Our background

Our Counselling Interns
All of our intern counsellors are in the final phase of completing their master’s degrees in clinical counselling. As the last part of their counselling training, they are required to complete a certain amount of counselling hours to graduate and receive their designation. Our interns receive weekly professional supervision from experienced supervisors here at our Centre to support them in their learning. When you work with an intern you receive the benefit of both their skills and training as well as their supervisor’s expertise.
As a not for profit we greatly appreciate and rely on interns completing their training with us as it allows us to fulfill our mission to provide affordable counselling by supporting our subsidy program. If you apply for a subsidy you will likely be set up with an intern counsellor who fits your needs.

Intern Counsellor
Emily Perkins MA in Progress
Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and Psychology from UBC and is currently completing her Master’s of Psychotherapy and Spirituality through St. Stephen’s College at the University of Alberta. Her experience working in supportive housing and harm reduction shapes her philosophy and approach to people, and she seeks to consider individuals within their larger cultural and societal contexts. Having worked in horticulture for years, Emily has a deep appreciation for nature that informs her practice, where she incorporates the environment and creativity whenever possible. Emily believes that connection, to each other and to the natural world, is integral to wellbeing and draws from expressive arts therapy, narrative therapy, internal family systems and person-centred approaches to cultivate that sense of connection.

Intern Counsellor
Heidi Nottelman MACP in Progress
Heidi holds a Bachelor of Human Kinetics degree from the University of British Columbia and is currently completing her Master of Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. Heidi has spent many years working in physical rehabilitation and believes in drawing greater awareness to the connections between mind and body, to develop a holistic approach to well-being. Heidi values a positive, respectful, and authentic therapeutic relationship as the foundation of the counselling journey. She believes in a client-focused approach that fosters self-discovery of inner strengths, personal values, and self-compassion. Heidi utilizes an integrated therapeutic approach drawing on solution-focused therapy (SFT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and psychodynamic modalities to meet the diverse needs of her clients. She is passionate about helping her clients discover meaningful healing and change, that fosters continued personal growth.

Intern Counsellor
Bonnie Kuyvenhoven MACP in Progress
Bonnie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria and is currently completing her Master's in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. Bonnie brings a love for people and a curiosity about their stories with her into her practice and she is passionate about helping her clients discover their true self. Bonnie takes an integrative, evidence-based approach that draws on theories including Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Person-Centered Therapy. Her goal is to provide a safe and accepting space where you feel safe to explore your life’s journey and feel empowered to find your unique inner strengths and live a life of purpose, joy, and fulfillment.

Intern Counsellor
Emma Watt MACP in Progress
Emma (she/her) completed a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Victoria and is currently working towards completing her Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. With several years of work focused on training, strengthening, and healing the physical body, Emma draws from this background and uses an integrative, evidence-based approach to counselling. She believes in building a strong, authentic therapeutic relationship in which the client feels respected, welcome, and empowered to collaborate in their unique journey with counselling. Every individual is unique in their needs and desires, so Emma provides a client-centered approach and draws from therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and more. Emma is open to seeing clients both virtually and in-person, offering a variety of availability throughout the week and weekend.

Intern Counsellor
Abigail Roberts MACP in Progress
“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” ― David W. Augsburger, Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard. I believe that everyone deserves to be listened to deeply and treated with respect and compassion. Therefore, I endeavour to provide a safe place for clients to explore their feelings and experiences without fear of judgement. I take a wholistic approach that considers the whole person: physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual. I believe everyone is unique and seeks to work collaboratively with clients to choose evidence- based techniques that will best support their needs and goals. I hold degrees in Religious Education (BRE), Child and Youth Care (CYC) and a diploma in Early Childhood Education Special Needs and currently completing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. I have special interests in adoption and foster care, divorce care, parental alienation, ADHD, addictions, childhood trauma and marriage and family challenges.

Intern Counsellor
Shannon Schubert MC in Progress
Shannon (she/her) believes that counselling is a graceful blend of art and science. Shannon holds a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia and is currently completing her Master of Counselling with CityUniversity in Victoria. Shannon has community experience in pregnancy loss support and single parent mentorship as well as business leadership experience from a decade of work in the high-tech industry. Shannon has special interests in reproductive loss, parenting, family, relationships, career, and neurodiversity. Shannon believes that counselling can help to actively create a life of value, purpose, intention, and meaning for each unique individual and that her clients are the experts of their own lives. She takes a client-centered approach drawing from a variety of clinical methods, including solutions-focused therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Intern Counsellor
lina Branter MACP in Progress
Lina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Victoria, a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) from McGill University and is currently completing her Master of Counselling Psychology (MACP) through Yorkville University. She believes that everyone is the expert on their own experience: she takes a collaborative, creative, human-centred approach to help clients weave their past experiences, current situation and future directions into a coherent, meaningful narrative that honours their unique strengths and empowers them to grow in alignment with their values. As the therapeutic journey is as unique as the client’s, Lina uses an integrative approach that includes concepts from internal family systems, narrative, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapy. She has a strong interest in existential therapy as a beginning framework for understanding the areas human beings struggle with most and is passionate about helping clients develop the self-awareness necessary to effect the change they want to see in their lives. Lina is open to seeing clients either in-person or virtually and has availability on weekdays, evenings and during the weekend.

Intern Counsellor
Breanne Charles MC in Progress
Breanne holds a Diploma in Intercultural Studies and Bachelor of Counselling and Caregiving. She is currently completing her Masters of Counselling through Athabasca University. Breanne has experience supporting youth in a detox setting, women fleeing intimate partner violence, women with a traumatic brain injury, and immigrant and refugee families. Through these experiences she has gained knowledge of community resources and navigating various systems. Breanne tailors her approach to the needs of each client and offers a compassionate and accepting space to support clients in reflection and gaining insight. Breanne draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and views persons from a holistic perspective.

Intern Counsellor
Tasia Holmes MACP in Progress
Tasia holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of Victoria, and is currently completing her Master’s in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. Tasia’s background includes working in supportive housing and with youth in care. In these environments Tasia learned the importance of taking a person-centred approach and respecting each individual for the unique being that they are. She takes an integrative, evidence-based approach that draws on theories including Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Mindfulness based approaches. Tasia aims to facilitate a growth environment free of judgement where clients can explore and discover their authentic selves and be the leaders in their own healing journey.