Based in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Accessible Canada wide.
melanie abbott social worker/counsellor
Melanie Abbott, MSW RSW (BC, ON, NS)
I am the founder and sole clinician at Purple Raven Counselling. Based in Whitehorse Yukon, I provide virtual therapy to individuals 14+ in the Yukon, Nunavut, BC, Ontario and Nova Scotia. I have been a social worker since 2002 and for the past 9 years have been working specifically in the public mental health systems in BC and Nunavut. I left that in 2024 to pursue private practice.
I specialize in trauma, but have vast experience working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, substance use, borderline personality disorder, and many other mental illnesses. I am trained to conduct hormone readiness assessments for adults seeking gender affirming care. I am certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a gold-standard treatment for PTSD, and am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD.
As an ally, I work with individuals of all genders and sexual orientations. I have training and experience working with Indigenous populations (First Nations and Inuit), and first responders. I create a safe space in which individuals can be free to share their experiences and struggles, as well as celebrate successes.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 children, and my dog, a Frenchton named Bentley. I can be found hiking, skiing, running, puzzling, or reading.