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Our background

Our Counsellors & Staff 
 

Our team of clinical counsellors and interns are dedicated to providing professional and personalized therapy in Victoria, BC. With diverse training and expertise, our Director of Clinical Services will help connect you with the counsellor best suited to your needs, ensuring supportive care tailored to your journey.

Clinical Counsellors (RCCs & CCCs)

Our Registered Clinical Counsellors provide professional, evidence-based therapy for individuals and couples in Victoria, BC. They specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship challenges, life transitions, and more offering compassionate support tailored to your needs.

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Clinical Counsellor

Stephanie Hayes MA, RCC

Stephanie has a compassionate and collaborative approach in her work with individuals and couples. She has a certificate in addictions-informed health counselling. She has completed level one training in the Bader-Pearson Developmental Model of Couples Therapy. Stephanie works with a variety of challenges, including addictions, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationships, and parenting. In response to the needs of each client, she utilizes several therapeutic methodologies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, and Bowen family systems theory. She guides individuals to recognize and enhance their strengths and to draw on the resilience that they will need to navigate the process of change with confidence and hope.

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Clinical Counsellor

Dorothy Meier MA, CCC

Dorothy is a seasoned counsellor (CCPA certified), who holds a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. Dorothy has experience with several modalities but believes strongly in the healing power of IFS (Internal Family Systems) in addressing trauma, anxiety and most issues that keep us from being the best version of ourselves. Of course, every individual is complex and responds to their own unique combination of approaches so often elements of CBT, Narrative Therapy, or other theories are interspersed with the main approach. At the heart of many presenting issues is the family we grew up in and the primary relationships we formed. Attachment styles, relational challenges, fears and patterns are often formed in the early parts of life. Through the process of exploration and curiosity, we uncover the pain/events that have molded us. By examining the underlying assumptions that no longer serve us, we can clear the way for positive growth and self-realization.

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Clinical Counsellor

Panida Pongpanich MSC, MOCC, RCC

Panida is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and a Christian Counsellor. Panida has worked with children, youth, couples, and families who face a range of mental health and relationship concerns such as anxiety, depression, traumas, dissociation, family/marital conflict, self-esteem, identity, eating disorders, addictions, grief and loss, and spiritual development. Panida’s work is based on an integrative framework, utilizing a wide range of evidence-based therapeutic models. It is creative and intuitive stance to best meet each unique client’s needs and goals. Panida strives to build therapeutic alliances with clients which provide her clients with a safe, warm and judgment-free environment to discuss their most personal and intimate life struggles. She takes on a strength-based and culturally sensitive approach to help clients understand challenges presented, explore the underlying issues, develop new skills and capacities, support them through changing and healing processes, and facilitate growth. 

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Clinical Counsellor

Miranda Harvey MCC, RCC

Miranda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies and history from the University of Victoria, and a Master of Counselling degree from City University of Seattle in Canada. She has years of experience as a crisis support volunteer for youth, and has also volunteered extensively as a counsellor for university students and adults. Miranda enjoys working with people of diverse backgrounds to situate problems in systems of influence, unveiling individuals' inner resources by collaborating on connecting their values and interests with their goals for meaningful transformation and life management. She is especially interested in helping individuals manage stress, anxiety, trauma, and pain; improve their relationships; navigate grief and loss; and become better friends with themselves. Co-creating a warm and safe environment imbued with curiosity and an eclectic therapeutic approach, Miranda is open to working with young adults to seniors of all cultural backgrounds, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and relationship styles. Evidence-based models (e.g., Narrative Therapy, Solutions-Focused Therapy, Existential Therapy, and Internal Family Systems) inform her work, and she uses tools like grounding, body-awareness, mindfulness, and humour. She is also inspired by music, writing, philosophy, folk traditions, and nature, and looks forward to learning what you are inspired by.

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Clinical Counsellor

Tasia Holmes MACP, RCC

Tasia is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Victoria. Prior to counselling, Tasia worked as a Specialized Child and Youth Worker in group homes for 5 years, and as a Community Support Worker in a transition house for men with brain injuries for 3 years. From these experiences Tasia has gained skills and an ability to offer a calm, peaceful, consistent, and attentive presence for the people she works with. Tasia understands that life, family, and feelings can be messy, and no one is equipped to handle everything on their own. As social beings, we are not meant to. If things are feeling difficult, confusing, frustrating, uncomfortable, or scary, Tasia can offer a judgement free space where you will be met with unconditional positive regard, empathy, and acceptance. Sessions are primarily client directed, with opportunities to develop awareness of the self and unconscious thought processes, to gain intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, to lead problem solving with support, and to bolster authenticity and self-love. 

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Clinical Counsellor

Laura Di Castri MACP, RCC

Laura holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Victoria as well as a Masters of Art in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She is a registered clinical counsellor in BC. Laura's background involves working with newcomers to Canada as well as women fleeing intimate partner violence. Through that experience Laura has been able to cultivate a strong foundation of advocacy and a knowledge of community resources. She values creating a positive therapeutic relationship with clients through a non judgemental and empathetic approach, with a particular focus on client strengths. She uses an array of theoretical approaches such as CBT, polyvagal therapy and solution focused therapy and believes in tailoring the therapeutic process to the unique needs of the client. Laura is passionate about the counselling process and exploring how she can work collaboratively with clients to increase wellbeing through acceptance, self-awareness and goal creation. 

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Clinical Counsellor

Danielle McCann MACP, M.Ed, RCC

Danielle (she/her) recognizes the uniqueness of each person's story. She aims to provide an empathic space where clients can process thoughts and feelings, increase their capacity to cope with challenges and make meaningful changes. Using a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach, Danielle draws from Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Hope-Action Theory (HAT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). She supports clients who come to counselling for a wide range of concerns including managing post- traumatic stress responses, anxiety, depression, OCD, parenting and family concerns, career decision-making, burnout, and eco/climate distress. Danielle is an active member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association's Climate Informed Counsellors Chapter. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed) in career development from the University of Southern Queensland and a Master of Arts (MA) in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. 

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Clinical Counsellor

Erin Ticknor MACP, RCC

​Erin (she/her) is an approachable and down-to-earth counsellor with a passion for connecting with clients through authenticity, compassion, and humour. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication, Art, and Technology from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) from Yorkville University. Erin values the courage and self-awareness that clients already possess when they decide to pursue counselling. Erin acknowledges that relationships and environments strongly influence our emotional experiences and integrates this perspective into her client work. Her areas of focus include occupational trauma, stress management, burnout, family and organizational dynamics, and navigating significant life changes. With experience supporting healthcare workers and first responders, she offers a safe, confidential, and culturally informed space where clients can work to renew themselves, their relationships, and their connection to life. Erin offers talk therapy informed by DBT, ACT, and Bowen Family Systems Theory. Erin also offers EMDR therapy

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Clinical Counsellor

Keva Glynn MACP, MHA, RCC

​Keva brings a calm, curious, and creative presence to her practice. As a Registered Clinical Counsellor, she provides in-person and online counselling to both individuals and couples. Her areas of specialization include life transitions, processing traumatic experiences, and navigating challenging relationships at work or at home. Keva recognizes that depression, anxiety, and substance use are often interconnected with these core issues and works to address the whole picture. With specialized training in both trauma and relationships, she partners with you using proven methods to identify unhelpful patterns in your thoughts and behaviors, then works alongside you to change them and build the life you want. Some of her therapeutic approaches include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy, the Gottman Couples Method, Somatic Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy. Keva is particularly passionate about working with 2SLGBTQ+ clients.
When she’s not working, Keva enjoys sports of all sorts, wild-gardening, writing poems, and spending time with her family.

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Clinical Supervisor & Counsellor

Laurie Truant MA, RCC 

Laurie works with adults and couples experiencing a broad range of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety and stress, trauma, grief and loss, and spiritual concerns. Working alongside clients, Laurie’s theoretical approach integrates Person-centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. She also provides clinical supervision to counselling student interns. Laurie’s background includes delivering counselling services in a residential alcohol and drug treatment centre, an outpatient eating disorders service and various community mental health agencies. As people are complex and wonderfully made, Laurie considers biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors as she listens, empathizes and helps clients move toward their goals and a fuller life. Laurie has limited availability.

Erin Ticknor EMDR

Intern Counsellors

Our Intern Counsellors are emerging professionals providing high-quality therapy for clients in Victoria, BC. They receive supervision from RCCs with years of experience, benefiting from expert guidance while supporting individuals with anxiety, depression, trauma, personal growth and more.

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Intern Counsellor

Toni Lefebvre-Mick, MC in Progress

Before beginning her counselling training, Toni volunteered as a crisis responder for youth and a volunteer peer counsellor for adults through non-profit organizations. She worked in frontline roles supporting the unhoused community, focusing on advocacy, crisis intervention, and harm reduction. These experiences have shaped her commitment to relational, compassionate and socially-conscious care, grounded in respect for human resilience, and an awareness of how the world around us can impact our well-being. Prior to that, Toni spent nearly a decade tree planting across western Canada, an experience that taught her patience, humility, and the quiet power of growth that comes from small, consistent effort. Currently, Toni is completing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. She believes that each individual has the capacity to make a change in their life at their own pace, and as a counsellor, she is here to provide support and a safe environment for clients to explore the depths of themselves, in their own time. Toni brings a calm, playful warmth to her sessions, creating a space where clients can show up exactly as they are, especially when life feels heavy, confusing, or disconnected. She helps clients process their experiences, deepen insight into their relationships, honour their emotions, rebuild trust in themselves and others, and move toward greater clarity and self-understanding. Her approach is collaborative, client-centered, and grounded in empathy. She believes therapy can be a place to pause, breathe, and make sense of what feels tangled and overwhelming.

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Intern Counsellor

Austin Derksen MC in progress

Many of us nobly work to create a life that is nourishing to us, body and mind. For many, however, life's experiences do more to drain us than to nourish. It’s exhausting to constantly struggle with worry, self-criticism, or feeling stuck. My aim is to provide a trusting, nonjudgmental space where you feel comfortable sharing your story. We will work collaboratively, drawing connections between your present experiences and situation, to explore what you value most and move toward a future you aspire too. I am currently completing my Masters of Counselling with City University, Victoria and bring previous academic experience in psychology and neuroscience. I offer an integrative approach, with focus in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which draws on evidence-based interventions while maintaining a client-centered, humanistic style. This approach helps develop psychological flexibility—the ability to acknowledge difficult feelings without letting them control our actions. Together, we can explore your personal insight and combine them with healthy coping mechanisms, increased motivation, and practical, actionable tools to pursue a life of meaning. By choosing an Intern Counsellor you receive quality care with the added benefit of ongoing consultation and review from an experienced, licensed therapist. I believe strongly in the power of therapeutic relationship in helping people to discover their internal strengths. 


"May We Live a Richer Life"
Looking forward to connecting with you.

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Intern Counsellor

Leah Baker MACP in progress

Leah offers a welcoming, down-to-earth space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported. She works with people seeking meaningful change—whether that means living more in line with their values, finding new ways to manage stress or anxiety, navigating relationship challenges, or building skills to handle life’s ups and downs. Clients often come to Leah during times of transition, loss, or uncertainty. Drawing on her familiarity with a variety of counselling approaches and evidence-based strategies, she tailors her work to each person’s unique needs and goals. Working together, she helps clients clarify what matters most and create practical strategies that work for them. Leah also works with parents, couples, and those facing challenges with substance use. For all her clients, her focus is on fostering clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of meaning, so they can move forward feeling grounded and prepared for what’s next.

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Intern Counsellor

Andrew Penner MACP in progress

Andrew believes that real connection is the foundation for meaningful change. He offers a stable, open, and nonjudgmental space where people can feel supported in working through challenges, building resilience, and creating positive momentum in their lives. His approach is person-centred and collaborative, grounded in empathy, respect, and a belief in each person’s ability to grow. Andrew draws from Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and strengths-based strategies to help individuals find clarity, overcome obstacles, and move toward their goals. Andrew has a special interest in supporting people facing anxiety, life transitions, stress, relationship challenges, and personal growth journeys. His focus is on meeting people where they are and building a steady, genuine relationship that helps them move forward with confidence. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is currently completing his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. As a father of three and someone who finds connection through athletics, the outdoors, and lifelong learning, Andrew brings a grounded, compassionate presence to his work with clients.

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Intern Counsellor

Corey Doak MC in progress

Corey’s deep appreciation for people from all walks of life and his belief in the transformative power of relationships inspired him to pursue a career in counselling. Currently completing a Master of Counselling at Briercrest Seminary, Corey draws on nearly two decades of experience as a worship pastor in church ministry. He is dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming space where clients feel valued, supported, and understood. With warmth and a non-judgmental approach, Corey guides individuals in uncovering transformative insights and fostering meaningful personal growth through the therapeutic process.

Intern Counsellors
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Director of Clinical Services

Richard Sayad MC, RCC-ACS

Richard is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor, as certified by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. He holds a Master's degree in Counselling from City University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria. As the Director of Clinical Services at South Island Counselling, Richard is dedicated to managing and supervising our team of counsellors to ensure the delivery of effective and affordable clinical services to the community. In his leadership role, Richard oversees the professional development and performance of our counsellors, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment that promotes excellence in client care. His responsibilities include supervising counsellors, coordinating training for interns, and implementing evidence-based therapeutic approaches to address a wide range of mental health issues. Richard's clinical expertise spans working with diverse populations, from young adults to seniors, and he is committed to helping clients gain insight into their challenges and co-create actionable plans for healthy change and growth. His areas of specialization include anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Under Richard's leadership, South Island Counselling continues to fulfill its mission of providing accessible, high-quality counselling services to those in need, making a meaningful impact on the mental health of our community.

Staff

Our staff members work with the board of directors to oversee the organization. They manage the business and counselling aspects behind the scenes and make sure everything is running smoothly and efficiently.

Director of Clinical Services

Our Mission

is to strengthen mental, emotional and spiritual health in our community by providing excellent, professional and affordable counselling and training.

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Learn more about us here.

Our Location

3821A Cedar Hill Cross Rd.

Victoria, BC V8P 2M6

Tel: 250-472-2851

Fax: 250-472-2815

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©2025 South Island Centre for Counselling and Training Society

 

We acknowledge with respect the beautiful and traditional territories of the Lekwungen People, who are now known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

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