photo by Sabrina Huff
Bios:
SHORT BIO
Bernadine Fox is a graduate of Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design (now ECU). She is an award-winning mental health advocate and an visual artist (portfolio), writer, social activist, and public speaker in Vancouver BC who constructs narratives that explore various social issues in need of voice. For the past three years, Bernadine has produced and hosted an on-air radio program Re-Threading Madness (formerly Both Sides Now) which dares to change how we think about mental health. Bernadine Fox endured sexual and physical abuse as a child, and later at the hands of her therapist and abuser. Despite the lifelong trauma, PTSD, Chronic Fatigue and Osteoarthritis, she selflessly chooses to share her story and use her voice to shed light on the issues of mental health and abuse of power. A mental health advocate for 30+years, she now volunteers for TELL, an organization that provides resources and support for those healing from exploitation by their therapists or doctors and conducts free online workshops for survivors around the globe bi-monthly. Fox raises her grandson and resides in a forest with three cats and a few ghosts.
LONG BIO
Issues Bernadine can speak to:
The Prevalence, Patterns, and Impact of Therapy Abuse and Exploitation:
A Workshop for Professionals.
“I was trained about ethical boundaries and what would happen to me if they were transgressed but no one taught me what would happen to my client.”
A Workshop for Professionals.
“I was trained about ethical boundaries and what would happen to me if they were transgressed but no one taught me what would happen to my client.”
Regardless of gender, therapeutic modality, or geographical area, survivor accounts of therapy abuse and exploitation are analogous, the actions of their abusive therapists predictable, and the catastrophic impact on the victim consistent. Participants of this workshop will learn: how to delineate between the therapist who made a mistake in therapy and one that has groomed and exploited their clients; able to identify the warning signs of
therapy abuse, the grooming process, the various forms of exploitation, and the ways in which abusive therapists retaliate when faced with exposure and being held accountable; and know of how this abuse impacts on clients, their families, and the field along with identifying the therapeutic issues that can arise in subsequent treatment.
therapy abuse, the grooming process, the various forms of exploitation, and the ways in which abusive therapists retaliate when faced with exposure and being held accountable; and know of how this abuse impacts on clients, their families, and the field along with identifying the therapeutic issues that can arise in subsequent treatment.
Some Interview Questions To Ask: (but let's talk about others)
Why use "mental health" as opposed to "mental illness"?
You say Freud did a disservice to all those who live with trauma and mental health challenges. Can you explain?
You have Dissociative Identities. Tell me, from your perspective, what that is and how you live with this?
You were exploited by your therapist. What happened?
You stayed with this therapist for years. What influenced your inability to break free from the therapist?
What are ethical boundaries in therapy that mental health consumers should know about?
What to do if your therapist has transgressed an ethical boundary?
How has surviving an exploitative therapist continued to impact on your life?
You volunteer your time supporting other survivors of abuse in their therapy? Can you tell me more about that?
How does stigma impact on mental health?
You wrote a book, Coming To Voice: Surviving an Abusive Therapist. Why is this book important? Where is this book available?
You say Freud did a disservice to all those who live with trauma and mental health challenges. Can you explain?
You have Dissociative Identities. Tell me, from your perspective, what that is and how you live with this?
You were exploited by your therapist. What happened?
You stayed with this therapist for years. What influenced your inability to break free from the therapist?
What are ethical boundaries in therapy that mental health consumers should know about?
What to do if your therapist has transgressed an ethical boundary?
How has surviving an exploitative therapist continued to impact on your life?
You volunteer your time supporting other survivors of abuse in their therapy? Can you tell me more about that?
How does stigma impact on mental health?
You wrote a book, Coming To Voice: Surviving an Abusive Therapist. Why is this book important? Where is this book available?
Books by Bernadine
Coming to Voice: Surviving An Abusive Therapist
Examining Ethical Boundaries in Therapy: A Checklist
Circles: Short Story - a short story about a battered woman
Examining Ethical Boundaries in Therapy: A Checklist
Circles: Short Story - a short story about a battered woman
Previous Press: (condensed list)
How to Find a Therapist, Jan 2025, Link to Come, with Kerie Logan (link to come)
People First Radio, Oct 5 2023, Re-Threading Madness to Change the Conversation around Mental Health, Joe Pugh
Burnaby Now, May 2022, Pain at hands of her counsellor: A Burnaby woman's story of surviving authoritative abuse, Jess Balzer
City News (CityTV) May 19 2022, Courage to Come Back: Mental Health award recipient survived the ultimate betrayal. John Ackermann
Global TV News, May 16, 2022 recap of winner of Courage to Come Back (2022) awards
The Courage to Come Back awards, Global TV, May 14 2022. Whole Program. Segment/Bernadine
The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn, BC Could Soon See Psychotherapists Regulated. Dec 2019
"A Very Pernicious System - After decades of inaction psychotherapist may finally be regulated in BC." - CBC Dec 2019
CBC Dec 16 2019: The need for regulating therapists and counsellors in BC. Early Edition - Stephen Quin .(Bernadine is quoted about halfway through)
CKNW (2017) with Simi Sara: Surviving an Abusive Therapist and the need for regulating counsellors
“The F Word” - Philosopher’s Café aired on Tricities TV
Artsy-Dartsy Nov, 2010
AHA Media, Not My Love(r) opening, Oct 29, 2010
cont.... use drop down menu below
People First Radio, Oct 5 2023, Re-Threading Madness to Change the Conversation around Mental Health, Joe Pugh
Burnaby Now, May 2022, Pain at hands of her counsellor: A Burnaby woman's story of surviving authoritative abuse, Jess Balzer
City News (CityTV) May 19 2022, Courage to Come Back: Mental Health award recipient survived the ultimate betrayal. John Ackermann
Global TV News, May 16, 2022 recap of winner of Courage to Come Back (2022) awards
The Courage to Come Back awards, Global TV, May 14 2022. Whole Program. Segment/Bernadine
The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn, BC Could Soon See Psychotherapists Regulated. Dec 2019
"A Very Pernicious System - After decades of inaction psychotherapist may finally be regulated in BC." - CBC Dec 2019
CBC Dec 16 2019: The need for regulating therapists and counsellors in BC. Early Edition - Stephen Quin .(Bernadine is quoted about halfway through)
CKNW (2017) with Simi Sara: Surviving an Abusive Therapist and the need for regulating counsellors
“The F Word” - Philosopher’s Café aired on Tricities TV
Artsy-Dartsy Nov, 2010
AHA Media, Not My Love(r) opening, Oct 29, 2010
cont.... use drop down menu below
Previous press (cont.)
Vancouver21.com, Not My Love(r), Oct 2010
Globe & Mail, Craftivism Oct 2010
CFRO-FM Vancouver BC about my work and The Retro Show Oct 2010
"Circles" Chap-book and Illustrations Circles published June 2010
"Gord" Preview Magazine, June/July/August 2010
Interview with Geoff McMurchy, Bernadine Fox, and Jan Derbyshire, The SOURCE, March 9 to 23, 2010, Vol 11 - No 4
Geoff McMurchy, Kickstarts Artistic Director, artist Afuwa Granger, and Heroes Exhibition co-curator Bernadine Fox on Sound Therapy Radio CJSF, Vancouver March 1 2010, Episode 108
Interview with artist Daphne Enns and Heroes Exhibition co-curator Bernadine Fox, Winnipeg Free Press March 6 2010
Interview with artist Neville Grey and Heroes Exhibition co-curator Bernadine Fox, North Shore News, North Vancouver March 7 2010
Radio Canada Internationa/CBCl, Heroes Art Exhibition, Mar 2010
One World, Shaw, Heroes Art Exhibition, Mar 2010
The North Show News, Heroes Art Exhibition, Mar 7, 2010
Co-op Radio, The Ear & Heroes Art Exhibition, Feb 2010
On The Coast, CBC Radio, The Collective Response, Feb 2010
Intersection Media/Shaw TV, Gallery Gachet, June 2010
"Multiplicity" The Ear Arts Journal, Dec, 2009
"Mommy and Me Kits" Heart of the City Festival, Nov, 2009
"Gramps, Raven & I" Vancouver Sun, Nov, 2009
Co-op Radio, Spoilage October 2009
Fairchild TV, October 2009
CSJF Radio, Transgressions & Spoilage, Oct, 2009
"Nana & The Kali Alley Kitty" Illustrations for book by same name published Oct, 2009
"Dirty Laundry" Vancouver Sun, Nov. 2008
"Clown" KCC Newspaper, April 2005
“Dualities” Art Smarts: Inspiration and Ideas for Canadian Artists with Disabilities, Society for Disability Arts & Culture 2002.
“Theresa” Cover Westender Aug 9-15/2001
CKNW Radio Kickstart, August 16th, 2001
"Out of the Ghetto," Westender, Kickstart, Aug 9-15, 2001
After Hours, SHAW Channel 4, 2006
Globe & Mail, Craftivism Oct 2010
CFRO-FM Vancouver BC about my work and The Retro Show Oct 2010
"Circles" Chap-book and Illustrations Circles published June 2010
"Gord" Preview Magazine, June/July/August 2010
Interview with Geoff McMurchy, Bernadine Fox, and Jan Derbyshire, The SOURCE, March 9 to 23, 2010, Vol 11 - No 4
Geoff McMurchy, Kickstarts Artistic Director, artist Afuwa Granger, and Heroes Exhibition co-curator Bernadine Fox on Sound Therapy Radio CJSF, Vancouver March 1 2010, Episode 108
Interview with artist Daphne Enns and Heroes Exhibition co-curator Bernadine Fox, Winnipeg Free Press March 6 2010
Interview with artist Neville Grey and Heroes Exhibition co-curator Bernadine Fox, North Shore News, North Vancouver March 7 2010
Radio Canada Internationa/CBCl, Heroes Art Exhibition, Mar 2010
One World, Shaw, Heroes Art Exhibition, Mar 2010
The North Show News, Heroes Art Exhibition, Mar 7, 2010
Co-op Radio, The Ear & Heroes Art Exhibition, Feb 2010
On The Coast, CBC Radio, The Collective Response, Feb 2010
Intersection Media/Shaw TV, Gallery Gachet, June 2010
"Multiplicity" The Ear Arts Journal, Dec, 2009
"Mommy and Me Kits" Heart of the City Festival, Nov, 2009
"Gramps, Raven & I" Vancouver Sun, Nov, 2009
Co-op Radio, Spoilage October 2009
Fairchild TV, October 2009
CSJF Radio, Transgressions & Spoilage, Oct, 2009
"Nana & The Kali Alley Kitty" Illustrations for book by same name published Oct, 2009
"Dirty Laundry" Vancouver Sun, Nov. 2008
"Clown" KCC Newspaper, April 2005
“Dualities” Art Smarts: Inspiration and Ideas for Canadian Artists with Disabilities, Society for Disability Arts & Culture 2002.
“Theresa” Cover Westender Aug 9-15/2001
CKNW Radio Kickstart, August 16th, 2001
"Out of the Ghetto," Westender, Kickstart, Aug 9-15, 2001
After Hours, SHAW Channel 4, 2006
Quotes from Bernadine:
“My healing process has always been grounded in sharing what I know and working to effect change for myself, and those who have yet to find their voice or come behind me.” – Bernadine Fox
"Freud left us with some terrible ideas about those who live with trauma and mental health challenges. For instance, clients can not discern between truth and fantasy and he designated therapist to speak on their behalf. I was traumatized as a youngster. Then, I was sexually assaulted by the very person tasked with helping me: my therapist - the same person authorized by our society to tell you what was true about me. That fact meant that , as I reached out to police, victim services, sexual assault centres, and her professional association - it was an uphill grind to hold her accountable. None of these institutions did the right thing to begin with - not one. I was effectively silenced." - Bernadine Fox
"Freud left us with some terrible ideas about those who live with trauma and mental health challenges. For instance, clients can not discern between truth and fantasy and he designated therapist to speak on their behalf. I was traumatized as a youngster. Then, I was sexually assaulted by the very person tasked with helping me: my therapist - the same person authorized by our society to tell you what was true about me. That fact meant that , as I reached out to police, victim services, sexual assault centres, and her professional association - it was an uphill grind to hold her accountable. None of these institutions did the right thing to begin with - not one. I was effectively silenced." - Bernadine Fox
Photo taken by Bernadine Fox
(high res photo available)
Suggested Hashtags
#mentalhealth #DID #multiplepersonality #plural #abuseintherapy #metoo #mentalhealthawareness #sexualabuse #sexualassault #abuse #domesticviolence #survivor #rape #trauma #sexualviolence #childabuse #ptsd #rapeculture #emotionalabuse #rapevictim #feminism #rapesurvivor #consent #womenempowerment #sexualharassment #feminist #domesticabuse #healing #women #physicalabuse #awareness #nomeansno #abusesurvivor #cptsd #ReThreadingMadness #bothsidesnow #VancouverCoopRadio #CFRO #BernadineFox #radioshow #podcast #publicaffairs #youtube #selfcare #selflove #anxiety #mentalhealthmatters #depression #health #mindfulness #loveyourself #inspiration #mindset #wellbeing #recovery #ptsd #art #trauma #mentalhealthsupport #growth #mentalhealthadvocate #humantrafficking #stigma
Links to Podcasts
Re-Threading Madness radio, Vancouver Coop Radio, CFRO 100.5 FM (radio host)
Both Sides Now, Vancouver Coop Radio, CFRO 100.5FM (radio host)
Both Sides Now, Vancouver Coop Radio, CFRO 100.5FM (radio host)
Connect with Me on Social Media
How i will promote Your show/podcast
I will post your event on all my social media platforms for 1 month to 2 weeks leading right up to the event.
Photo credit Valerie Arntzen
