Abbotsford Counsellor

Julie holds a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology from Trinity Western University. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and a member of the Canadian Certified Counsellor and Psychotherapy Association (CCC). 

Her most important goal is to build a safe therapeutic relationship with clients. Once safety is established, she journeys with clients to help them discover and connect with their core self. She works with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, immigration, racism, domestic abuse, life transitions, relational issues, grief and faith concerns. She works with individuals aged 17 to seniors. 

She holds a trauma-informed and accelerated experiential dynamic therapy approach (AEDP). Although, she believes that some therapy models are best suited to various problems. This simply means that the individual client and the problems they want to work on are the best indicators for what type of theoretical orientation will best fit.

Surrey Counsellor

Are you struggling with anxiety and depression? Do you feel stuck in your relationships? Are you looking for change but feel like you are going in circles and not making progress? Do you feel haunted by traumatic experience in the past? Life is joyful and precious but oftentimes it can throw you a curveball. How would meeting with a counsellor help? Counselling is a beautifully collaborative work where you would be invited to unfold your own story and rewrite it with new meanings. Strengths are identified, goals are met, skills are learnt, and changes are made in the safe and accepting therapeutic process.

My name is Renee and I hold a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology (MACP). I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and an EMDR trained therapist. I offer evidence-based, client-centered, and trauma-informed approaches such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and narrative therapy. As a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) counsellor who is also a Christian believer, I integrate my therapeutic approaches and incorporate great values from culture and spirituality. Every story is unique, and it is my honor to be onboard your journey of healing from psychological distress and traumatic experience.  I specialize in working with youth and young adults between the ages of 11 and 26 and I also work with adult clients from all walks of life including diverse gender, sexual, and religious orientation.

Abbotsford & Chilliwack Counsellor

Aaron has a unique mix as both a Professional Clinical Counsellor and an Ordained Minister; this has developed a passion for the integration of theology and psychology.  Aaron has a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and a Master of Arts in Counselling.  Aaron is a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and an Associate Professional Counsellor (APC) with the Professional Association of Christian Counsellors and Psychotherapists (PACCP).

In counselling Aaron has a developing and integrated trauma-informed approach to therapy that is rooted in person-centered theory and attachment theory.  His therapeutic approach integrates a variety of theoretical modalities and works collaboratively with each client to identify compassionate and helpful ways of offering support.  Aaron works with a variety of presenting challenges and works with both couples and individuals.  Aaron has extensive experience in youth work and is also comfortable working with teenagers and young adults.

Because of Aaron’s extensive experience in pastoral work, he is able to offer counselling support for Pastors and faith-based leaders as well as for people who have experienced faith-based or religious trauma.   Regardless of what a person’s presenting challenges may be, Aaron will offer a non-judgmental and compassionate presence that serves to empathically care for the client in ways that promote increased well-being.

Abbotsford Counsellor (on maternity leave)

Yolanda has a Masters in Marriage & Family Counselling from Trinity Western University. She is a designated registered clinical counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. She has spent 10 years working for Child & Youth Mental Health in Vancouver and in Richmond. Those years allowed for a wide range and variety of experiences with youth and their families. She specializes in working with older children and teens regarding anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, disordered eating and OCD. She also enjoys working with parents, families and young adults. 

As a counsellor, Yolanda incorporates an eclectic variety of modalities all within a client-centered, faith-based framework. She is happy to support people from all walks and backgrounds of life. Yolanda is trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, attachment, developmental and Internal Family Systems. She sees counselling as a journey where a safe and trusting environment leads to healing and growth.

Surrey Counsellor

Jacoba believes that everyone can benefit from a personalized counselling relationship as she believes that we are, at our core, created for connection. When you find the right ‘fit’ with a counsellor, it can become a valuable relationship that helps and challenges you to live your life more fully – while being supported and encouraged within a safe, confidential space.

Jacoba would be honoured to walk alongside you in your journey. Using a client-centered, strengths-based approach, she will also draw on her experience in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and other trauma therapies and self-compassion practices to support you in your explorations. She welcomes people from all spiritual walks of life.
Current areas of practice include:
• Transitions to adulthood (entering workforce/post-secondary education, establishing autonomy)
• Anxiety and stress management
• Depression
• Building communication skills (e.g. assertiveness)
• Life transitions (parenting, career changes, retirement, caring for aging parents)
• Grief and loss
• Survivors of abuse/trauma
Jacoba was drawn to the helping professions from a young age and felt that counselling was the best way for her to help and support others. After completing a B.A. in psychology at the University of British Columbia, she then attended Simon Fraser University where she completed an M.A. in clinical psychology. Jacoba spent several years counselling and completing assessments with incarcerated youth before shifting to the assessment of adult clients. After taking some time to focus on her growing family, Jacoba later completed further coursework at Trinity Western University and went on to receive the designation of registered clinical counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.

Surrey Counsellor

Counselling Can Help You Thrive and Flourish in This Age of Anxiety and Depression!

Many experience the current ‘ Age of Anxiety’ as seriously problematic and burdensome.

All too often life is lived at a frenetic pace: “Hurry – Worry – Bury.”

Over time, anxiety and depression become strongholds in our minds when  meaning, purpose and joy is lost in our everyday routines.

In spite of this, I am  privileged to witness frequently that there is grace and hope for every person, for all sorts of pain and any place of disgrace: conflict, grief, stress or abuse of kind  – domestic, spiritual, verbal, physical, sexual, elder or spiritual.

By means of the grace-based cognitive behavioral therapy model, I encounter numerous individuals, couples, families, businesses and church communities who rediscover the transformative power of a renewed mindset. I have used and expanded this model ever since I developed it in 2015:

Even though I am partial to (grace-based) CBT, I also include Narrative Therapy, Impact Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Family Based Therapy. Though these approaches vary in emphasis, what binds them together is their common starting point: our thoughts. A thought reaps an action, an action results in a habit, habits shape character, and character impacts… a destiny.

“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

In addition to individual counselling,  I frequently counsel couples (in pre-marriage and marriage counselling sessions)  and families.

When not in the counselling office, (located in Cloverdale) I may well be visiting any one of my 6 children and 11 grandchildren or  be hiking, cycling or canoeing with my wife of 42 years.  You might also find me in the garden!

Chilliwack Counsellor

Mike Ayers has a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from ACTS/TWU in Langley, B.C. He is a member of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), which gives him the designation of a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). He also has a Master’s of Divinity from MBBS in Fresno, California, and served as a pastor for about 10 years.

Mike’s personal orientation to counselling is based in family therapy theory. He is trained to look for the underlying systems and patterns at work in relationships and uses a variety of scientifically proven techniques as deemed helpful. He considers it a privilege to come beside people, hear their story, and help guide them from their problem saturated story to one of hope and new opportunities.

Underpinning this orientation to counselling is Mike’s Christian perspective and worldview. He is not a Christian counsellor as much as he is a counsellor who is a Christian. Mike believes it is up to the client to decide how their faith is included or not included in the counselling session in terms of prayer, biblical passages, and discussion of specific faith issues. All individuals of any faith or no faith are welcome to participate in counselling with Mike.

Mike is always learning and considers it a privilege to learn from his clients as well. He has received specific training in conflict management and mediation, counselling couples, understanding abuse in relationships, Narrative Therapy, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and Gordon Neufeld’s theory.

Mike enjoys and is comfortable working with couples, families, and individuals. It would be Mike’s privilege to work with you in counselling. Please call the office and set up a first appointment or a free consultation to meet with him. Mike looks forward to meeting you and working with you!

Online Counsellor

Jan Bryant received her Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology degree at the University of British Columbia and is credentialed as a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Jan also has her Waldorf Collaborative Counselling Certification from Antioch Graduate School, New England, mediation training from the Justice Institute of BC and extensive professional development in the area of grief and loss.

She has experience as a school counsellor at several independent schools in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond and Surrey, for students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. As well Jan has a private counselling practice. Jan provides Parenting Workshops and Professional Development Workshops for teachers, counsellors, caregivers and clergy. Her particular areas of expertise are grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, adolescents, and school and parenting challenges.

Jan’s previous careers include: landscaper, lawyer, School Administrator, and she founded and was the Executive Director of the North Shore Grief and Loss Resource Centre.

She is the Co-Leader for the North Shore chapter of The Compassionate Friends, a self-help support group for parents coping with the death of one or more children.

Jan is passionate about her work, her children, singing, gardening, and her faith.