Wisdom Counselling

04/29/2026

Hello Dear Dance Divine Community,

The "Coming Home" workshop is coming up again at the end of June for the 3rd year in a row. I am so grateful to be able to share this work with others. I think it's beautiful work. It's the work of the heart, of connection, of our shared humanity and the human condition.

My personal motivation for creating this workshop is to share with you the tips, techniques, tools, and theories that helped me to recover from chronic depression and anxiety, and helped me to find my voice, my joy, my boundaries, and my creative expression. They also helped me to become much more securely attached.

The 2 things that made the biggest difference were Embodiment and reconnecting with my Authentic Self. Participating in conscious dance and breathwork taught me that there is literally a wealth of somatic information that is generally dismissed, rejected, denied, ridiculed, minimized, etc. by the mind. I'm referring to sensory, emotional, intuitive information that gives you vital information about your limits, priorities, boundaries, and values. Learning to reconnect with that information has been life- and relationship-saving!

This somatic information comes from the Authentic Self. And the more you reconnect with your authentic self, the more you learn that YOU are not the collection of fear-based thoughts that may pollute your mind. This is one of the core tenets of Transperson Psychology, which we chat about quite a bit in the workshop.

I think it also helps to learn that authenticity is not about entitlement, or specialness, or some indulgent form of "me, me, me", but actually about real connection. When we start to have experiences of real connection - to ourselves or others, we start to lose our patience for masks, persona's and roles and we realize how much they actually (have) hurt.

Our authentic self is an inner compass that we are blessed to be born with. When we listen, it will guide us to our sweet spot in life, where alignment and personal rule the day, and where your outer world matches our inner world. It leads us home.

This is why it is called "Coming Home".

I hope it gives you a chance to connect with your authentic self. A chance to quiet your mind and listen to your somatic information. I hope it gives your an experience of real connection, and of how good it feels to speak the truth, of how beautiful true vulnerability is, of how restorative assertiveness is for your self esteem. I hope it gives you a chance to encounter yourself; to step out of the theoretical and intellectual because it takes more that insight and theory to change behaviour, it takes an experience of something new.

If any of this speaks to you, please reach out. I'd love to talk to you...

--> I will be offering the workshop at half price for those who are doing the workshop for the 2nd (or 3rd!) time. We could also have a chat about ways in which you could step into some supporting roles as well if that interests you

--> Payment plans are available, please ask there are currently 6 spots left for new participants

Jelena ~ 778 724 1901 (landline)

12/10/2025

Thank you to Estephania at Alkehmia who invited me to do a little interview about the upcoming "Coming Home" workshop. I am happy to share with you here. In it we touch on:

- how we developed a persona as a way to get along with, or simply survive, our family system
- how that persona became an area of competence and specialization
- how that personal created roles and patterned ways of being and relating that we still default into
- how and why this persona tends to over-ride body based information, like senses, feelings, intuitions, limits, priorities, boundaries and values, in favour of externally referenced information
- how (the loss of) connection is the primary motivator for these roles and behaviours
- the concept of differentiation from the family system and to what degree were/are you allowed to be your true self
- how our level of differentiation plays out in our current relationships
- how to connect with body-based information
- how to communicate authentically
the importance of being able to identify the mental, emotional and physical symptoms of when we are operating from the persona versus when we are coming from the authentic self
- self acceptance and what it means to come home to our true selves, and our body
- the effects of growing up with narcissistic (NPD) parent

If you are ready to ease up on trying to please everyone, reconnect with yourself, strengthen your personal integrity and alignment, and learn a powerful new communication skill, then this workshop might be a good fit for you. There are 4 spots left.

Much love always,
Jelena

In this Interview we talk with Jelena Marda about: Understanding a Narcissistic PersonalityThe Role of Somatics in Personal DevelopmentFamily Systems and Ide...

10/27/2025

The next "Coming Home" workshop + "Coming Home 2.0", a retreat for grads - https://mailchi.mp/c6868ef1e224/the-next-coming-home-workshop-coming-home-20-a-retreat-for-grads

10/25/2025

* * * COMING HOME 2.0 RETREAT * * *

I am thrilled to announce "Coming Home 2.0", a retreat for "Coming Home" grads. Reconnect with your fellow participants and take the next step on your personal growth journey this very beautiful location on Bowen Island, BC. This retreat offers 3 immersive days of:

continuation of theory/teaching segments
facilitated movement
group processes
somatic techniques for release, integration, regulation, and embodiment
written exercises
a breathwork session
group sharing and review
group or partnered exercises

March 12 to 15, 2026 | The cost is $1295.00 per person* | Registration deadline is January 10, 2026 | Space is limited to 8 people.

10/25/2025

* * * COMING HOME WORKSHOP * * *

Registration has started for the next "Coming Home" workshop that is coming up on December 29 to January 2. If you are looking to start the new year with a deep shift and a powerful new framework this workshop might be for you. You will gain somatic, personal and interpersonal tools that can profoundly enhance your relationship to yourself and others. Below is more information on the workshop and feel free to contact me for a consultation anytime. The tuition is $795. There are currently 7 spots left.

There is also an "Integration Program" that offers one on one support after the workshop to help you integrate the material, apply it to your own life, and practice new skills.

10/25/2025

https://factbc.org/2023/03/16/removing-eurocentric-barriers/

The route to professional standing in Counselling Therapy originated through the provision of training in counselling provided in Faculties and Departments such as Psychology, Education, Social Work and Theology. Because of the formal administrative structures of institutions offering these discipli...

09/24/2025

"Thank You" ~ A return to Gratitude
October 13 and 14, 2025 | 10 am to 5 pm | $295 | 215 E. 17th Ave., Vancouver, BC.

Have you noticed how the world that just keeps beating the drum? Stoking our fears and insecurities? Pulling our focus onto grievances, separation, conflict? Have you noticed that the more we focus externally, the more our anxiety rises, the more we worry, and the more we become strategic in our approach to life, and others?

This workshop invites you to take a 2-day break from the world, and “soften back into yourself”, deeply,so that we may bring our attention back self, where it belongs, where our only true locus of control is. This is the only place where we can reconnect with “enough”, not as a platitude, but as a spiritual truth, as an embodied awareness, and as a conscious choice.

This workshop is about 'softening'; movement, active relaxation and releasing, reflection, sharing, gratitude consciousness and deep rest. It is an experiential and therapeutic workshop with a slightly ceremonial feel as we honour and hold sacred that which longs to be brought back into the fold, that which longs for our blessing.

Choose to listen to the world within.

The workshop consists of:

facilitated movement
conscious connected breathwork (2 sessions)
somatic techniques for release, integration, regulation, and embodiment
group sharing
group or partnered experiences
This workshop will help you to:

reduce stress and anxiety
deepen your connection to self and others
deepen your appreciation
get out of your head and be more present
reconnect with your body-based awareness
deepen your movement practice

https://dancedivine.ca/workshops/

09/24/2025

BREATHWORK SESSIONS IN 2025/2026

The upcoming, Sunday afternoon, Conscious Connected Breathwork sessions are scheduled for:

November 2, 2025 and December 21, 2025, from 12:45 to 3:30 pm. The price for the breathwork is $75 and you are welcome to attend the conscious dance beforehand for free (starts at 10:30 am).

I will also be offering themed, 2-day Movement and Breathwork workshops on October 13 & 14, 2025, February 16 & 17 and April 2 & 3, 2026, from 10 am to 5 pm. The price for the 2-day workshop is $295.

If you are not able to attend the full 2-day workshop, you are welcome to drop-in for the breathwork session alone on the following dates (statutory holidays): Monday October 13, 2025, February 16 and Friday April 3, 2026, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm. The price for the breathwork alone is $75.

Pre-registration is required, so please send an e-transfer to jelenamarda@novuscom.net to hold your spot.

All session are held at The Cambrian Hall, at 215 East 17th Ave. Vancouver, BC.

Conscious Connected Breathwork sessions held monthly with Jelena Marda RPC, through Dance Divine at the Cambrian Hall Vancouver, BC.

08/01/2025

Thank you, thank you, thank you

“I highly recommend this workshop. I wish everyone could experience it. Jelena is an extremely gifted facilitator that created a very special container and community for deep connection with self and others, healing and growth. Her therapeutic use of self and capacity to hold space for others is b...

04/01/2025

Workshop Integration Program
The “Coming Home” Integration Program provides 1 on 1 support to help deepen your understanding of the material, apply it to your own life and practice new skills.

These areas of focus are to help you clarify potential areas of growth. I do recommend mastering the intra-personal before moving onto the inter-personal, and mastering both of those before moving on to the trans-personal. This is based on the premise that advanced skill-sets are built more successfully upon the mastery of foundational skill-sets.

The program consists of 6, 1-hour sessions and includes written and experiential exercises, and you will be encouraged to do homework assignments and develop a personal practice. Click here for more information.

04/01/2025

Registration has begun for the next "Coming Home" workshop. The group size is limited to 10 participants, so if you are interested, please contact me to hold your spot.

Coming Home ~ A Return to Self is an experiential, personal growth workshop that integrates Transpersonal Psychology with various somatic practices.
June 30, 2025 to July 4, 2025 | 10 am to 5 pm | $795 p/p | Cambrian Hall

The workshop consists of:​
theory/teaching segments
facilitated movement
group processes
somatic techniques for release, integration, regulation, and embodiment
written exercises
a breathwork session
group sharing
group or partnered exercises

In this workshop you will be asked to look at the relationship between who you really are versus who you think you need to be, and how that shows up in your body, mind and your relationships. You will learn about Transpersonal Psychology and Family Systems theory, use somatic techniques rooted in Gestalt, breathwork and conscious dance. Through this wholistic lens you will be asked to look at how your family system has impacted your development and how you might hold that conditioning in your body and mind.

This is an experiential, educational and therapeutic workshop. You will be invited to participate in exercises designed to increase your level of awareness and understanding and help you to reach new perspectives. Expect to ‘stretch’ mentally and emotionally.

This workshop will help you to:
manage anxiety
manage your boundaries
deepen your connection to self and others
communicate better and more authentically
get out of your head and be more present
reconnect with your body-based awareness
access your inner resources, like your: truth, senses, feelings, intuition, priorities, values, and limits
reclaim cut-off parts of self
deepen your movement practice *
expand emotionally, psychologically and physically into a fuller, truer, way of being
* If you are new to conscious dance, this workshop will give you many tools to work with on the dance floor!

Coming Home is an experiential, personal growth workshop that integrates Transpersonal Psychology with various somatic practices.