Hi! I’m Mark. I started practising as a Family Systems Therapist in 1988 and did my Collaborative Divorce training in 2002. The Collaborative group in Vancouver has been a dynamic group of professionals.
My involvement with that group inspired me to be part of the first training for Parenting Coordinators in the province of BC in 2007.
While part of my practice is devoted to divorce related issues, my perspective as a Family Systems Therapist has me view divorce as one of many life events that changes the life course of the family and family members.
The task of each parent, and to some degree the children, is to rise to the occasion and adapt as best you can to the new direction life has taken you in.
I see my role as being one of keeping you on track, seeing your path clearly and thoughtfully, and moving forward toward that end.
“Divorce is considered a legal process with an emotional component, however, for my clients, I have observed that they experience divorce as an emotional process with a legal component.“
My interest and efforts over the years have been to help create space for people to understand themselves, make thoughtful choices and manage their behaviours in ways that make for a more satisfying life… this is as true for those who have experienced divorce and their children as anyone.
Divorce is a common life experience and managing ones way through it effectively and responsibly is the challenge.
How you manage it will influence your life course and that of your children as well, possibly for generations to come.
That is what brings me to this work, helping people rise to the challenge of managing themselves well through their divorce and as they move into co-parenting.
I’m a Registered Social Worker and a member in good standing with the BC College of Social Workers (#03239) and a member of the BC Association of Social Workers.
I’m also a Charter Member of the BC Collaborative Roster Society and have been on their Board for 5 years. I was a member of Collaborative Divorce Vancouver for 15 years and a former Co-Chair of their Board.
I’ve been a member of the BC Parenting Coordinator Roster Society since its inception.
In addition, I’m a certified member of Family Mediation Canada.
I’m also the President of the Board of Living Systems Society, formerly North Shore Counselling Centre, and have been on their Board since 1998.