Counselling Interns

I am currently in the process of pursuing my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. Upon completing this program, I aspire to obtain certification as a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) through the CCPA and become a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BCACC.

Prior to embarking on my master’s journey, I earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in forensic investigation at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. During my career, I gained valuable experience in forensic mental health and providing support to women escaping domestic violence. Through these roles, I developed a profound passion for working closely with clients and facilitating positive transformations through counselling.

Throughout my career and personal experiences, I have come to understand that our identities and the labels we assign to ourselves are constructed over time. The trauma we endure can either shape us, break us, or provide us strategies for survival. It is by addressing the underlying causes of our suffering that we can unlock personal growth and change.

I am eager to collaborate with you on your journey towards self-awareness and insight into your strengths. My objective is to assist you in recognizing how past traumas and experiences continue to impact your life today, and to provide you with the tools necessary to foster resilience.

My counseling approach is rooted in integration, drawing from various psychosocial techniques tailored to meet your individual needs. I embrace a person-centered approach to empower you, build your strengths, and engage in collaborative goal setting.

• Support with Anxiety and depression
• Improve boundary setting
• Conflict communication
• Burnout and stress management
• Interpersonal Conflict
• Relationship and Couples Counselling
• Divorce, separation and blended families
• Child Play Therapy
• Counselling support for youth 
• Cross-cultural counselling
• Life Transitions
• Guilt and Shame
• Personal Development
• Coping Skills
• Life Transitions
• Building confidence, self-esteem and sense of self

I previously worked as a call taker at a crisis intervention line. I spoke with people experiencing acute psychological distress. Using a crisis intervention model, I helped callers manage stressful and emergency situations by developing a genuine and trusting relationship with them. I worked with callers to create personal action and safety plans to help them navigate their unique situations. 

I have been in the hospitality industry for over ten years and have experience working with a wide variety of diverse populations. I offer a non-judgemental, culturally aware, and genuinely curious space for clients to be their most authentic selves. 

My approach to counselling focuses on the uniqueness of each individual and their subjective experiences. Whether you are going through a major life change, seeking help with stress and anxiety, or wanting to build some self-love, I am here to help you uncover your strengths and achieve your unique therapeutic goals. 

Some of the areas I can support you in include: 

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Life-transitions
• Familial and Relationship Issues 
• Burnout 
• Body Image
• Confidence 
• Self-Esteem

I am pursuing my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University and working as a mental health worker at Options Community Services in the Delta Clubhouse Program. Prior to this, I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Counselling, which I truly enjoyed as I have always been fascinated with human behaviour and have a passion for helping and understanding others. 

I am a biracial, cisgender female, and my pronouns are she/her. I am proud of my Fijian and Italian roots and embrace both cultures wholeheartedly. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, travelling and being in nature, and I love animals. Most importantly, I enjoy supporting others and helping them in their recovery journeys, wherever they may be. 

I can offer support in the following areas:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Women’s Issues
• Relationships
• Divorce
• Burnout
• Stress
• Boundaries
• Self-esteem 
• Life transitions
• Behaviour issues
• Self-care
• Body image

I am currently in a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology program at Yorkville University and plan to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors shortly after graduating. 

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership degree along with a post graduate Certificate of Applied Psychology from Trinity Western University. I am transitioning into counselling from the food service industry where I have held a variety of professional and volunteer leadership positions in non-profit organizations. In many of these roles, I have had the privilege of serving and working alongside individuals experiencing substance use disorders as well as housing, employment and relationship challenges. 

I am in awe of the resiliency of the human spirit to overcome significant life challenges and rebuild a life and relationships into something a person is proud of. These experiences have given me valuable insight into human behaviour and have profoundly impacted my journey in becoming a counsellor. 

It is my belief that we know what is best for our lives but sometimes we just need help to figure out the way to get there. I am committed to developing a therapeutic relationship founded on trust, respect, and collaboration where you can feel confident and safe to talk freely about your life experiences. My approach is integrative where I draw on both humanistic and behaviouralist perspectives to help you define and achieve your goals. 

I look forward to getting to know you! 

I am a student intern counsellor completing my internship at Crossroads Collective in Langley, BC, in pursuit of my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. I also work as a civilian employee with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). With over 17 years of experience in the first responder field, I am passionate about fostering healing and transformation for individuals, couples, and groups.

Drawing from my background, I offer a compassionate approach. My experience has given me a unique perspective on resilience and the importance of mental health support. I believe in empowering clients to tap into their inner strength and skills.

Whether you are navigating stress, relationship challenges, trauma, chronic illness, or seeking personal growth, I am here to provide supportive guidance. My approach is warm, empathetic, and collaborative. I believe in focusing on possibilities, not problems. 

Reach out if you are seeking to cultivate resilience, enhance coping abilities, and strive for greater well-being. Let us embark on this journey towards healing and possibilities.

I am currently a Master of Counselling Psychology student at Yorkville University. Prior to starting the master’s program, I completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of the Fraser Valley with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology. The knowledge I gained throughout my undergrad allows me to better understand how our minds impact us in how we think and feel, as well as how we are impacted by our environment and society.

Before becoming a counsellor, I worked for a non-profit at an emergency shelter where I worked closely with individuals struggling with active addiction, diverse mental health issues, women and men fleeing domestic violence situations and a general population of people who are struggling to keep up with the fast pace of life. 

My therapeutic approach is rooted in the belief that you already possess the necessary resources within you to foster meaningful change. My role is to guide you in nurturing these existing skills and developing new tools to achieve your goals. I am here to support you, creating a safe space where you can freely express deep thoughts and emotions, even those that may be difficult or uncomfortable to articulate. 

Areas I am able to support you include, but are not limited to: 

• Anxiety
• LGBTQ2+
• Depression
• Women’s issues 
• Boundaries
• Burnout
• Stress Management
• Communication building 
• Confidence Building
• Interpersonal Conflict
• Self-Esteem
• Life Transitions
• Guilt and Shame
• Coping Skills
• Self-Esteem and Sense of Self

I am a Master of Counselling Psychology student at Yorkville University. Prior to pursuing my master’s degree, I completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Sociology at Simon Fraser University. My passion and desire to help others within the mental health field stemmed not only from my educational journey but also from personal experiences as well. I myself have struggled with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders thus further demonstrating my ability to collaborate with you on a personal level through similar challenges. My current work as a youth support worker supporting diverse populations in a safe environment while getting to know them on a personal level has only further affirmed my desire to work in this field. I believe that my unique experiences and education attest to my credibility in working in this field and supporting the growth of my clients by helping them improve their quality of life and achieve inner peace and joy.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, attending the gym, and also engaging in other hobbies such as reading and various forms of art including painting and gardening. This creativity also transfers into my practice allowing me to think outside the box and tailor my approach to meet the needs of each unique client by collaboratively developing techniques that work for you. I offer an integrative approach to counselling that combines holistic, humanistic, and psychodynamic approaches. In addition to my empathetic nature and creative mindset, I am committed to providing a safe and supportive space for you to explore your innermost thoughts and feelings in a vulnerable manner, fostering empowerment, self-discovery, and a change in perspective. It would be my honour and privilege to embark on this journey of positive change with you as you overcome life’s challenges and become the best version of yourself.

The following list below are my areas of specialization:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Eating disorders
• Grief counselling
• Burnout
• Self-esteem
• Life transitions
• Career planning
• Trauma (past or recent)
• Relationship issues
• Play therapy
• Boundaries
• Body image

I have had a number of careers in my life: selling automotive, agricultural, and truck parts, as a counselor with John Howard Society, and many years working at universities in Canada, Qatar, and UAE. My family and I spent nearly 8 years overseas returning to Canada in 2017, with a ton of experience and a lot of reverse culture shock. Throughout these careers I have developed and nurtured a strong sense of service, bringing me to my third and current career as a clinical counsellor (intern), returning to a path I began many years ago.

My approach to counselling is person-centered (client-centered) and contextual. I believe in an integrative therapeutic model that includes:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Emotion-Focused Therapy
• Gottman Method
• Integrative Therapy
• Narrative Therapy
• Solution-Focused Therapy

I serve a number of areas of concern including, but not limited to,

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Life Transitions (including retirement)
• Men’s Issues
• Relationship Counselling
• Interpersonal Conflict
• Burnout