Rhonda Nelson

Private Mentor, Master Practitioner in Clinical Counseling, Qualified Clinical Supervisor

My intention as a Compassionate Inquiry Mentor is to support you toward Compassionate Inquiry Certification and/or in deepening and expanding your knowledge and experience with Compassionate Inquiry competencies. My approach is person-centered and aligns with the qualities inherent in reflective supervision. The process is intended to support and inform your work both personally and professionally. I am a Registered Professional Counselor (RPC), Master Practitioner in Clinical Counseling (MPCC), and Qualified Clinical Supervisor (MPCC-S) to professionals in private practice in and outside of CI. I am a CI Founding Facilitator, Mentor in the CI Mentorship Program and in Private Practice, Certification Reviewer, and Plant Medicine Integration Specialist.

In 2014 I came across the work of Dr. Gabor Maté with an intention to enhance my professional work as an addictions counselor. In the process I found myself experiencing a deep movement of emotional healing and I was profoundly impacted. With my curiosity peaked I began a dedicated self-exploration using Gabor’s books, teachings, and recommended readings. I later attended a plant medicine retreat led by Gabor that was well supported therapeutically by the Compassionate Inquiry approach, which at that time was simply referred to as “Gabor-Style”. This integrated process supported me to drop deeper into the wisdom of my body and, gratefully, it led to further physical, mental, and emotional transformation and well-being. In 2017, I joined Gabor’s original team of plant medicine practitioners abroad to support retreat participants in processing and integration and utilized CI as the foundation upon which I worked.

Over the years I’ve organized various events with Gabor as guest speaker, including co-hosting the second in-person Compassionate Inquiry Workshop. My passion for this work led me to accept an invitation as a CI Founding Facilitator and support the development and establishment of the CI Course and Programs. Along with my roles as CI Mentor and Clinical Supervisor to practitioners in private practice, I am certified in the Basics in Clinical Supervision Training with Dr. Jeff Chang, all of which support my use of best practices.

Connecting to my roots as an addictions counselor, I co-led and co-authored a province-wide (Alberta, Canada) research project on addiction in Mothers, Addiction, and Recovery; Finding Meaning through the Journey, Edited by Peterson, W, Armstrong, L, and Foulkes, M.

My love for writing extends personally as I regularly meet with a group of free-writing enthusiasts. My hobbies include walking with my husband and our dog along the ocean and in the forest, reading, journaling, music, and songwriting. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Email: [email protected]