Shannon (she/her, RCC #21591) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who believes that her work is part of the change this world needs to be more inclusive and affirming of neurodivergence. Shannon is a self-identified neurodivergent counsellor and parent to a neurodivergent child. She is passionate about advocating for systemic changes to better appreciate, support, and empower neurodivergent minds in a world that is often challenging for us to live in. Shannon works with adults, caregivers, and couples.

Shannon’s ancestors were early settlers on Turtle Island. Shannon was raised around the traditional lands of the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam, and Stó:lō people (Greater Vancouver) and has made her home for the past two decades on the lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ people on the Saanich Peninsula north of Victoria. Shannon feels a deep connection to the soil, sand, and sea. Having spent extended time living overseas, Shannon knows that we are deeply privileged to live in this corner of the world and with that comes the responsibility to take care of the land and the sea for the generations who follow us. Shannon believes that caring for the planet and for others begins with caring for ourselves.

Shannon works from an anti-oppressive, liberatory, and trauma-informed lens. This means that she believes you are the expert in your own life and that you have done the best you can up to this point. She works collaboratively with you to help you build upon your inner and outer strengths to find change and purpose in your life. Her therapeutic approaches include Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Somatic therapy, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Feminist Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.

Shannon (she/her, RCC #21591) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who believes that her work is p... Read More

I have been a social worker since 1995. I’ve spent over 25 years in the field, working various counselling and front-line positions: addictions counsellor, child and youth counsellor, family capacity therapist, FASD family educator and advocate, and more. I started my private practice in June 2017, and joined the Neurodiversity Family Centre in May 2022. I belong to the BC Association of Social Workers and I maintain registration with the BC College of Social Workers (#11610). As a Social Worker my fees are covered by many/most benefit plans, and you can also write off my services as a medical expense.

I am experienced and trained in helping families deal with stress, overwhelm and relationship conflict, whether it be couples counselling, or parenting support.

My specific interest these days is in helping children, especially those with differences, build a sense of confidence, safety, trust and sense of belonging in their families and in their worlds. Parents are best placed to make this difference in the life of their child, so I am here to support parents to be their best selves for their children. I consider regular parent involvement (including sessions of their own) to be crucial to the helping process.

Neurodiversity (and other differences) can sometimes get in the way of the above goals. In a high-pressure world, children may need extra support to better understand and work with their unique strengths. Parents may need extra help too. A diagnosis can bring a sense of loss, confusion and worry; it can also bring profound relief. Realizing that you don’t fit into the mainstream, and that your life isn’t turning out like you thought it would, is a big deal! Parents (and individuals) need time and space to process their own emotions, and build a new toolbox to support themselves and/or their child. I can help.

What else? I like to write! I hold a Level 2 Certificate in Cybercounselling and have done five years of contract work in text counselling. I have also taken recent specialized training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Nature Based Therapy, Mindful Self Compassion, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Emotion Focused Family Therapy. Since joining the Neurodiversity Family Centre I am pursuing refresher training in Play Therapy. (But I am not a play therapist.)

My job is not just what I do – it’s who I am and how I make sense of the world.

I have been a social worker since 1995. I’ve spent over 25 years in the field, working various co... Read More

• Masters in Counselling Psychology

• Works with children and youth 5+ and their parents/caregivers

• In-Person: Saturdays 9:00am-4:00pm

• Online: Fridays 9:00am-4:00pm

Specializations - ADHD - Autism - Anxiety & Stress - Interpersonal Relationships - Grief & Bereavement - Behavioural Challenges

Isaac believes each person is unique in their life experiences, yet shares a collective thread of humanity with others. Isaac’s practice uses a combined approach of psychoanalytic, somatic, narrative, solution-focused, and play therapy. He will work collaboratively with you to explore your present concerns, help you learn more about yourself, and guide you in finding realistic and suitable next steps.

Isaac’s varied life experiences help him to create a comfortable and understanding environment to explore all aspects of life. He has worked with a variety of neurotypical, neurodivergent, and physically disabled people for 13 years at organizations such as The Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health, Victoria School District, Autism Funding Victoria, and Royal Roads University. Isaac has always had a passion for working with others and helping them succeed in the life they want to live.

Isaac has a MA in Counselling Psychology and has completed workshops in Trauma Informed Practice, Attachment Theory, Becoming a Behavioural Detective, and Decoding Autism. Isaac uses his lived experience with ADHD to inform the way he works with other neurodivergent people, understanding the importance one’s environment plays in emotional and behavioural regulation.

Masters in Counselling Psychology Works with children and youth 5+ and their pa... Read More

Hi, I’m Emily! I’m so glad you’re here.

I’m a counsellor practicing on Lekwungen territory (Victoria BC), I use she/they pronouns and practice from a client-led, feminist-lens. My practice is primarily informed by narrative therapy and ACT, which essentially means that I am a huge nerd about how we live into our values, and about how we tell the story of ourselves.

I have a great deal of experience working with grief and loss, neurodiversity, queer folks, burnout, creativity, and empowerment with both youth and adults.

Hi, I’m Emily! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m a counsellor practicing on Lekwungen territory (Vic... Read More

• Works with youth ages 14+, their caregivers, emerging adults, and adults.

• In Person: Thursdays 1:00pm-7:30pm

• Online: Fridays 8:30am-3:00pm

Alex believes that development and growth are lifelong processes, unique to each person. Therefore, Alex works with folks to appreciate where they come from and who they are, and generate momentum in the direction they want to grow.

Alex embraces a client-centered and strengths-based approach. He supports folks in understanding themselves and their needs, then co-creates adaptive ways of being so that those needs can be met. Grounded in neuroscience, attachment, and developmental theories, Alex uses helpful strategies from a collection of counselling approaches to match with an individual’s hopes and goals.

Alex’s professional journey is wide-reaching, including work within crisis response teams, alternative education programs in elementary and secondary schools, older-adult populations, post-secondary institutions, professional sport teams, and youth empowerment programs. Alex appreciates the many factors that can contribute to wellness and aims to respect the whole individual when developing change strategies.

Specialized Trainings & Certificates:

• Core ICS Mental Health (San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Program)

• ​Two Day Advanced Collaborative & Problem Solving Training (Dr. Ross Greene)

• Working with Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors)

• OWN IT - Peace Circles Restorative Action (Community Justice Initiatives Association)

• CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (Crisis Prevention Institute)

• Mental Health First Aid Supporting Youth (Mental Health Commission of Canada)

• Trauma-Focused Schools (Complex Trauma Resources)

• Building Compassionate Classrooms (Vancouver School Board)

• Tools for Managing Stress & Burnout (Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC)

Works with youth ages 14+, their caregivers, emerging adults, and adults. In Pe... Read More

I have been working as both a middle and high school counsellor in SD 61 and SD 63 since 2012. Previously, I worked as a Crisis Intervention Counsellor for the Youth Empowerment society at both their Youth Detox and Youth Shelter where I spent more than six years working with youth at risk. I am passionate about helping people make informed choices in order to be their best selves. Often, it only takes one loving adult to change the life of a struggling child, and as educators, we have the opportunity to be that person for many and what an honour it is. I also believe in the power of collaboration, especially when it comes to fostering resilience in the lives of young people. My motto is: “Invests in the person, not the outcome” and believe that mental health should be looked at through a holistic lens.

My counselling style is non-judgemental, but I also like to challenge my client’s negative assumptions and perceptions. My goal is to help you see things differently, and guide you in finding solutions that work best for you and your family. 

I have been working as both a middle and high school counsellor in SD 61 and SD 63 since 2012. Pr... Read More

Kieran’s background of growing up in Victoria, BC, provides him with a distinct lens for understanding and navigating the complexities of individualism. Coupled with his roots in a collectivist culture, he offers a balanced perspective that blends the values of independence and community. This integrated viewpoint allows Kieran to approach his work with clients from a more holistic, nuanced perspective, helping them navigate the balance between personal autonomy and the importance of group dynamics. His diverse cultural experience enriches his ability to relate to clients from various backgrounds and offer tailored support that respects both personal and collective values.

Kieran is a Registered Clinical Counsellor committed to helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges and achieve meaningful, lasting change. Specializing in building genuine connections, Kieran creates a non-judgmental, safe space for clients through active listening and empathy. His client-centered approach fosters healing, self-discovery, and personal growth.

Drawing on an integrative, person-centered methodology, Kieran incorporates evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) Model, tailoring his approach to each individual’s unique needs.

Kieran’s diverse professional and volunteer experiences—working with neurotypical, neurodivergent, and physically disabled populations—have further shaped his belief in the inherent strength of every individual. He has collaborated with organizations such as MOVE Adapted Fitness & Rehabilitation Society, Special Olympics, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), and the Children’s Development Centre, experiences that have reinforced his commitment to empowering clients to pursue their full potential. Through counselling, Kieran works to unlock this inner strength, supporting clients in overcoming challenges and realizing their greatest potential.

Kieran is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology (MACP) with distinction from Yorkville University in early 2024, and his Bachelor of Science in Biology Honours degree from the University of Victoria in 2016.

Kieran’s background of growing up in Victoria, BC, provides him with a distinct lens for understa... Read More

Mikaela is passionate about honouring a person’s voice, story, and lived experiences in the ways that they feel most heard and safely witnessed. As a counsellor, her goal is to walk alongside people to co-create an empowering space of compassion, empathy, and relational understanding that meets people where they are at as they navigate life.

Informed by her lived experience as a neurodivergent woman and a second-generation South East Asian immigrant settler with bicultural identity, as well as her professional background, Mikaela is anchored in intersectional, relational, narrative, culturally-responsive and justice-oriented approaches to her work.

Mikaela’s experience includes supporting racialized communities and neurodivergent students, youth, and their communities for over ten years in various educational, therapeutic support, mentorship, outreach, and counselling positions. She specializes in working with IBPOC, newcomer, refugee, immigrant, and 2SLGTBQIA+ communities in both individual and family therapy settings, and with folks navigating transitions, ADHD, Autism, relationships, self-esteem, belonging, burnout, intergenerational issues and trauma, and identity. Mikaela works with people to identify strategies that fit and celebrate their unique strengths and resiliencies to (re)create new, empowering stories and realities.

Mikaela has completed all clinical training portions of her Master’s program and will be working under the supervision of Mary Klovance, RCC, as she completes her thesis in her final year.

Mikaela is passionate about honouring a person’s voice, story, and lived experiences in the ways ... Read More

Courtney is passionate about creating a non-judgemental space that allows clients to experience, accept, and celebrate their most authentic selves.

Courtney is a Registered Clinical Counsellor whose main area of specialty is working with people struggling with disordered eating and eating disorders. Over the past 6 years she has worked on multidisciplinary teams with youth, adults and families in community-based eating disorder programs and in private practice.

Courtney strives to support people with eating challenges in cultivating a safe and nourishing relationship with themselves, food, and with their bodies so that they can live fulfilling and authentic lives. Courtney recognizes that traditional eating disorder therapies and approaches seldom take Neurodivergence into consideration. She therefore feels strongly about building a collaborative relationship with her clients in order to provide personalized therapeutic support to meet their specific needs. She believes in a responsive feeding approach and is informed by a Health at Every Size (HAES).

As the mother of a young child, Courtney is also passionate about perinatal mental health and loves working with folks who are pregnant, postpartum, or in the process of starting a family. She understands how becoming a parent can make us aware of the parts of ourselves that need re-parenting, and can cause our identities to go through an often uncomfortable metamorphosis.

Courtney takes a client-centred, trauma-informed approach, using a blend of therapeutic modalities to fit the needs of each individual client. Somatic/body-based therapies, Internal Family Systems (IFS)/parts work/, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy are a few of the approaches she uses most often. Most importantly, she strives to build a strong, authentic alliance with clients so that they feel seen and supported while exploring the range of their experience and working together towards their therapeutic goals.

Courtney is passionate about creating a non-judgemental space that allows clients to experience, ... Read More

Annabelle strongly believes that everyone is doing the best they can with the strategies they have. She is deeply committed to meeting every person where they are at and supporting them through exploration, that is both collaborative and proactive in nature, towards what her clients deem as a more fulfilling path forward. As a mother of two children herself, she empathizes with the emotional weight and responsibility of parenting. Her practice is focused on intensifying the connection between caregiver and child and providing practical, feel-good tools and strategies.

She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with over 6 years of professional experience supporting neurodivergent children, teens, young adults, and their families. With an educational and career background in community-based mental health support, school counselling, and classroom support, she has a deep understanding of the challenges ND individuals and their families face because of a neurotypically-focused world, at each developmental stage, in and out of the home. Although Anabelle has never practiced applied behavioural therapy, she does have experience working with children who have been affected by its practices and brings to the center a wealth of knowledge on how to support these individuals.

By focusing on the child, rather than their behaviour, and the parent, before their parenting, we can appropriately examine the impact of misplaced demands and expectations that lead to conflict and shame. Informed by Ross Greene’s Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach and combining cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and solution-focused therapy, Annabelle is committed to helping individuals and families identify and reach their goals. Her approach is devoted to steering support for neurodivergent folks away from punitive and exclusionary practices. She feels strongly that the counselling process should be positive and focused on enhancing connection between individuals and their families.

Annabelle strongly believes that everyone is doing the best they can with the strategies they hav... Read More

Emmalee is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who specializes in working with individuals, parents and couples experiencing life transitions, relational challenges, trauma, anxiety and grief. Emmalee has over twelve years of professional experience working with youth, parents and families.

Emmalee operates from a client-centred approach, meaning she works collaboratively with each person to explore their individual goals, challenges and strengths. Cultivating a safe, calm and judgement-free space, she tailors counselling around the client’s specific needs to offer tangible and realistic change strategies in a supportive atmosphere. Emmalee helps clients learn techniques to reduce distress, regulate emotions, navigate life transitions and improve communication. She welcomes clients from all gender identities, sexual orientations, spiritual affiliations and races.

Emmalee is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who specializes in working with individuals, parents ... Read More

Since her youth, Rhiannon has had a passion and enthusiasm for learning about the human experience – how our emotions, motivations and behaviours influence who we are and how we move about the world. Over time, these factors inspired Rhiannon to naturally gravitate toward the counselling profession. In keeping with this mindset, Rhiannon’s aim is to provide clients with a supportive, compassionate, validating, and non-judgmental space that facilitates healing and fulfillment. Rhiannon works collaboratively with her clients to build a trusting relationship where they can develop strategies that “fit,” are effective, and create positive patterns that move them toward growth and wellness.

Rhiannon has sustained several years of experience working with adolescents and their parents, individual adults, neurodivergent persons, and in support groups as a co-facilitator for LGBTQ+ identifying folks. When it comes to technique, Rhiannon utilizes an integrative counselling approach that is rooted primarily in person-centered, cognitive behavioural, strengths-based, solution-focused and mindfulness techniques. Beyond the technical approaches, she believes deeply in the power of one’s personal strength and resilience to create positive change.

Rhiannon is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. She received her Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Victoria in 2022, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria in 2018.

Since her youth, Rhiannon has had a passion and enthusiasm for learning about the human experienc... Read More