Mirrell Desjardins was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She is a holistic counsellor whose origins began on Muskeg Lake Reserve. After spending 25 years abroad, Mirrell relocated back to Canada in January 2019. Since that time, she has worked for Northern and Interior Health as a Mental Health Clinician and has a strong commitment to lifelong learning and enhancing her helping skills.

Mirrell has been trained in Trauma Focused CBT, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, Brief Action Planning, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Observed Experience Integration Level 1. Most recently, Mirrell has also gotten basic training to enhance EMDR with Psychosensorimotor Therapy and Hypnosis. Her specialty is helping individuals navigate life transitions. She utilizes and blends many methodologies in her practice and collaboratively works with the client to identify growth areas, establish goals and support her clients to work towards these goals. She believes that everybody has the capacity to live a life worth living, and sometimes, all you need is a little support along the way.

Areas of Interest: - Trauma - Anxiety and Depression - Self-Harm - Group Facilitation - First Responders - Back to Work Programs - Couples/Marriage Counselling

Credentials: - M.Ed (International Counselling) Lehigh, University, USA - M.Ed (Applied Linguistics) Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia - PGCE(College Counselling) UCLA, LA, USA - CCPA: 10001749 - EMDR-BT: 100051404 - BCACC: 18258

Mirrell Desjardins was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She is a holistic counsellor w... Read More

Olivia (she/her) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor holding a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and is a member in good standing with the Canadian Counselling Psychology Association and the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. She has completed training in Compassionate Communication, Mediation, and Grief Counselling. Olivia is also trained to provide Hormone Readiness Assessments and Reports.

As a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Olivia strongly desires to uplift the marginalized and provide her clients with a safe space of caring and non-judgment. She has an eclectic solution-focused approach that helps build hope and optimism. Her goal is to walk alongside her clients as they discover strengths, build resilience, and create manageable goals. Olivia draws on modalities such as Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and more.

At home, Olivia adores her chickens, dogs, and humans. She is an active volunteer with a variety of animal rescues and often has fosters. Olivia appreciates all kinds of humour and believes laughter really can be some of the best medicine. With a previous career in archaeology, Olivia retains a passion for the preservation of culture and is sensitive to issues of social justice. Olivia thankfully acknowledges that she lives and works on the lands of the Syilx Peoples.

Areas of Focus:

Teens and Young Adults First Nations Community LGBTQIA2S+ and relationship diversity Learning Differences Depression and Anxiety

Office locations: Vernon and Online

Olivia (she/her) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor holding a Master of Arts in Counselling Psyc... Read More

Dr. Laura has been working in the mental health field since 1995, and has been a Member and a Certified Canadian Counsellor, as of 2002, with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Dr. Laura holds Masters of Arts and Science completed combined formal trainings from the University of La Verne (Greece/California), in 1999-2000, and from the University of Hull (UK), in 2000-2001. This was post completion of graduate studies in Clinical Psychology and School Psychology from the University of Aristotle (Greece), on a Tempus/Erasmus Scholarship in 1997. Dr. Laura is also a Doctor of Health, after earning her Doctorate Degree in Health, in 2019, from the University of Bath, UK, based on the WHO QualityRights and the UN CRPD.

In her original Masters level training, Dr. Laura trained in the Integrative Approach, with specialty modalities such as the Rogerian/Person-Centred Modality, the Existential Therapy, REBT, Gestalt, Family Systems Therapy, the Person-Construct Modality, the Narrative Approach, and the Neuro-Linguistic Approach. Over the past 25 years, Dr. Laura has utilized a range of additional modalities, starting from CBT/S-BCBT/iCBT, Cognitive Processing, MBCT, DBT, IPT; and Social Rhythm Therapy, EFT, Art Therapy, Play Therapy, Harm Reduction, the Adlerian and the Psychodynamic Approach, Solution-Focused Therapy, the Feminist Approach, Group Therapy, and a few other modalities.

Dance Therapy is organically inherited and practiced because of the native Albanian heritage which Dr. Laura takes pride in. Mood and anxiety disorders, stress management, life transitions, losses, child and youth parenting, career coaching, academic challenges, immigration and relocation/settlement issues, couple and nuclear/extended family challenges, identity losses, substance use and dependency, chronic illness, middle age transitions, geriatric care, are some of the main areas of focus of Dr. Laura over the past 30 years. She truly believes in the Rogerian modality core principles that people have the ability to flourish when the right conditions have been created for them, within the counselling and therapy context and beyond in life.

Dr. Laura remains passionate about teaching which started in 1998 at the University of Tirana (Albania), in the areas of Clinical Psychology and Social Psychology, and continued at the University of Metropolitan Toronto (Canada), and at the Seneca Polytechnic (Canada), the latter where she taught extensively in her specialty areas of Health Promotion and Health and Social Services Research Methods and Applied Research Methods in the School of Community Services and the School of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Applied Arts and Health Sciences, along with teaching in several community colleges in the Greater Toronto Area. In her students’ words, Dr. Laura is experienced as a passionate, dedicated, very committed, compassionate and a guiding professor for whom student success is a top priority.

Cultural diversity, language and art included, are passions of Dr. Laura, in addition, to writing books for children in her native language. Her son, is the Light of her Eyes, as referred to in her culture, of origin, who she loves travelling with, in addition to continuing to contribute for years to international humanitarian work for children, youth and young people.

Some main areas of experience interest: - Mood and anxiety disorders - Stress management - Life transitions - Academic challenges - Relocation/settlement issues - PTSD - Career coaching - Middle age transitions

Dr. Laura has been working in the mental health field since 1995, and has been a Member and a Cer... Read More

Marcia graduated with a BA in Psychology and a Teaching Certificate from Simon Fraser University. She then completed her Master of Counselling from Trinity Western Seminary. She is a member of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.

Marcia has worked with children and youth in both educational settings and in community groups for the last 25 years. She has worked in both the US and in Canada helping clients work through issues surrounding mental health, grief and spirituality. She has worked with street youth, victims of violence, behavioral and learning challenged children, children with special needs and those with anxiety.

Marcia utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy as well as prioritizing the therapeutic relationship with the client. She has been trained in trauma therapy and family systems as well as mindfulness and self-regulation techniques. Marcia wants children, youth, families and adults to feel safe with her as steps are taken to see change and wholeness. She also maximizes using solution, compassion, emotional focused therapy interventions. She has worked with people of all ages from young children to seniors and loves the honor of joining with people on their journey.

Marcia is new to the Okanagan and has spent most of her life in the Lower Mainland, but she is loving living just outside of Vernon. She has four adult/ teen children of her own and in her spare time is either with family or her two dogs enjoying the beauty of the Okanagan outdoors.

Areas of Experience:

• Children & Families • Anxiety/Depression • Spirituality • Grief & Trauma • Codependency, Relationship Addiction and Abuse • Behavior, Motivation and Learning Challenges

Marcia graduated with a BA in Psychology and a Teaching Certificate from Simon Fraser University.... Read More

Tami is a Registered Social Worker who has been working in the Okanagan in mental health-related positions since 2002 and is also currently a student completing her practicum in pursuit of a Master of Social Work degree through Dalhousie University. She has diverse experience with supporting people dealing with depression, learning to manage anxiety, experiencing crisis, as well as multiple other mental health concerns.

Tami believes in anti-oppressive, person-centered, strengths-based practice, and seeks to connect you with techniques and support that fit your unique situation. Tami understands the difficulty of finding the balance between caring for yourself as well as others. On a personal note, she is the parent of an adult child with Type 1 Diabetes, giving her a lived experience perspective with this condition, and a deep compassion for all people living with demanding chronic medical conditions and their loved ones.

We all need support when life gives us challenges, and sometimes we may not even know what the problem is, we just know we don’t feel our best. Tami is here to listen and support you on your journey to meet life’s challenges such as the ones listed in her areas of focus.

Tami believes in accessibility for all. If you need any accommodations to access support effectively due to a disability, please contact her and she will make it a priority to meet your accessibility needs.

Areas of Focus include: - Anxiety - Caregiver stress - Compassion Fatigue - Depression - Diabetes Distress - General Stress Management - Parenting Challenges - Relationship Difficulties - Stress Related to Chronic Medical Conditions - Workplace Burnout - 2SLGBTQIA+ Friendly

Tami is a Registered Social Worker who has been working in the Okanagan in mental health-related ... Read More

please note, Janice is not accepting new clients at this time

Janice (she/her) is a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the British Columbia College of Social Work (BCCSW) and the British Columbia Association of Social Workers (BCASW).  She grew up in the beautiful Okanagan Valley and obtained her Master of Social Work from UBC.  Janice has experience working with people of all ages, in all stages of life, and with diverse abilities.  Her work with government organizations and community agencies has given her a diverse background working with children, parents and families facing barriers such as anxiety, depression, substance misuse, parenting and relationship challenges, and personal or work-related stress.  Janice strives to connect with clients through warmth, empathy, and understanding and walks alongside them on their path.   

As a Registered Social Worker, Janice has experience in solutions-focused approaches, motivational interviewing, attachment theory, family systems theory, as well as mindfulness-based techniques.  Her approach is evidence-based and trauma-informed.  Her goal is to empower clients to gain insight into their challenges and connect with their strengths to move past them. 

At home, Janice enjoys life with her husband, children, cats and dog.  Her family is frequently found having fun in the outdoors. 

Areas of focus include: 

• Families, children and youth 
• Anxiety and depression 
• Communication and navigating conflict 
• Personal and work-related stress 
• Mental health and substance misuse 

Phone: 236-844-2112  Email: janice@okclinical.com Book an Appointment in Kelowna or Vernon

please note, Janice is not accepting new clients at this time Janice (she/her) is a Registered S... Read More

Shannon brings 20+ years of experience in community-based, clinical, and healthcare settings. She provides compassionate, anti-oppressive, spiritually sensitive, culturally safe, and trauma-informed counselling for individuals, couples, and groups. She also has experience working with people from diverse walks of life including first responders in the military and RCMP.

Shannon moved to Vernon in 1999 and has enjoyed being an active member of the local community. After completing her undergraduate degree in Social Work at UBCO, Shannon served women, children, and the elderly fleeing intimate partner violence. During this time, she developed key community programs to support the needs of vulnerable persons. As a result, She founded a community-based non-profit organization and developed a sexual health and relationships curriculum for middle school students. After completing her graduate degree, Shannon worked in various acute care units including psychiatry.

Furthermore, as a trauma survivor herself, Shannon has great empathy and experience helping others find relief from the impacts of trauma. Utilizing trauma-informed Counselling, she feels honoured when people experiencing mental health challenges and intra-personal distress allow her to walk a part of their healing journey with them. Additionally, integrating a tailored approach for individualized care, she aims to create a non-judgmental, comfortable, yet somewhat challenging therapeutic space. Additionally, Shannon will help you explore places you feel ‘stuck’ and assist in letting go of ‘old’ thoughts, feelings and behaviours that no longer serve you.

Shannon specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR therapy both virtually and in person. She also utilizes methodologies such as CBT, DBT, Somatic Experiencing, Mindfulness-based interventions and more in your personalized therapy experience.

Shannon enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors in her ‘happy place’ with her dog walking or biking in the mountains and along our beautiful lakes and rivers. Spending quality time with her grandchildren is one of Shannon’s greatest joys.

Areas of Focus Include but are not limited to:

• Anxiety & Depression
• Life Adjustments & Transitions
• First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)
• Trauma Reprocessing
• Grief & Loss
• Phobias
• PTSD
• Relationships
• Please note that Shannon is currently only accepting clients ages 19+

Shannon brings 20+ years of experience in community-based, clinical, and healthcare settings. She... Read More

Hallie received her master’s in counselling from Gonzaga University and BA Psychology through Simon Fraser University. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She has worked for 20 years helping individuals identify and address barriers that impede progress towards living their best life. She believes that providing a warm, hopeful and non-judgmental space is the first step in creating a strong therapeutic relationship, which we will use to explore areas of concern and create an individual approach to meet your goals.

Hallie brings Person Centred and Cultural/Relational lens to her practice, while utilizing a variety of methods and techniques tailored to people’s needs, preferences and realities. She believes that we seek and find meaning and purpose through our relationship with ourselves, families, and the socio-cultural environment we live in. Motivational Interviewing, CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness and ACT are some of the approaches she uses.

Hallie has a strong background in Vocational Counselling and enjoys helping people navigate life changes and challenges. She is interested in working with individuals with ADHD and those who identify as neurodiverse, particularly when (self)diagnosed later in life, to embrace their unique selves and abilities while strategizing life hacks for areas that cause stress or loss of confidence and esteem. She has worked with culturally diverse clientele and is an LGBTQQ2S+ ally.

Hallie lives with her family on a small acreage in Coldstream and is kept busy looking after a variety of four footed/hoofed and winged friends. She enjoys feeding the birds, hanging out with the horses, sitting by the creek and reading. When not hanging around the farm you might find her thrifting downtown, catching a movie at the Towne Theatre or enjoying time with friends.

Hallie received her master’s in counselling from Gonzaga University and BA Psychology through Sim... Read More