NICOLE SAWIN

THERAPIST AND MARTIAL ARTIST

Hi, I’m Nicole.

I am the owner/operator of Connection Martial Arts, as well as one of its coaches and a therapist.

I was born and raised in Fort Nelson, BC, and moved to Montreal upon graduating high school to get as far away from Fort Nelson as possible (as many northern kids may be able to relate to). But after completing my undergraduate degree, I found myself drawn back to Northern BC - drawn back home. I did my Master of Social Work at the University of Northern British Columbia and discovered the healing power of martial arts. For me, training in martial arts was the first time I truly felt grounded in my body.

After years of struggling with an eating disorder, anxiety, depression, my gender identity, and then-undiagnosed autism, I found myself on the mats. I was able to connect with my own body and feel powerful and grounded in it; I was able to connect with others in meaningful and fulfilling friendships; and I was able to learn how to connect with the world with more confidence than I had ever felt before. I found connection in martial arts, and I hope I can facilitate a space in which you can as well.

I wear two hats at Connection Martial Arts, one as a coach on the mats and the other as a therapist in our counselling office. For some people, I wear only one. For others, I wear both. For everyone, I hold myself to high ethical standards and we clearly communicate which hat I am wearing when.

Coach.

I have been coaching since I was 12-years old, when I helped my mother coach volleyball. Since then, I have coached U6-U9 soccer in both Fort Nelson and Prince George, and have received various certifications. I have always loved coaching, loved supporting my athletes to find what works for their brains and their bodies.

As a martial artist, I am a Level 1 Coach with the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) Canada and a certified WAKO Official, with experience training and competing in Taekwon-Do and kickboxing. I am a black stripe in ITF Taekwon-Do, which is one test away from a full blackbelt. My blackbelt test was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and I subsequently fell in love with kickboxing and decided to dedicate more time to it.

I use my professional experience in the mental health field to generate innovative approaches to martial arts training in order to reduce participation barriers.

Therapist.

I am a Registered Social Worker (#15290) and have over five years of experience in clinical practice with children, youth, and their families in Prince George. I love working with teens struggling with depression, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, eating disorders, the impacts of trauma and complex trauma, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and compulsive over-exercise.

My therapeutic approaches are as follows:

  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

  • Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)

  • Emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT)

  • Motivational interviewing

  • Boxing therapy

  • Gender-affirming

  • Neurodiversity-affirming

If my style sounds like it might be a good fit for you or your child, reach out and we can book a meet-and-greet session.

SOME NOTES ABOUT COVERAGE:

  • As a Registered Social Worker, I am covered by many employee benefit plans. You pay me and then you can submit your receipt to your benefit provider for reimbursement. Check with your provider to see if Registered Social Workers are covered.

  • Are you Indigenous? Whether you have a status number or not, you may be eligible to be covered by the First Nations Health Authority. Ask me about it in your free consultation.

  • Does your child have Autism Funding? I am on the RASP.

Education

  • Master of Social Work, University of Northern British Columbia (Feb 2021)

    • Thesis: “Why did I have to fight so hard?” Experiences of Aboriginal caregivers with children diagnosed with ADHD”

  • Bachelor of Arts, Honors Sociology, Minor International Development Studies, McGill University (May 2016)

    • Honors Thesis: “Responding to the call for moral courage: Exploring the perspectives of the staff of the Kahnawà:ke Youth Protection Program on overrepresentation”

Professional Development

  • World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) Officiating and Judging Certificate (Jul 2023)

  • World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) Level 1 Coaching Certification (Mar 2023)

  • Boxing Therapy for Emotion Regulation, Level 1 (Jan 2023)

  • The Fight Back Project: Applying Trauma-Informed Principles to Martial Arts with Georgia Verry (2021)

  • Motivational Interviewing Foundations, Centre for Collaboration, Motivation & Innovation (Feb 2021)

  • Mental Health First Aid First Nations (Jan 2020)

  • DBT Skills with Marsha Linehan (Oct 2019)

  • Proud2Be Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Conference, Vancouver, BC (Oct 2019)

  • Northern Indigenous Parenting Conference, Prince George, BC (Sep 2019)

  • Advanced Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, 2-day training with Natasha Files (Apr 2019)

  • Advanced Practice Training: Caring for Trans and Gender-Diverse Children and Youth  (Feb & Mar 2019)

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety & Related Disorders in Children and Youth, Level 2, CBT Connections Ltd.

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety & Related Disorders in Children and Youth, Level 1, CBT Connection Ltd. (Jan 2019)

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, The Medical University of South Carolina (Sep 2018)

  • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, 3-day training with Natasha Files (Aug 2018)

  • Infant Mental Health Community Training Institute 15 Part Series, Infant Mental Health Promotion and the Hospital for Sick Children (2016)

  • Advanced Dialectical Behavior Therapy Workshop, University of Northern British Columbia – Continuing Studies, Prince George, BC (May 2018)                                                       

  • Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk, American Association of Suicidology (Nov 2017)

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (Mar 2017)   

  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Canadian Mental Health Association, Prince George, BC (Jan 2017)               

  • Suicide to Hope Training, Native Friendship Centre, Prince George, BC (Dec 2016)