Jen Warren

What drives me to do this work? 

I think I was made for a helping profession. As I near my 40s, I have come to realize that my diverse lived experiences have prepared me for this career in a way I am just now learning to appreciate in full. Some people have said of me, "Jen, empathy is your superpower." Humbled, I am starting to embrace the beauty of this gift. I have compassion that is soul-deep and acceptance that never runs out. I want nothing more in the world than to help someone find healing, find direction, and find that they are far more capable, creative, and motivated than they think they are. 

Working with clients who have grown up in a religious context and are trying to sort out what exactly that has meant for them, and how it has impacted them, is where my passion lies. The church, although meant to be a place of safety and a source of love, acceptance, and care, has missed the mark on many occasions. Religious upbringing is complex and sometimes it can leave people hurt, alienated, confused, sexually and emotionally repressed, shamed, and abused. What does it mean to find a way through this betrayal and into healing? As I see more and more people leaving the church and religious institutions with deep wounds, it has become clear that there is a need for therapists that understand the nature and complexities of faith based systems and their potential damage. This work requires sensitivity and compassion and I am confident that I bring both those things to the therapy room.

In my own life, my desire to be a religious-trauma informed therapist is born out of an acknowledgement that I myself have experienced psychological injuries as a member of the evangelical christian tradition. I recognize that my healing journey has led me to an expression of faith that looks much different than it has in the past. I am a proud ally to the LGBTQQIP2SA community and passionate about safety for vulnerable populations. 

What can clients expect in working with me?

You can expect an open heart, and an open mind. You can expect a safe space where you are honored as an autonomous individual with unique stories that make up the narrative of your life. Your family history, your past relationships, your stories of joy and hurt, your desires and dreams - it all helps make sense of the way you operate, the strengths you have, and the struggles you face. You'll find me curious about what you wish to work towards, and how you want to get there. I believe that every client comes with inner resources that can help them produce change. I want to help you choose change if that is what you desire. I want to help you process your grief if that is what you need. I want to help celebrate your small wins and your big progress if you want to share them with me. Above all, you can expect a consistent and dedicated therapist who wants to journey with you.

Relevant work/life experiences that bring me to do this work:

I have always been interested in work that helps me use my "too-big-for-my-chest" heart. Growing up I helped rescue injured and imprinted animals, rehabilitating them so that they could thrive again in the wild. As a young adult, I found myself working with a health care team where the emphasis was on well-rounded help. Physicians, therapists and educators all worked together to build treatment plans for our clients. In Toronto, where I lived for five years recently, I worked as an Administrator and Advocate for those struggling with addiction, mental health and housing security due to substance abuse. I saw the underbelly of a "great city", its broken health systems and corresponding despair and it broke my heart. I knew then that I was going to spend my life supporting people who needed help.

Education: Master of Counselling

Who am I?

I am a Montreal-born woman who has somehow found herself in Moose Jaw, SK, and I have to admit that the pace of life is everything this city girl never knew she needed! My parents immigrated in the 70s from Holland and England, so I enjoy teeny tiny pancakes and a good crumpet as a result.

I am a highly creative and driven individual and if you could imagine a highlight reel of my perfect day, it would go something like this. She wakes up and brews micro roasted coffee through her V60, then finds a sun spot to curl up in and organize her thoughts. She then dashes off to do a photoshoot or lends stage management skills to a theatre production, and finishes the day eating good food while listening to live music with her husband in a local small venue. She spends the in between moments dreaming about her next scuba diving trip or sailing a good strong wind.