Shelly’s experience and area of concentration includes working for victims of all ages who have experienced violence or other traumatic events, as well as for those who have chosen to use violence to harm others. Shelly also works on behalf of children and their families to complete a wide variety of reports required in Family Law disputes. She is available to work for other organizations and professionals to provide training in Response-Based Practice, or for Practice Support (clinical supervision), as well as consulting in the areas of supervision, organizational or program evaluation.  Shelly orients her family therapy practice around a relatively small group of children and families. They will never be or made to feel like “just a number”, and will receive her undivided attention.

Shelly was raised in Northern BC and then Kamloops.  Her experience includes 20+ years of direct counselling experience with children, youth, couples and families, consulting with a wide range of organizations, teaching in universities, clinical supervision and organizational development in the social service sector. Shelly has worked with the Centre for Response-Based Practice and her colleagues Allan Wade, Linda Coates & Cathy Richardson for many years in the development of these ideas. Specifically, Shelly has been actively involved in the ongoing development of working with children and youth from a Response-Based perspective, and understanding how young people respond to and resist experiences of violence. Shelly is a licensed Family Therapist, an author, and a graduate of the Doctoral Program at the TAOS Institute.  She is also a proud wife, parent and grandparent.

Robb has been working with youth for over 20 years and concentrates on working with individuals including youth and families. Robb is skilled with working with families and with couples and does so in a way that considers the context of their lives and the variety of obstacles in their lives. Robb is experienced in supporting youth (and their caregivers) who are struggling with numerous challenges or who are misusing substances, and he works with young people from whatever place they are most comfortable starting from—without judgement or pressure. Dignity is the cornerstone of Robb’s counseling practice, and the understanding that we all do everything we can to preserve dignity when faced with oppression, violence or adversity. Robb views the challenges that people face in the context of their lives, rather than looking at an explanation that only includes the individual. Alternative location sessions can be prearranged if required.

Robb also has extensive training in conducting assessments for adult violent offenders, intimate partner violence as well as youth perpetrators using a number of assessments. Robb is skilled and has over 5 years of experience in writing Views of the Child Reports for the courts or families wishing to do so to resolve conflict without bias.

Robb was born and raised in Kamloops, BC, and together with his wife is raising 3 children. Robb works in this community as a teacher and a counsellor and is highly respected for his energy and his ability to connect with young people. Robb has been a teacher in the Kamloops/Thompson School District for 17 years and has taught both in Europe and locally. Robb is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), and has completed his Masters Degree both at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops and internationally at Heidelberg University in Germany. Robb has a flexible schedule and is available for sessions afternoons, evenings, early mornings, weekends and holidays. Please contact Robb if you have any questions or would like to see if he would be a good fit for you or your family. 

Kalie (she/her) offers virtual counselling to clients in British Columbia, Ontario, and Yukon. Kalie’s experience and area of concentration has been working for youth and young adults. Kalie’s background has enhanced her ability to connect with young people in their unique ways, and to work with their timing. As an experienced counsellor, she is dedicated to supporting clients who have experienced a range of adversity and traumatic events. Kalie has experience working with people who have experienced violence as well as people who have harmed others.  At the core of Kalie’s work is the understanding that a person’s dignity must always be upheld, and she focuses on finding the different ways in which people work hard to maintain their dignity every day.

Kalie uses a Response-Based Approach and incorporates other complimentary theories and ideas such as expressive therapy, systemic family therapy, intersectionality and social justice. Kalie tailors sessions to meet the individual needs of each person or family. Kalie has a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and an undergraduate degree from Simon Fraser University. Kalie is a registered clinical counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and a registered psychotherapist – qualifying with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Kalie’s experience includes over fifteen years of direct experience supporting people within the social services sector and five years of direct counselling experience.

Darren’s area of specialization is individual, couples, family and youth counselling, and he offers flexibility in scheduling. He comes from an integrative approach when assisting people and believes in honouring the dignity of everyone and their inherent value, as each story  unfolds. Darren specializes in issues of violence (broadly defined) and religious oppression that can happen to individuals through organizations and family systems.

He has more than 25 years of experience within Christian faith tradition as a Pastor with a focus on mentoring at-risk-youth and developing programs for personal empowerment. Additionally, he specializes in the area of supporting spiritual leaders, the interactions with their family, and he is available for consultation and leadership development in church settings.

Darren was born and raised in England and moved to Canada to pursue a career in Pastoral ministry, where he Pastored in Saskatchewan before moving to Kamloops. He is married and has two adult children and a labradoodle and has lived in Kamloops for 23 years.

Darren works through a Response-Based lens, which is supported through an integrative approach to therapy, utilizing family system, Feminist Theory and Narrative model therapy. Darren completed his Master’s degree at Providence University College and Seminary and completed the certificate in Family Therapy through the Centre for Response-Based Practice.

 Christa’s area of concentration includes focusing on relationships, and the challenges that can be experienced emotionally and interactionally. Christa pays attention to intuition, and all of the things that people do within their unique environments to preserve their dignity and keep themselves and others safe. She works to uncover the frequent misunderstanding of ‘poor communication’ to be the communication of saving face, preserving dignity, and maintaining dignity. This knowledge is very often what informs our behaviour–past, current and future.

She is available to work with individuals, couples, families and children, and she works flexible hours. Christa was born and raised in South Africa, which gives her a unique perspective on the inequalities of life, and that some people are more ‘equal’ than others in how they are treated. Christa and her family moved to Canada in 2001. In 2010 Christa and her family made Kamloops their home. Christa has two daughters and two furry friends, who all love the outdoors. Christa works from a Response-Based perspective and is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).

Kym has over 17 year’s experience working for youth, individuals, and families. Her area of concentration includes working for victims of violence and other forms of adversity, perpetrators of violence, supporting transitional life events, and assistance through the wide variety of stressful and worrisome situations that people face. Kym works from a Response-Based framework influenced by Buddhist psychology, and has also incorporated family systems therapy, nature therapy, and a mindfulness approach within her work. Most importantly, Kym honours the inherent knowing and dignity in each and every person. In the last 6 years Kym has become certified as a nature-based mindfulness teacher and has been leading training sessions in mindfulness, as well as mindfulness in nature retreats for individuals and teams.

Kym grew up in Kamloops, BC and has returned to live here, after living for 13 years in California. Her passion for mental wellness through a connection with nature has followed her throughout her life and into her current work.

Kym offers clinical supervision with professionals including social workers, clinicians, and non-profit organizations. She recognizes value in ‘caring for the carer’, creating a safe place for professionals to receive help, and overcome challenges. Ultimately, this is in everybody’s best interest.

Robbyn’s area of concentration is working with people through a process of exploration about how their thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours are responses to pressures, adverse events, barriers, oppression, and obstacles in their lives. The years of young adulthood through to mid-life can be particularly challenging and include many major life transitions and unique challenges. The way a person responds to these challenges will make a difference in their ability to perform everyday tasks. Robbyn believes in everybody’s ability to change and works with them to understand their responses within the context of their experiences, which creates space for empowerment, compassion, relief, improved health, peace and joy. Some of Robbyn’s areas of focus include former diagnosis and treatment for: anxiety, trauma, emotion regulation, extreme expectations of self, body image and eating disorders, among others. She works almost exclusively online and utilizes the virtual environment to create an approachable, accessible, and effective platform to facilitate recovery and healing.

Robbyn has over 15 year’s experience working in mental health, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS-RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. She possesses a Masters Degree in Counselling, a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, certification in Response-Based Practice, and is currently pursuing her Doctoral Degree in Psychotherapy. Robbyn is a staunch advocate for inclusion and social justice, prioritizing intersectional, diverse, and culturally informed approaches. She works to always be improving as an ally and ensuring her practice is a safe place for all people. Robbyn practices from several therapeutic modalities, primarily with Response-Based Approach but dependent on the unique needs and goals of the client(s), will incorporate a blend of Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Family Systems, Mindfulness, and/or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

With over two decades of experience in nursing and pastoral care, Claire brings a deep well of compassion and wisdom to her counselling practice. Her specializations lie in guiding individuals through seasons of loss, transition, confusion, and so-called burnout—with particular care for individuals across the lifespan, including adolescents, young adults, seniors, and those who care for them. Claire works through a Response-Based lens and draws from an integrative toolkit, including Feminist Theory, Narrative techniques, and strengths-based approaches that seek to uphold the dignity of each person. At the heart of her work is a desire to understand the pre-existing power and wellness within each individual, with sensitivity to each person’s unique story and journey.

Claire completed her MA in Counselling at Providence Seminary and the Response-Based Course for working with Children, Youth, and their Families. Originally from the UK, Claire has called Kamloops home for almost 30 years and has built deep roots in the community along with her husband, and their two adult children. When she’s not at work, you can find her hiking the scenic trails of Kamloops with her two beloved labradoodles.