Individual and Family Therapist and Consultant
Registered Clinical Social Worker*

Contact Rae: rae@raemorriscounselling.com

Rae (she/her/they) is a white settler and cisgender woman who provides private counselling/therapy services for individuals, parents, and families who are located on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories of the Indigenous and First Nations Peoples across British Columbia and Ontario, Canada (Turtle Island). Rae works with clients to explore and address challenges with mental health, self-esteem, neurodivergence, well-being, and relationships. Rae works with many Neurodivergent youth and adults, many of whom are women or are non-gender-binary and who have suspected or confirmed Autistic, ADHD, and/or gifted diagnoses. Rae offers limited spaces to children under aged 15, mostly offered to children with suspected or confirmed gifted designations and/or as part of whole-family counselling supports. Please reach out to inquire further.

Rae’s approach is strongly informed by client-centered, strengths-based, trauma-informed and neurodiversity perspectives and incorporates cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), and solution-focused and emotion-focused theories; tailored to meet each individual client’s needs and strengths. Many of Rae’s clients are seeking to learn more about themselves and reframe a deficit-oriented understanding of themselves to enhance their mental health, well-being, and relationships.

Rae also offers professional consultation and professional development supports related to incorporating a neurodiversity perspective into clinical work with clients/patients/students, supporting mental health and well-being of those who work in caring fields, and case consultation.

Rae has a Master of Social Work from University of Toronto and is 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. As a PhD Candidate, she teaches clinical practice courses to students in the Master of Social Work program. She is an affiliate of the Redpath Centre, an organization specializing in co-occurring neurodivergence and mental health needs.

Rae is set up as a service provider with the BC MCFD Autism Funding program and is able to bill the ministry directly for family counselling services that use this funding. Please reach out to Rae directly if you would like to set this up.

*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 Autism Funding available

• Professional Consultation/Mentorship: $200 per 50 minute session

• Professional Development Presentations: Contact to inquire

Relevant Publications/Presentations

Sessional Instructor (University of British Columbia)

Master of Social Work Program
Jan – April 2023 SOWK532: Social Work Practice with Families
Sept – Dec 2022 SOWK526: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Couples
Jan – April 2022 SOWK525: Advanced Social Work Practice: Mental Health
Sept – Dec 2021 SOWK526: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Couples
Jan – April 2021 SOWK525: Advanced Social Work Practice: Mental Health
Jan – April 2020 SOWK525: Advanced Social Work Practice: Mental Health

Bachelor of Social Work Program
Sept – Dec 2019 SOWK405: Social Work Practice II

Selected Professional Presentations

Morris, R. (2023, Feb). A whole school approach to celebrating neurodiversity. Crofton House Junior School Professional Development Day. 

Morris, R. (2023, Feb). Incorporating a neurodiversity perspective into student mental health and wellness initiatives. Virtual presentation at Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC) Professional Development Day 2023: “Healing the Land; The Mind”.

Morris, R. (2023, Feb). “I just can’t care anymore”: Recognizing and addressing compassion fatigue among educators. Virtual presentation at Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC) Professional Development Day 2023: “Healing the Land; The Mind”.

Morris, R., Konnert, M., & Shen, E. (2023, Feb). Talking About Neurodiversity. Crofton House Junior School Student Presentations (grade 6s and 7s), Vancouver, BC. 

Morris, R. (2023, Jan). Recognizing and addressing compassion fatigue and burnout among educators and staff in schools. Professional Development Presentation for Coast Mountain Academy January 2023 ProD Day, Squamish, BC. 

Morris, R. (2023, Jan). Supporting neurodiversity in education: Considerations for an all-girls senior school. Professional Development Presentation for Crofton House Senior School January 2023 Pro-D Day.

Morris, R. (2022, Oct). Neurodiversity-affirming counselling in private practice. Professional Development Presentation for Peak Resilience Counselling. 

Morris, R. (2022, Aug). Supporting neurodiversity in education: Considerations for an all-girls junior school. Professional Development Workshop for Crofton House Junior School August 2022 Pro-D Day.

Morris, R. (2022, Apr). Managing a Transition: What are the Tools in your Toolbox? Virtual presentation as part of Panel Webinar for AIDE Canada (Pacific Autism Family Centre Foundation) “Transitioning out of the Family Home”.

Morris, R. (2022, Feb). Recognizing and addressing compassion fatigue in teaching. Virtual workshop for Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC) Pro-D conference “Supporting Minds: Supporting Futures”.

Morris, R. (2022, Feb). Talking to children and youth about mental health. Virtual workshop for Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC) Pro-D conference “Supporting Minds: Supporting Futures”.

Morris, R. (2022, Feb). Incorporating neurodiversity into social work practice in mental health. Virtual presentation for British Columbia Association of Social Workers Continuing Professional Development Series.

Morris, R., Lin, N., & Bratiotis, C. (2019, Aug). Transforming Social Work Curriculum: A Community-Engaged Approach. Speaking presentation at UBC School of Social Work Faculty Retreat, Vancouver, BC.

Morris, R. (2019, May). Supporting Autism in Direct Practice Social Work. Workshop presented at BC Association of Social Workers Continuing Professional Development Opportunity, Vancouver, BC.

Morris, R. (2018, September). Professional identity in social work. Lecture presented at UBC School of Social Work Master of Social Work Orientation Day, Vancouver, BC.

Morris, R. (2017, December). Self-care and resilience in the workplace. Workshop presented at Independent Schools Association of BC (ISABC) Learning Resources Group Meeting, North Vancouver, BC.

Morris, R. (2017, May). Working with families of children with autism spectrum disorder: Considerations for social work practice. Lecture presented at BC Children’s Hospital/BC Women’s Hospital Social Work Clinical Rounds, Vancouver, BC.

Morris, R. (2017, May). Leading healthy teachers: Promoting self-care and resilience in the workplace. Workshop presented at Brockton School Professional Development Day, North Vancouver, BC.

Morris, R. (2017, May).  Teaching and your health: Self-care and resilience in the workplace. Workshop presented at Brockton School Professional Development Day, North Vancouver, BC.

Morris, R. (2017, May). Physician knowledge and adults with autism spectrum disorder: Professional and system capacity in Ontario. Presentation to Ontario Working Group on Mental Health and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Toronto, ON.

Morris, R. (2017, May). Mental health at home: Reinforcing well-being in your child. Lecture presented at Brockton School Mental Health Week, North Vancouver, BC.

Ellenor, J., White, C., & Morris, R. (2016, November). Parenting your teen with high functioning autism. Workshop series presented at the Redpath Centre, Toronto, ON.

Morris, R., & Ellenor, J. (2016, August). Parent adolescents with high functioning autism. Workshop presented at Brockton Preparatory School, North Vancouver, BC.

Morris, R. (2016, May). Talking with your child/youth about mental health. Workshop presented at Brockton Preparatory School Mental Health Week, North Vancouver, BC.

Ellenor, J., & Morris, R. (2016, February-March). Parenting teens with ASD: Knowledge, Skills, and Support to Create Success. Workshop series presented at the Redpath Centre, Toronto, ON.

Morris, R., & Muskat, B. (2014, June). Child and family-centered social work practice for patients with autism spectrum disorder. Multi-Media Display presented at Child and Family-Centered Care (CFCC) Week, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, ON.

Morris, R. (2014, March). Working with children with autism spectrum disorder and their families: Perspectives of social workers in an urban pediatric hospital. Lecture presented at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Social Work Rounds, Toronto, ON.

Articles in Referred Journals

Morris, R., & Borja, C. (2022). Navigating the clinician-researcher role in health social work: Reflections from practice. International Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728211065706

Morris, R., Lewis, F., Baker, N., Saul, M., & Bohachewski, K. (2021). “I have failed them and failed my duties”: Experiences of hospital social workers discharging patients into homelessness. Health and Social Work. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlab039

Morris, R., Greenblatt, A., & Saini, M. (2021). Working beyond capacity: A qualitative review of research on healthcare providers’ experiences with autistic individuals. Advance online publication. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-021-00283-6.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Juried 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 6^th 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 24^th 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 Juried 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 24^th 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) 6^th 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) 6^th 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 24^th 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) 5^th 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) 22^nd Annual Research Day, Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities (OADD) Annual Conference, Kingston, ON.