Counselling
Services

Blair completed her Master of Counselling at City University in Vancouver and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). Having volunteered on the North Shore in a variety of capacities over the past decade she has worked with many folks experiencing issues such as substance abuse, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, grief/loss, and life changes and transitions. Blair believes that people are the experts of their own life and works from a client-centered and collaborative approach to help support clients to facilitate change and process trauma or loss. She offers a kind, non-judgemental, and empathetic space in which to connect and explore your concerns. Blair uses an integrative approach incorporating various evidence-based practices depending on what brings you to counselling and your preference. She has an interest in Nature-Based Therapy and enjoys offered Walking Therapy to interested clients. Blair grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan and has lived and worked on the North Shore for over twenty years with her family and dog Ally.

Eric is a registered clinical counsellor with a background in music therapy. The belief that therapy—like life—can be light and heavy, playful and serious at the same time is where he finds his passion for this work. Throughout his career, he has worked in a variety of settings, including public health facilities, non-profits, and private practice, with experience working with children, adults, individuals, couples, and families. Eric believes in the great potential of short-term therapy and is passionate about making therapy beneficial from the very first session. Supporting this, he has training in brief models of therapy, including Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT), and experience working in single-session drop-in therapy settings.

Vickie has completed her Master of Education in Career Counselling at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). Throughout her career, she has experienced a diversity of roles such as support worker at a suicide prevention hotline, sexual health educator, program coordinator and career counsellor. She is proud to join the CMHA team as the Clinical Counsellor Supervisor and Co- facilitator of the Chronic Pain Support Group.

She has worked for more than a decade with people from all walks of life who lost their sense of purpose and meaning experiencing anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, grief, chronic pain, life transition and all shades of trauma. Vickie has a trauma informed and holistic lens. She uses an integrative approach incorporating diverse evidence-based practices, tailoring it to your needs that works with you. Strength and solution focused, her preferred approach is Acceptance CT, with a touch of mindfulness and self-compassion.

Vickie grew up in the Eastern Townships, Quebec, and has moved in 2019 to Beautiful British Colombia, more precisely on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish people, to embrace the fauna, the flora and be on or in the ocean as much as she can. She is happy to provide counselling in French.

Alexia Spencer is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who has been working in the helping field for over 15 years, with a range of ages and populations in her capacity as a behaviour interventionist, student support worker, teacher, school counsellor, private practitioner, and supervisor of intern counselling students. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor of Education degree from Simon Fraser University, and a Master of Counselling Psychology degree from Adler University. She is a current member of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and an affiliate member of Vancouver Collaborative Divorce.

In the past, she was a member of Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy Live, an Executive Board Member of the BC School Counsellors’ Association (BCSCA) and their Professional Development Chair for several years. Realizing how much pressure people experienced in their day-to-day lives and the effects this had on their relationship with themselves and others has informed her therapeutic approach. Through her therapeutic work, she observed the consequences of society placing such a strong emphasis on perfectionism, a hyper-vigilance on “fixing” oneself, and external merit. Seeing people struggling to understand their identity, self-worth, and values motivated her to gain expertise in various therapeutic modalities. As a mother of two young children, her wish to continue sharing her support in encouraging others ‘ to reconnect with their values, personal knowledge, unique narratives, and own definition of personhood, while fostering an empowering relationship with themselves. Alexia’s therapeutic orientation and counselling approach is client-centered and incorporates Narrative, Adlerian, Rogerian, Cognitive-Behavioural, Dialectical Behavioural, Solution-Focused, Play/Art Therapy, and Mindfulness approaches.

Dina has completed her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. During her career, Dina has always enjoyed working with, and helping a wide variety of people, and she supports clients experiencing life transitions, low mood, loss, and stress. She uses a client-centred, empathic, and collaborative approach and integrates elements from therapies such as Solution-Focused, Narrative, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and mindfulness. Originally from the UK, Dina now calls the North Shore home and loves being part of this community.

Marwan is a Canadian Certified Counsellor. He has experience helping people manage trauma and dysregulated emotions, anxiety, depression and stress from major life decisions. Whatever the challenges, strengths are explored and helpful skills are identified together. For trauma survivors and those comfortable working with the body, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can be a gentle way of regulating the nervous system and shifting trauma patterns. For intense and rapidly shifting emotions, Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills can be used to manage distress and urges, as well as navigate relationship conflicts. For challenges making major life decisions, anxiety and depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a logical approach to evaluating situations and exploring more helpful ways of thinking and behaving. Having lived in many cities across Canada and around the world, Marwan is comfortable and happy working with people of diverse backgrounds. While he’s jealous of his colleagues who have dogs, he finds other ways to entertain himself and can often be found in international restaurants around Vancouver.

Shahin is a compassionate counsellor with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. As an RCC (Registered Clinical Counsellor), Shahin uses an integrative approach incorporating Schema Therapy, CBT, and ACT. Shahin is dedicated to helping individuals overcome challenges and discover their best selves.

Shahin creates a safe and non-judgmental space for exploration and growth. By drawing from evidence-based techniques and a deep interest in human behavior, Shahin empowers clients to develop effective coping strategies, make meaningful changes, and break free from limiting patterns and life traps. Currently, Shahin sees our Farsi-speaking clients.

Amanda is currently completing her Master of Counselling degree at City University and she holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Psychology from the University of Victoria. She was born in China, but having grown up in North Vancouver, she feels honoured to serve her home community.

Amanda has enjoyed working in helping roles of different kinds over the years including working in behaviour intervention, group homes, and community mental health. This has offered opportunities to support people experiencing various challenges including addictions, schizophrenia, bipolar, depression, and anxiety. Amanda uses a trauma-informed and person-centred lens to build safer and braver spaces. She believes that the client knows their story best and will work to honour that knowledge. Some therapies that she may integrate are Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and Polyvagal Theory.

Kristina is currently completing her practicum for her Master of Counselling degree at City University. She is dedicated to creating a safe and nurturing environment where individuals can openly express and explore their thoughts and feelings. Her framework is rooted in empathy, compassion and non-judgement. Kristina uses a client-centered and collaborative approach to integrate elements from therapies such as Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Kristina is committed to supporting clients on their unique life journeys, while acknowledging and respecting the intersectional, cultural, and social identities they hold. Kristina moved to Canada as a child and brings her personal experience of immigration and displacement as a valuable skill in her therapeutic practice.

Mariana is a counsellor in training at City University. She is dedicated to understanding and respecting clients’ cultural backgrounds and identities to provide tailored counselling services that address a range of issues, such as anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and life transitions.

Mariana’s goal is to create a safe environment that empowers individuals to develop coping strategies, enhance their self-awareness, and foster resilience. She firmly believes in the importance of a collaborative therapeutic relationship, where each client is an active participant in their own healing journey, and she strives to build trust and rapport with each individual.

In addition to her clinical work, she is actively involved in ongoing professional development and research. She regularly attends workshops and seminars to stay updated on the latest advancements in psychology.

Outside of her professional life, she enjoys yoga, meditation and long walks in nature. These activities help her maintain a balanced lifestyle and bring a holistic perspective to her work.

She is excited to continue her journey in counselling psychology and look forward to making a positive impact on the lives of those she works with.

Tori is a pre-licensed counsellor currently completing her Master of Counselling Psychology at Adler University. Born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Treaty 6) she holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a Major in Addictions Counselling from the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. Motivated by the limited services available in small communities and the need for counsellors with skills to address diverse needs, Tori pursued her master’s degree in British Columbia to better prepare herself to meet the challenges faced by her community.

Tori has supported individuals experiencing substance use, psychosis, depression, anxiety, and trauma, with insights gained from her work in addictions and mental health services. For Tori, therapy is a relational journey—a meeting of souls with a shared understanding of suffering. She considers it an honour to hold her clients’ stories with compassion, empathy, and unconditional acceptance. Tori’s therapeutic style is eclectic, primarily drawing upon Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and trauma-focused modalities like Polyvagal Theory, while always honouring the inherent resilience each client possesses.

When she’s not studying or working, you can find Tori enjoying a book or exploring the beautiful landscapes of her new home on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Born in Victoria and raised in Tl’azt’en Nation Territory and Vancouver, Zaa approaches counselling with a deep understanding of diverse experiences, ensuring his work is client-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. Currently completing his Master of Counselling degree at City University, he holds an MA in Professional Communication. Zaa is committed to fostering circles of growth and healing for clients.

As a father, Zaa understands the complexities of balancing work, school, and family, shaping his empathetic and grounded approach to counselling. He integrates Solution-Focused, Narrative Therapy, Addiction and Family Systems approaches into his practice. He supports clients sharing their gifts and reconnecting with their bodies as a source of wisdom and healing.