Therapy – Level Two (December, 2014).
- Gottman Couples Therapy – Level One (October, 2013)