About Gina

Gina Vanderham has been specializing in the field of addictions for over 15 years.   She has extensive specialized education and experience in the areas of chemical dependency, sex addiction, food addictions (anorexia, bulimia, etc.), problem gambling, co-dependency and internet addiction.

She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Psychology from the University of Calgary in Alberta and a Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont California. 

She is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional with the Employee Assistance Professional Association and has worked with organizations offering counselling for employees and their families.  As well she has offered consultation and training in the areas of communication skills, managing change, time management, addiction in the workplace, and critical incident stress debriefing.

She is a Licensed Marriage Family and Child Therapist having received over 3,000 hours of supervised experience in working with families, couples, and children.  She is a member in good standing with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

She is an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with over 4,000 hours of supervised experience in chemical dependency and a member in good standing with the Canadian Addiction Counselors Certification Board.

Her Certification as a Spiritual Director was gained from the Mercy Center in Burlingame, California in 1996.  She also does energy healing using reiki, emotional freedom techniques and therapeutic touch.

Gina has training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing - EMDR - Levels  I and II from the EMDR Institute.

She has training in Clinical Hypnosis and is a member of the Canadian Association of Clinical Hypnosis.

She is qualifed to act as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) in accordance with the U.S. Departement of Transportation.

She is very familiar with the Twelve Steps of recovery and makes use of them in her work with clients.

Gina has been working in private practice since 1994.  Other settings where she was gained experience in both Canada and the United States include chemical dependency residential treatment centers, detox, drinking driver services, outpatient counselling clinics, crisis centers, group homes for youth, schools, employee assistance programs, government, businesses and community centers.

Gina has experience and education in working with clients from a variety of ethic and cultural backgrounds. 

Her therapy treatment philosophy is eclectic and comes from her training in family systems, cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused, client-centered therapy, and psychoanalytic schools of thought.  She also uses EMDR and clinical hypnosis in her practice.  The approach to each client is unique and varies according to the client's needs and the issues to be resolved and at what stage of change the client is at. 

Please visit "client testimonials" page for clients comments on Gina's work.