ANDREA HAROWITZ (she/her) BSc.OT, Reg.OT

I became an Occupational Therapist in 2003, entered the field of mental health in 2004, and have come to realize that teaching and supporting clients in the practice of DBT skills is a calling for me. In 2008, I trained to be a DBT practitioner through DBT founder, Marsha Linehan’s organization, Behavioural Tech. Since then, I have been facilitating DBT groups and providing individual DBT skills support in the public system within Vancouver Coastal Health.  

Being a DBT therapist has, without a doubt, been the most rewarding aspect of my career. I have been honoured and humbled to witness remarkable personal growth and life changes in many  of my clients — as a result of their perseverance and effort as well as the therapeutic group process.  This energizes and motivates me to continue sharing DBT because I see over and over again that the skills really can help people to be more effective and in control of their lives.  

People tell me I am open-minded, easy to talk to, and insightful. I have a solid knowledge of DBT as well and years of experience teaching and working with a wide variety of people. I am constantly inspired by the wisdom and fortitude of my clients and am so grateful for the opportunity to continually learn and grow with them. Practicing in a trauma-informed, client-centered way, I value the relationships I have been able to build with individuals on the DBT journey; I believe this solid foundation of trust and support is a core ingredient in this often-difficult work. 

As a DBT practitioner, I use the skills myself and can honestly say that my life has improved because of it. I feel secure knowing I have my own toolbox to draw on in trying times. I share personal examples during group – both successes and failures, as both are welcome and expected.  Like Marsha Linehan, I believe in the power of DBT to promote recovery and help “build a life worth living.”

GILL WALKER (she/her) MSc, BScOT, Reg.OT

I have been an Occupational Therapist in community mental health at Vancouver Coastal Health for the past 20 years. I work with clients individually and in groups. In addition to DBT, I facilitate an interpersonal social rhythms therapy group for people living with Depression and/or Bipolar. I also lead a group that uses cognitive behavioural therapy to help people live alongside the experience of hearing voices. Most recently, I have been leading a mindful self-compassion group. 

When Andrea asked me to co-facilitate a private DBT group with her, I was immediately interested. We have been running DBT groups together for the past two years, and I have so enjoyed working with and learning from her. I also love DBT. When I first learned about DBT 10 years ago, I was immediately intrigued by the mindfulness aspects and felt compelled to take the DBT Teacher Training Course. Since then, I have delved further into mindfulness both personally and professionally — taking courses in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness Based Self-Compassion (MBC), and attending several multi-day mindfulness retreats. In 2019, I completed my training in Mindfulness Facilitation at UCLA. Currently, I am a Teacher in Training of Mindful Self Compassion through the Center for Mindful Self Compassion. 

Marsha Linehan drew on her own mindfulness practices when she created DBT and I feel privileged to teach DBT. I love practicing DBT skills alongside clients and uncovering the ways that mindfulness and DBT skills work together—offering meaningful strategies and tools to help people become more effective as they build a life worth living.