Rae Morris
Individual and Family Therapist and Consultant
Registered Clinical Social Worker*
MSW, RCSW
As an individual and family counsellor/therapist, I work collaboratively with clients to explore and support neurodivergence, mental health, identity, self-esteem, anxiety, well-being, and relationships.
In sessions with me, we will work together to explore how you experience and navigate the world, and how this intersects with core values, prior experiences, and your current mental health and well-being. We will recognize and reframe underlying deficit-oriented assumptions and internalized messages that impact your self-esteem and confidence, to support you in strengthening and celebrating your personal identity.
Many of the clients who work with me are women or are nonbinary and have suspected or confirmed (formal or self-identified) Autistic and/or ADHD diagnoses, and/or are gifted. I offer limited spaces to children under aged 15, mostly working alongside children with suspected or confirmed gifted designations as part of whole-family counselling supports
I have a particular interest in working with folks to explore neurodivergence, tease apart neurodivergence and mental health, and to process late-realized autistic or ADHD diagnoses. I also enjoy connecting with individuals and teams through consultation and educational offerings on various topics including neurodiversity-affirming practices and compassion fatigue. Much of this work to date has been with educators, healthcare professionals, human resource professionals, and others in caring fields.
I am a neurodivergent white settler woman and parent who has been a counsellor/therapist for ten years. I am passionate about the intersection of neurodivergence, mental health, and clinical practice; and these topics have been the focus of my clinical and research career to date. I have also worked in mental health hospitals, research, and school settings; and have taught clinical practice courses to students in the Master of Social Work program at the University of British Columbia.
My method is integrative and incorporates elements of elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), solution-focused and emotion-focused theories; specifically tailored to meet each individual client’s values, needs, and strengths.
I have a Master of Social Work from University of Toronto and am currently a PhD Candidate in the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia, researching mental health services and supports with and for Autistic and other neurodivergent adults.
I currently have a long waitlist for counselling supports. Please email me directly to inquire further.
*Registered Clinical Social Worker (BC College of Social Workers #13139)
*Registered Social Worker (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers #824243)
Fees
Individual/Family Counselling:
$170 per 50 minute session, covered by some private insurance plans. Direct billing to British Columbia Autism Funding is available
Professional Consultation/Mentorship:
$200 per 50 minute session
Professional Development Presentations:
Contact to inquire
Professional Presentations
Sessional Instructor
Master of Social Work Program - University of British Columbia
Sep-Dec 2023 - SOWK526: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Couples
Jan-Apr 2023 - SOWK532: Social Work Practice with Families
Sep-Dec 2022 - SOWK526: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Couples
Jan-Apr 2022 - SOWK525: Advanced Social Work Practice: Mental Health
Sep-Dec 2021 - SOWK526: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Couples
Jan-Apr 2021 - SOWK525: Advanced Social Work Practice: Mental Health
Jan-April 2020 - SOWK525: Advanced Social Work Practice: Mental Health
Bachelor of Social Work Program - University of British Columbia
Sep-Dec 2019 - SOWK405: Social Work Practice II
Guest Lecturer
Master of Social Work Program - University of British Columbia
Apr 2024 - Family Therapy with Neurodiverse Families (SOWK532: Social Work Practice with Families)
Sept 2023 - Neurodiversity and Identity-Affirming Practice (SOWK526: Social Work Practice with Individuals & Couples)
Mar 2023 - Family Therapy with Neurodiverse Families (SOWK532: Social Work Practice with Families)
Sept 2022 - Neurodiversity in Practice (SOWK526: Social Work Practice with Individuals & Couples)
Feb 2022 - Neurodiversity and Mental Health (SOWK525: Advanced Social Work Practice - Mental Health)
Doctoral of Social Work Program - University of British Columbia
Mar 2022 - Teaching in Academia: Knowing and Honouring Your Identity as a Scholarly Instructor (SOWK601: Advanced Doctoral Seminar)
Bachelor of Social Work Program - University of British Columbia
Apr 2021 - Working with Families in Social Work (SOWK305: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families)
July 2019 - Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health (UBC Vancouver International Summer Program)
Feb 2019 - Attachment Theory and Crisis Intervention (SOWK305: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families)
Nov 2018 - Therapeutic/Clinical Groups (SOWK305: Social Work Practice with Groups)
Nov 2018 - Qualitative Research (SOWK320: Introduction to Social Work Research)
Sep 2018 - Philosophy and Theory in Social Work Research (SOWK320: Introduction to Social Work Research)
Articles in Academic Journals
Morris, R., Christianson-Barker, J., Stainton, T., Mills, R., Rowley, C., Cox, J., Schroeder, M., & Hole, R. (2024). “They don't think I can do it”: Experiences of self-advocates, employment specialists, and employers on employment of adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 37(3).https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13231
Morris, R., Christiansen-Barker, J., Stainton, T., Mills, R., Schroeder, M., Cox, J., Rowley, C., & Hole, R. (2024). Employment practices as experienced by persons with intellectual disability, employers, and employment specialists across Canada. Advance online publication. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-240019
Morris, R., Stainton, T., Borja, C., & Hole, R. (2024). The impacts of Microboards on social and community inclusion of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: “To not just exist, but to truly live”. Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1080/23297018.2024.2312134
Southey, S., Morris, R., Nicholas, D., & Pilatzke, M. (2024). Autistic perspectives on employment: A scoping review. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-023-10163-x
Morris, R., Lin, N., & Bratiotis, C. (2023). ”Oh you learn it all in the field”: Stakeholder perspectives on knowledge and skills development of MSW students. Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2023.2208153
Morris, R., Greenblatt, A., & Saini, M. (2023). Working beyond capacity: A qualitative review of research on healthcare providers’ experiences with autistic individuals. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 10(1), 158-168. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-021-00283-6.
Morris, R., & Borja, C. (2022). Navigating the clinician-researcher role in health social work: Reflections from practice. International Social Work, 66(5), 1584-1588.. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728211065706
Morris, R., Lewis, F., Baker, N., Saul, M., & Bohachewski, K. (2022). “I have failed them and failed my duties”: Experiences of hospital social workers discharging patients into homelessness. Health and Social Work, 47(1), 45-51. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlab039
Southey, S., Morris, R., & Saini, M. (2021). Coparenting autistic children during COVID-19: Emerging insights from practice. International Social Work, 64(5), 790-795. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728211013881
Morris, R. (2021). An exploration of online questionnaires as a method for including autistic adults in qualitative health research [abstract]. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34(5), 1290-1290.
Edelson, S.M., Nicholas, D.B., Stoddart, K.P., Bauman, M.B., Mawlam, L., Lawson, W., Jose, C., Morris, R., & Wright, S.D. (2020). Strategies for research, practice, and policy for autism late in life: A report from a think tank on aging and autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(1), 382-390. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10803-020-04514-3
Morris, R., & Greenblatt, A. (2020). The role of social work in supporting individuals with autism in healthcare settings [abstract]. In: Alternative, Oral, Poster, and Symposia Abstracts for QHR, 2019. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 76.
Morris, R., Greenblatt, A., & Saini, M. (2019). Healthcare providers’ experiences with autism: A scoping review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(6), 2374-2388. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03912-6
Morris, R., & Greenblatt, A. (2019). Healthcare provider experiences with autism: A review and synthesis of qualitative research studies [abstract]. In: Abstracts, Poster Presentation, Qualitative Health Research Conference, 2018. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 18, 1-20.
Morris, R., Muskat, B., & Greenblatt, A. (2018). Working with children with autism and their families. Pediatric hospital social worker perceptions of family needs and the role of social work. Social Work in Health Care, 57(7), 483-501. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2018.1461730
Saini, M., Stoddart, K., & Morris, R. (2015). Review of parenting decisions in Canadian family courts involving children with autism spectrum disorder. Canadian Family Law Quarterly, 34(3), 373-393. https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/95197/1/Review%20of%20Parenting%20Decisions%20in%20Canadian%20Family%20Courts_Saini.pdf
Saini, M., Stoddart, K., Gibson, M., Morris, R., Barrett, D., Muskat, B., Nicholas, D., Rampton, G., & Zwaigenbaum, L. (2015). Couple relationships among parents of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Findings from a scoping review of the literature. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 17, 142-157. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/j.rasd.2015.06.014
Morris, R., & Muskat, B. (2014). Working with children with autism spectrum disorder and their families: Perspectives of social workers in an urban pediatric hospital [Abstract]. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 20(3), 134.
Professional Publications
Morris, R. (2019 – ongoing) From Research to Practice [recurring quarterly article]. Perspectives: Newsletter of the BC Association of Social Workers.
Morris, R. (2017). Parenting and autism spectrum disorder: Emerging considerations for social work practice. Perspectives: Newsletter of the BC Association of Social Workers, 39(1).
Speaking Presentations at Academic Conferences
Southey, S., Morris, R., Nicholas, D., & Pilatzke, M. (2023, Jan). Emerging insights: Supporting autistic job seekers in employment. Virtual oral presentation at CERIC Cannexus23 Conference.
Morris, R. (2021, July). An exploration of online questionnaires as a method for including autistic adults in qualitative health research. Virtual oral presentation at Virtual 6th IASSIDD Europe Congress.
Morris, R., Stainton, T., Borja, C. (2019, Oct). “This model has really turned her life around”: Social capital and quality of life outcomes among persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities involved in Microboards. Oral presentation at University of Alberta International Institute for Qualitative Methodology 24th Qualitative Health Research Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Morris, R., Lin, N., & Bratiotis, C. (2019, June). Transforming social work curriculum: A community-based approach. Workshop presented at Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS) 2019 Conference.
Morris, R, & Stainton, T. (2019, May). Promoting social capital in persons with disabilities: Lessons from an analysis of Microboards. Workshop presented at Inclusion 2019 Annual Learning Event, Victoria, BC.
Morris, R. (2017, April). Not criminally responsible: Autism and forensic healthcare. Presented at Autism Community Training (ACT) Focus on Research Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Morris, R., Saini, M, & Stoddart, K.P. (2016, December). Parents on the fault-line: Interpersonal conflict, family breakdown, and implications for children with ASD. Lecture presented at Geneva Centre for Autism International Autism Symposium, Toronto, ON.
Morris, R., Saini, M., & Stoddart, K.P. (2016, November). Working with parents of children with special needs: Enhancing the social work role in clinical, research, and legal settings. Workshop presented at the British Columbia Association of Social Workers (BCASW) Fall Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Morris, R., & Greenblatt, A. (2014, April). Autism in the hospital: The role of social work. Workshop presented at the Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities (OADD) Annual Conference, Kingston, ON.
Poster Presentations at Academic Conferences
Morris, R., Stainton, T., & Borja, C. (2020, Nov). Microboards and Quality of Life among Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Lessons from a University-Community Research Collaborative. Poster presented at University of British Columbia (UBC) 7th Health and Wellbeing in Children, Youth, and Adults with Developmental Disabilities Conference, Virtual Conference.
Morris, R., Greenblatt, A. (2019, Oct). The role of social work in supporting individuals with autism in healthcare settings: Results from a primary research study and literature review. Poster presented Oct 2019 at University of Alberta International Institute for Qualitative Methodology 24th Qualitative Health Research Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Morris, R. (2019). Identifying gaps and facilitators to healthcare service provision for adults with autism. Poster presented at IASSIDD 2019 – The World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Glasgow, Scotland.
Stainton, T., Morris, R., Perry, L., & Bahadshah, Z. (2019). The impact of a community microboard program on social capital of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Poster presented at IASSIDD 2019 – The World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Glasgow, Scotland.
Morris,R., Nicholas, D., & Cocchia, S. (2019, April). Autism and Intellectual disability national resource and exchange network (AIDE). Poster presented at Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance (CASDA) 2019 Autism Leadership Summit, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Morris, R., Greenblatt, A., & Saini, M. (2018, November). Findings from a scoping review of research on the experiences of healthcare professionals working with autism. Poster to be presented at University of British Columbia (UBC) 6th Health and Wellbeing in Children, Youth, and Adults with Developmental Disabilities Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Morris, R., & Stoddart, K.P. (2018, November). Understanding youth and adult offenders with autism: A risk and protective model for identification, assessment, and treatment. Poster to be presented at University of British Columbia (UBC) 6th Health and Wellbeing in Children, Youth, and Adults with Developmental Disabilities Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Morris, R., & Greenblatt, A. (2018, October). Healthcare provider experiences with autism: A review and synthesis of qualitative research studies. Poster presented at University of Alberta International Institute for Qualitative Methodology 24th Qualitative Health Research Conference, Halifax, NS.
Morris, R., Saini, M., & Stoddart, K.P. (2016, November). Relationship pathways for parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: Results from a meta-ethnography review. Poster presented at University of British Columbia (UBC) 5th Health and Wellbeing in Children, Youth, and Adults with Developmental Disabilities Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Morris, R., & Muskat, B. (2014, November). Social worker perceptions of family needs and the role of social work with children with autism spectrum disorder and their families in pediatric settings. Poster presented at Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) Social Work Provincial Conference, Toronto, ON.
Morris, R., Saini, M., Stoddart, K.P., Muskat, B., Barrett, D., Gibson, M., Nicholas, D., Rampton, G., & Zwaigenbaum, L. (2014, November). A meta-ethnographic view of the pathways to positive couple relationships for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Poster presented at Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) Social Work Provincial Conference, Toronto, ON.
Morris, R., & Muskat, B. (2014, October). Social worker perceptions of family needs and the role of social work with children with autism spectrum disorder and their families in pediatric settings. Poster presented at Autism 2014: The Geneva Centre for Autism International Symposium, Toronto, ON.
Morris, R., Saini, M., Stoddart, K.P., Muskat, B., Barrett, D., Gibson, M., Nicholas, D., Rampton, G., & Zwaigenbaum, L. (2014, October). A meta-ethnographic view of the pathways to positive couple relationships for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Poster presented at Autism 2014: The Geneva Centre for Autism International Symposium, Toronto, ON.
Milen, M., Nicholas, D.B., Zwaigenbaum, L., Muskat, B., Craig, W., Newton, A., Roberts, W., Burnham Riosa, P., Sharon, R., Greenblatt, A., Ratnapalan, S., Cohen-Silver, J., & Morris, R. (2014, May). Evaluating the impact of emergency room services for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Poster presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), Altanta, GA.
Morris, R., & Muskat, B. (2014, April). Working with children with autism spectrum disorder and their families: Perspectives of social workers in an urban pediatric hospital. Poster presented at the Research Special Interest Group (RSIG) 22nd Annual Research Day, Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities (OADD) Annual Conference, Kingston, ON.