Jelena Antonić

Jelena Antonić

Hi there. Welcome to my page.

My name is Jelena (pronounced Ye-le-na) and I am a registered clinical counsellor and somatic therapist.

What I do in one sentence:
To support you through somatic, creative and other experiential therapies to address your unique challenges so that you can feel less stress and know your strengths in order to reach your goals.

Some basic things to know about my practice is:
- Individual and Group
- Insurance, Private Pay, and Sliding Scale
- Online, In person and via Telephone
- Adults and Youth (12+)
- Strength-Based and Person-First
- Neurodivergent and Trauma Informed

Education:
Bachelor in Addiction Counselling
Master of Education in Counselling Psychology

Post-Secondary Learning:
After my post-secondary education I focused on furthering my knowledge by going to conferences, taking courses/workshops, and lots of research based on the following areas:
- Trauma (shock, developmental, generational)
- Creative and Somatic therapies
- Chronic Conditions
- Grief
- Non-ordinary states of consciousness (which may be due to involvement with breathwork, spiritual events, retreats, psychedelics, and other experiences)
- Social and Climate Justice
- Neurodivergence
- Importance of Play
- Artistic, Creative and Athletic pursuits

About me:
I'm a therapist who is neurodiverse, has a high ACE's score, a chronic condition, and is a first generation settler to Canada. I was raised in the Yukon and my understanding of community is based on learning the ways of my heritage’s collective society. My parents are immigrants from the Balkans and were very tuned into our culture. When I grew up I first learned my native language and then learned English as a second language when I started kindergarten. Growing up in Northern Canada I grew up respecting the land and how we collected food from it whether it was hunting, fishing, harvesting berries, or growing a garden.

As as therapist it is important to me to continuously heal my wounds and get to know my impairments and struggles in order to realize my potential. My hope as a therapist is to ideally not overlay my healing journey onto people I work with, but to be empathetic to the struggles and concerns they are experiencing. As well, I constantly work toward expanding my knowledge and understanding of intersectionality and decolonization. Although I do believe in unity consciousness and shared commonalities, I also recognize that there are many different combinations of intersections that need to be observed and respected. Equity over equality.

In addition to being a therapist I enjoy creating art through various mediums. I am passionate about social, environmental, and particularly animal causes. Also, I have always enjoyed being physically active through training for sporting events (functional fitness, running, triathlon), team sports (basketball, volleyball, slow pitch baseball), or recreational activities like hiking, skiing, cycling and weight training.

I asked a group of friends and colleagues how they would describe me using one or two words. Here are some of their responses: resilient, wholly authentic, fulfilled purpose, strong, intelligent, idealistic, creative, loving, fierce, profound, caring, passionate, and silly.

At this time I am accepting new clients. If you are interested to work together I recommend a free 20 -30 minute consult. To book a consult click on the "CONTACT ME" button to send a message. I generally reply within 1 - 2 business days.

Specialties

• Addiction
• ADHD
• Adolescents
• Adults
• Adults abused as children
• BIPOC Populations
• Chronic Illness
• Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia
• Complex PTSD
• Depression
• Developmental Trauma
• Physically Impaired
• Early Childhood Attachment Disturbances
• Grief and Loss
• LGBTQIA+
• Motor Vehicle Collisions
• Native Populations
• Birth Trauma
• Spirituality
• Intergeneration Trauma
• Racial Trauma
• Anti-Oppression Trauma Resolution
• Systemic Trauma
• Sexual Abuse
• Womens’ Issues