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.
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Intern Counsellor
Annachie Elkin MC in Progress
​Annachie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria and is currently completing her Master of Counselling degree through City University of Seattle in Canada. She has spent most of her professional career working in the field of mental health and has many years of experience working with socially vulnerable youth and youth in crisis. Annachie is a certified Therapeutic Hatha Yoga teacher and has pursued mindfulness training, which she enjoys incorporating into her counseling approach. She recognizes the innate wisdom that all individuals possess and values understanding her clients’ worldview and beliefs. Annachie believes in working collaboratively with her clients to help them gain self-awareness and personal insight into their challenges. She holds special interests in working with individuals on self-esteem, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, relationship issues, and early-adult life transitions. Annachie draws from several different therapeutic frameworks in her work with clients and adapts her approach to best meet their current needs. She emphasizes both a strengths-based and person-centered perspective, and her practice is grounded in mindfulness, self-compassion, and acceptance-based approaches. She is also trained in solution-focused therapy (SFT), psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Annachie is available to see clients for in-person and/or virtual appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

Intern Counsellor
China Lloyd MACP in Progress
China holds a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and is currently completing a Master’s in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. She has been working in the field of mental health for over ten years, supporting individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, body image, trauma, attention issues and life transitions. Additionally, China is a certified trauma-informed yoga therapist and a mindfulness meditation instructor. China’s unique and diverse training enables her to take a collaborative, holistic and non-pathological approach to mental health and well-being that is both solution driven and compassion centered. Her therapeutic approach is person-centered and primarily draws on humanistic, narrative, cognitive-behavioral and trauma-informed modalities. Her primary objective is to help clients gain insight into their inner lives and to help them initiate their own meaningful and transformative change process, recognizing that all people receive and process experiences differently based on culture and context. Her role as a counselor is to nourish and support that personal, creative process and to add professional expertise when needed.

Intern Counsellor
Ashley Haley MACP in Progress
​Ashley (she/her) holds a Bachelor's of Science in biology and psychology from the University of Victoria and is currently completing her Master's in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. She takes an integrative, evidence-based approach that draws on theories including Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Person-Centered Therapy. Ashley’s goal is to provide a non-judgemental and safe space where you can work together to navigate, understand and manage, your internal experiences. Through her education and life-experiences, she has come to appreciate the strong mind-body connection so she infuses grounding and mindfulness practices into her sessions to help promote self-awareness and self-acceptance. Using a strength based approach, Ashley hopes to support you in uncovering and building upon your skills and resources that can help you move in a direction that aligns with your values and goals.

Intern Counsellor
Nicole Hutchinson MACP in Progress
Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is currently completing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. She draws from her nursing background to offer an integrated somatic (body) approach with compassion and mindfulness-based techniques. Nicole aims to gently nurture the roots behind her individual clients’ current concerns while offering personalized coping techniques for the here and now. Additionally, her 20 years of pastoral counselling experience with individuals, couples, and families offers a rich foundation for empathy and presence. Being a foster/adoptive and biological parent who has navigated trauma and grief with children, youth, couples, and families, Nicole brings an experienced and empathic attachment and strengths-based perspective for moving forward through life’s challenges, great and small. She has flexible availability, preferring to see clients in the evenings and on weekends.

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.