My Story
The name that was given to me when I was adopted is Kimberly Younger; my biological family name is Laboucan. I am Métis, Nehiyaw, and settler ancestry. My patrilineal family comes from Peace River AB, and I am a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. My matrilineal lineage is French and Italian; I have relationships and responsibilities with my biological and adoptive families. I am an uninvited guest living in Treaty 7 (Calgary, AB) where I continue to deepen relationships with the nations in this territory. As a guest that was not invited here I have the responsibility to be in service and respect the original caretakers of this land. My parents raised me in the Blaeberry Valley in the unceded territory of the Secwépemec and Ktunaxa peoples, which has been a foundational source of connection and relationship with the land.
When I was a child, I would spend my time outside walking in the bush with my dog. I grew up with my most important relationships in connection with the trees and mountains surrounding me. I often would find myself down by the river or in the forest to find solace, comfort, and safety.
Still to this day, the land is my most reliable resource where I continue to source my aliveness and connection to myself, my ancestors, and in relationship with all life. There is something that always existed within me where I had a deep sense of not belonging in the family I was adopted into; through my dreams and inner guidance I always wanted to find my biological family. I am someone who has survived abuse and addictions. Twenty years ago, I started to build relationships within my birth family, which has taught me a lot about acceptance and love. As a result, it has brought me full circle to love and appreciate the gifts and values in life that my adopted parents raised me with.
“The result of being colonized is the internalization of the need to remain invisible.”
– Lee Maracle
I spent most of my twenties exploring the world from India to Nepal, studying with traditional Elders in various communities. I lived in Maui, Hawaii, where I studied lomi-lomi massage and was following a thread about how healing includes the mind/body and spirit connection. I eventually found myself back to the ceremonial fires and teachings with Elders across turtle island and learning with the teachings of my ancestral family. As an uninvited guest living outside of my traditional territory, I recognize my responsibility in nurturing and caring for relationships within the community. Many years ago, I made a commitment to be in service to the community, and my counselling practice is one facet of how this purpose is unfolding in my life.
In 2012 I experienced a traumatic event on a recreational whitewater canoe trip, which catalyzed my healing journey to address underlying symptoms rooted in developmental trauma. There have been a few catalysts on my journey so far…in recent years recovering from burnout due to working within colonial systems that too often do not reflect the values that foster staff wellness. I am learning the importance of doing less, and remaining steadfast in my purpose, passion, and vision for my life through my relationship with myself, the land, and the community, which are inherently life-enhancing.
Through traditional and western healing approaches, I learned that my body can heal – change is possible! I had been pushing in hyperdrive and hyper-indepence my whole life, and I have been humbled by the gift of slowing down and receiving.
I started to come into a relationship with the pain as a process of transformation…
I have been learning over the past few years about what it means when all aspects of your life and marriage are impacted by a spouse living with a chronic degenerative illness. Accepting that so much is out of our control. After exhausting all traditional and western approaches to healing, I am coming to understand that prayer is not always about the miracle; but perhaps instead for the guidance and grace to rise to the challenges and gifts that life presents. Hope has become futile and harmful in my process. Hope took me out of our present circumstance of what ‘is’. Hope became hopeless to my current reality. Through a process of acceptance, I am learning this is perhaps the antidote to sourcing my life from a place of aliveness even in the storms.
Today, I can often be found outside in any season with my dog, loved ones, hiking, canoeing, skiing, biking and gathering firewood! I am a mother and an auntie, I love spending time with little ones through play and exploration on the land. I find rest and regulation in the 'doing' of working on the land. I enjoy projects where I get to build with my hands and working; in the winter season I also enjoy beading by my fireplace.
Certifications & Continuing Education
Assistantship - Somatic Experiencing ® Trauma Training
Diploma of Massage Therapy - MH Vicars School of Massage Therapy
Indigenous Focused Orienting Therapy - Tools for Living
Advanced Wilderness First Aid 40hrs & CPR-C Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine
5 Day Foundational Narrative Therapy
Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology Yorkville University
Certification: Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner
Indigenous Specialization: Bachelor of Social Work UVIC
2019-Current
October 2024
2021 & 2023
2024
2020
2020
2018
2009
Professional Bio
Kim holds a Master’s in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, NB, and an Indigenous Specialization in Social Work from the University of Victoria, BC. She is registered as a Canadian Clinical Counsellor and certified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP™). Kim has been working in mental health and Indigenous educational leadership for 15 years serving Indigenous and settler peoples in remote and urban settings. Her career has spanned from working in the backcountry facilitating leadership programs to on reserve remote communities in the Yukon; and working in urban non-profit and public education settings in Moh’kinsstis/Calgary. Kim has also worked extensively in public education and the non-profit sector developing land-based Indigenous perspectives trainings from an anti-racist approach and trauma-informed practice for staff and leadership cohorts. She has exceptional skills in group facilitation and curriculum design.
Her most recent position was working with an Indigenous community based mental health counselling program providing services to the community and facilitating professional development trainings for staff in Calgary AB. Previously, the lead clinical therapist at a wilderness-based men’s addictions treatment center with the integration of western, experiential, and Indigenous approaches to healing. She is also a registered massage therapist and furthering her professional development in Somatic-Based Attachment Trauma.
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Her passion as a lifelong learner and helper is practicing with a unique integration of culture, the natural world, and somatic experiencing from a decolonized approach. She specializes in working with adults who have experienced generational trauma and addictions; her vision is to support people to be their full expression of self and thrive in their lives.
Drawing on the teachings that have been generously shared in her family of origin and with Elders across turtle island that she has had the privilege to continue to be in relationships with; her work is best described as a tapestry of weaving land-based and western approaches together to create a context of healing that is relational and client-centerred.