From a young age, I have always been drawn to people and to their stories. I wanted to know more about them and how their past, present, and future experiences had shaped their lives so far. This passion for psychology, alongside my desire to learn and understand more about my own journey, has led me to this career, which I am so grateful for.
Originally from Kelowna, I completed my BSc in Psychology in Nottingham, England, in 2003 and following this, trained as a Clinical Hypnotherapist in London. This skill and technique allowed my clients to access their unconscious mind with more ease and with that, gain personal insights, learn new ways of being, and make their desired changes. It also provides tools for mindfulness and relaxation, shown to be essential in both learning and maintaining life changes.
During the 13 years I lived in the UK, I married my wonderful husband, and we grew into our family with 3 beautiful children. Enticed back by the fantastic quality of life that the Okanagan offers, as well as a supportive community of friends and neighbours, our family relocated to Kelowna in 2013 and we have not been disappointed!
As a life-long learner, I am committed to further education, research, and the practice of evidence-based theory, tools, and resources that will best serve each individual client. I offer a warm, empathic, and non-judgemental approach with an emotionally focused lens to get to the heart of the problem. This focus on the value of emotional bonds and attachment needs continues to influence and guide my work with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
My professional background and skills:
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFiT) – Level 1 & 2
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) – Externship & Core skills
training completed
Circle of Security Parenting™ facilitator
Masters Degree in Counselling (Gonzaga University)
Clinical Hypnotherapy (London College of Clinical Hypnosis)
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy
Trauma focused approaches and training
I know only too well how difficult change can be, especially when we are feeling overwhelmed, distressed, or hopeless. Asking for help, sharing your story and expressing your needs takes courage, and I offer a safe, secure space to do this. I feel truly privileged to witness people’s life stories and support my clients as they learn new healthy ways to think, behave, and feel.
Contact Sarah on 250 575 1497 or sarah@relateandrestore.ca for further information or to make an appointment.
I’ve learned that life is unpredictable and as someone who appreciates certainty, there have been many times in my own life where change has been confronting and scary. I’ve learned that as I have consciously stepped forward, the process of growth has been surprisingly raw, a little messy, but so incredibly valuable. I’ve learned that change of any kind feels like loss, but confronting fear with supportive others has equated to growth, healing, and a wrestling towards a truer version of the ‘real me’. As someone who is personally invested in growth, I honor each person’s story and unique journey while offering an empathic and relational approach, providing you with the safety you need to walk through some of your hardest moments. It is my belief that no-one should have to face struggles and challenges alone.
I completed my BA in Psychology and then moved to Australia for 12 years where I met my husband and grew our family of 6. In my time there, I directed a cross cultural counselling program until we moved to SE Asia in 2006 where we pioneered a foundation working extensively with children at risk. We provided educational and mentoring support, facilitating counseling seminars & training while engaging in international collaboration for the welfare of disadvantaged youth and children. In 2016, our family relocated to Canada, and we are enjoying four seasons and the outdoor beauty of Kelowna.
I love learning and consistently put effort into research, understanding best practice, and utilizing resources and tools that will best serve you. I often infuse a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, attachment-based outlook in my practice, while working with individuals (children and adults), couples, and groups. Focus areas include: identity, anxiety, life transitions, parenting/caregiving, post adoption support, ADHD, depression, trauma and loss.
My professional background and skills:
Change of any kind requires courage and I know how hard it is to take that first step forward. I would be honored to journey with you, your family, and/or your child and to engage in this process of growth, healing, enhanced connections, and renewed hope.
Contact Nicole on 250 859 0634 or nicole@relateandrestore.ca for further information or to make an appointment.
Finding enjoyment in life is a value woven deeply within the fabric of my being. This value helped offset the challenges my family and I faced growing up, as I knew that I could get lost in the moment through learning new things, play, swimming, and music. This was heavily reinforced by my father who would insist that “I will be working for most of my life, so I had better find something that I enjoy, because then, you’ll never work a day in your life”. So, the enjoyment of learning about mental health, psychology and personal growth pulled me in like a magnet.
Originally from Nottingham, England, I trained as a Mental Health Nurse, then a Public Health Nurse, and then as a Cognitive Behaviour (CBT) Therapist. All this gave me a zoomed-out perspective on how societies and systems impact mental health, to a really zoomed-in perspective on the inner workings of how mental health maintains itself. Being able to hold space for people’s experiences brought to light their own patterns. And through curiosity and a deeper understanding of the change process, I got to help people create new, desired paths of least resistance.
My desire to enjoy, and to live life to the fullest, is what led me here in Kelowna, with my husband and our two dogs, Henry and Maggie. Since arriving in 2020, during the COVID pandemic, I completed my Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology with Yorkville University. In addition, my husband started his own business, we are a part of a fantastic community of friends, and our family grew to include our first son, who was born last year!
I tend to work through a bio-psycho-social and trauma informed lens, but I am constantly learning, growing, and influenced by the latest in evidence-based practice. My approach features theories such as CBT, attachment, polyvagal, internal family systems and their relationship to culture. I have a strong drive toward ethical, culturally responsive and socially just (CRSJ) work and I want to help as many people as possible within this lifetime with kindness and compassion.
I work primarily with adults and teenagers who have a desire to navigate through depression, anxiety disorders, addiction recovery and body image difficulties. The first steps in reaching out to THAT first session are often the scariest. It would be an honour to hear your story and hold space for you.
To contact Sam, please reach out at: sam@relateandrestore.ca or at : (782) 820-4306 for further information or to make an appointment. I also offer a free, online consultation to offer a space to meet one another and answer any questions you or your teen might have.
Born and raised in rural Saskatchewan, my upbringing laid the foundation for a quiet, yet creative life. It was here that a passion for music took root. As Hans Christian Andersen wrote, “Where words fail, music speaks.” Music taught me how creativity can foster self-expression and provide comfort while navigating the more complicated aspects of being human. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in jazz music from Concordia University, I moved to BC, making my new home in the sunny Okanagan. Here I had the immense pleasure of continuing to create, perform and teach music for nearly a decade. Throughout these years, I witnessed the transformative power of music as it allowed people to express themselves and relate to others in new ways.
During a major life transition of my own, I slowly evolved out of music education and performance. This opened space for me to answer the life-long call of helping others. Thus began the next ten-year pursuit which included working for 9-1-1 and Victim Services as well as not-for-profit agencies. These extremely impactful experiences led me to discover my true passion for supporting others through their hardships, creating a safe space for others to share, and bearing witness to personal stories and transformations. As such, I have spent the past few years obtaining a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University.
Life is filled with change. There are some transformations we eagerly seek and aspire to, while other times, life throws unforeseen curveballs in our direction. Whether we are moving toward change with anticipation and delight, or reeling from loss when life is altered without our consent; change can be both difficult and scary. It takes courage to reach out for support, yet in doing so, we can heal. No one has to weather life’s challenges alone. If you are looking for positive support in achieving your current goals, or struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, loss or relationships, I would be honoured to help you along your journey.
My goal is to always create an empathetic, judgement-free environment for my clients. Practicing from a humanistic and trauma informed lens, it has been my pleasure to support change within individuals, couples and families, including children (ages ten and up). I use evidence-based interventions borrowed from CBT, DBT, narrative therapy, solution focused and strength-based therapies and more, depending on your specific needs and challenges.
If this sounds like a good fit for you and your needs, or if you have more questions, please feel free to email me to book a complimentary 15-20-minute consultation.
Contact Rochelle at rochelle@relateandrestore.ca or at: 250-488-4275 for further information or to make an appointment.
I grew up and studied in Ontario where I obtained my Psychology and Occupational Therapy degrees. Following this, I moved to the west coast in 1993 drawn by friends and a love for the outdoors. After meeting my husband, we chose to make our home in Vernon which offered the perfect balance for us; a great community in which to raise our family while balancing work with our desire for adventure.
While working for 11 years as an Occupational Therapist, I realized how fundamental connections were to peoples’ sense of well-being and belonging in the world. Whether my work was focused with clients in hospital settings or community settings, I loved being a part of the rehabilitation process, supporting my clients and their families. I have always been interested in understanding what it is that makes us human and appreciate and respect those fragile vulnerable aspects of humanity that support connection with ourselves and others. This desire for greater engagement and connection is precisely what drew me to the world of counselling.
My counselling approach is collaborative, client-centered, and compassionate. I am curious and I love to learn alongside other people. My focus is in the areas of anxiety, depression, life transitions, developmental and attachment trauma, parenting, caregiver support and ADHD. I strongly believe in providing my clients with support that is grounded in research and aligns with best practices. I practice using a variety of evidence-based modalities with my strengths in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Attachment Theory, Trauma Informed, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Mindfulness based practice.
Mental health and wellness are paramount to me and I appreciate how important it is to not just acknowledge life’s challenges, but to also celebrate our successes. I also believe we as humans all have an innate capacity for change. From my own experience, I know it can sometimes feel insurmountable to imagine the possibility of change, especially when we are so overwhelmed by the complexity of our distress. Knowing that someone we trust has our back, and we feel heard and understood, helps us to take those essential small steps toward greater connection and a brighter outlook on life. While reaching out for help can be hard, it is a necessary and crucial step in creating momentum for change. I would feel privileged to come alongside my clients as they explore new ways of being in the world with more flexible perspectives, more fulfilling interactions and greater emotional balance.
Contact Lisa on (250)558-6757 or lisa@relateandrestore.ca for further information or to make an appointment. *Lisa works one day of the week in Kelowna as well.
Our therapists are licensed professionals registered with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counselling.
KELOWNA
Stewart Centre South
370 – 1855 Kirschner Rd.
Kelowna, BC V1Y 4N7
VERNON
3007 28th Ave Vernon, BC V1T 1W2
