Meet Marissa Tonus
She/Her
As a Relational Somatic Therapist and Registered Therapeutic Counsellor, with roots in Herbalism, Social Work and Mental Health Advocacy, Marissa weaves the importance of Earth and Body connection throughout her work.
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As an avid gardener, advanced meditator, and part time artist, Marissa brings delicate care and deep listening into each client relationship.
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Marissa adheres to Person-Centred Therapy, in which she adjusts her therapeutic practice and tools to best suit each individual client and meet people where they are at in any given moment.
Person-Centred therapy is a popular therapy which was started by Carl Rogers in the 1940s and upholds compassion, non-judgement and unconditional positive regard.
Marissa brings her somatic studies into all of her work, and is attuned to the nervous system and body language of her clients. Even therapeutic counselling sessions (RTC) that are not “somatic” based may have elements of Somatic Therapy in ways such as noticing the body and mind, and working with the nervous system.
Marissa is also informed by studies with Tamera Peace Research and Education Centre (2017-2022), and 2021-2022 apprenticeship with Mystic Saera Burns and the Invisibles.
Saera Burns & The Invisibles
Marissa is much informed by the wisdom and unceded lands of the Cost Salish peoples, and is currently working and living on unceded Sinixt territory in modern day Nelson, BC, Canada.
Education
2023-2024
Registered Therapeutic Counselling (RTC) Program
ORCA Institute
ORCA’s Counselling Skills Program is a Registered Therapeutic Counselling (RTC) program that equips students with all they need to provide counselling therapy in a professional manner. Including courses in Ethics in Counselling, Abnormal Psychology, Gestalt Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Person-Centred Therapy, and Multi-Cultural Counselling.
This program is an accredited Counselling program with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT).
2022-2023
Relational Somatic Therapy Certification
Opening To Grace
To learn more about Somatic Therapy, Click
Opening to Grace is a Relational Somatic Therapy Certification Training that Marissa completed in early 2023.
It is based on recent neuro-scientific findings of the central nervous system and the ventral vagal system.
Relational Somatic Therapy works with people relationally. One of its main teachings includes that ‘the majority, if not all of our traumas happened in relationship; hence they must be healed in relationship’.
By working with the body and nervous system, and going at the pace and wisdom of the body, rather than the mind, we can gain access to wisdom and awareness stored in the body.
By bringing the body's natural healing abilities into the forefront of the counselling relationship we can work through and give space for what the body naturally knows to do to heal.
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2013-2017
Psychology & Social Work
Trent University
Marissa studied at Trent University in Nogojiwanong (Peterborough, Ontario, Canada) for 4 years of Undergraduate studies in Psychology and Social Work from 2013-2017.
Through these programs Marissa also received a strong education in Indigenous studies, and Gender and Women’s Studies as well.
Curious About Insurance?
As a RTC (Registered Therapeutic Counsellor) with the ACCT (Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada), some Canadian insurance providers cover the full cost, or a percentage of the cost of my services.
Many will require the client to pay upfront and the reimburse them.
In our experience Insurance Providers covering RTCs are :
SunLife
Manulife
Greenshields
Pacific Blue Cross
Canada Life | Great-West Life
Alberta School Employee
Alberta Blue Cross
~ My RTC title covers both Therapeutic Counselling sessions AND Somatic Therapy sessions. ~
It is best to contact your Insurance Provider directly to inquire about if they cover RTC counsellors. You may need my licensing number for your insurance please reach out over email or by phone to acquire this.
Would you like to get in touch?
Please feel free to reach out if you would like to get in touch. I am interested to hear any questions or inquires you may have!