About me
Maria Fernanda Medrano, MC, RCC
(she/her)
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Hello and welcome, my name is Maria Fernanda Medrano, and I am an immigrant Latina woman, born and raised in Mexico. I am a cis-gender woman, and a Registered Clinical Counsellor with 5+ years of experience working in the field of trauma, and providing therapy to individuals from diverse backgrounds. Over the years, I have worked with refugees, immigrants, survivors of torture, at-risk pregnant women, farm workers, and LGBTQIA2S+ populations, ranging in ages from youth to older adults. Other areas of interest include grief and loss, mental health concerns, violence against women, attachment injuries, and experiences of oppression. My experience as an immigrant from Mexico has contributed to the resilience, humility and flexibility that I possess in my personal and professional life, and has given me the skills to support others navigate challenging life circumstances. It was through this experience that I first discovered my passion for counselling and community support.
My approach to therapy is informed by social justice principals, which is a multifaceted approach that involves empowering individuals and groups, as well as challenging injustice and inequality in society. It recognizes that our strengths and challenges are influenced by our environment and the context of our lives, which includes culture, spirituality, family and friends and political circumstances. In addition to this framework, anti-oppressive practice, strength and resiliency based approach, harm reduction, narrative therapy, and somatic/body oriented approach are other therapeutic modalities that influence my work. I am committed to my own inner work as a way of challenging my assumptions and biases, maintaining an open and curious approach, and acknowledging my social location.
Having the opportunity and privilege to work with marginalised populations in the community has been a transformative experience for me. It has taught me the importance of acknowledging differences in the counselling room, understanding the complexities of intersectionality, and the value of shifting from a deficit perspective to one of resilience and growth.
With a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology and bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, I am dedicated to creating a safe, open, culturally humility and inclusive therapeutic space to accompany clients on their own path to healing.
Besides working with individual clients, I am an instructor with the Master of Counselling program at City University of Seattle in Vancouver.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, hiking, travelling, and arts.
Maria hiking the West Coast Trail