My name is Jess (she/her), and I am an intern counsellor completing my Master’s of Arts in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University.

It takes courage to seek support, and I feel privileged to walk alongside you in this process. In our work together, I offer a warm, safe space where you can show up exactly as you are. My approach is grounded in mindfulness, self-compassion, somatic awareness, and nervous system regulation. Together, we can explore how your thoughts, emotions, and body interact, building awareness and developing skills to meet life from a more centred place. We can also get curious about your history, relationships, communities, and broader contexts that shape your experience, while identifying your values and what feels meaningful to you.

My curiosity about the human experience and desire to support others began in my teenage years through volunteer work, both locally and abroad. In 2007, I began studying Theravada Buddhism and developed a meditation practice that has supported me throughout the years and continues to inform my work. From 2011- 2024, I practiced as a Registered Massage Therapist, where I saw firsthand how physical symptoms, emotions, and life circumstances are deeply interconnected. These experiences shape how I show up as a counsellor - grounded, curious, and offering a compassionate presence to meet you with care.

Counselling Modalities Used

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Somatic Therapy Trauma-Informed Practices Person-Centred Therapy Mindfulness-Based Interventions Compassion Focused Therapy EMDR Eco-Therapy Narrative Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy Meaning-Centred Therapy

Areas of Focus

Anxiety and depression Chronic pain and other health challenges Grief and loss Life transitions Trauma Nervous system regulation Mindfulness and self-compassion Stress and overwhelm Spiritual or existential inquiry Self-worth and self-acceptance Burnout and caregiver fatigue

My name is Jess (she/her), and I am an intern counsellor completing my Master’s of Arts in Counse... Read More

Hello, I’m Melissa (she/her), an Intern Counsellor at Sea to Tree Health & Wellness completing my Master of Counselling Psychology at Athabasca University and working toward registration with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). I bring over a decade of experience supporting individuals navigating a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, substance use, and the impacts of difficult life experiences. My approach is collaborative, strengths-focused, and grounded in the belief that every person carries innate wisdom and resilience.

I have particular experience supporting people navigating substance use and recovery, whether they are questioning their relationship with substances, early in recovery, or working to build a meaningful life beyond addiction. I have completed specialized training in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, an approach that helps clients clarify what they want their lives to look like and identify the strengths and resources they already have to get there. I also draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with particular experience in CBT for addictions, as well as trauma-informed practices. I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a brain-based therapy that can help process trauma, support recovery, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

In my work with clients, I often incorporate nervous system regulation strategies to help people better understand and work with their stress responses. Many clients find that learning how their nervous system functions can bring both relief and practical tools for navigating anxiety, overwhelm, and difficult emotions.

I also enjoy working with neurodiverse adults, including those navigating ADHD and late diagnosis. Understanding your brain in new ways can be both empowering and challenging, and I aim to offer a space where neurodiversity is approached with curiosity, compassion, and respect.

Whether you’re hoping to explore long standing patterns, navigate life transitions, or simply feel a little better after a single conversation, I aim to meet you where you’re at and tailor support to your unique needs. I believe in making the counselling process transparent and collaborative. My goal is for people to leave each session feeling heard, supported, and equipped with something meaningful they can carry forward.

Alongside working through challenges, I am also interested in helping people move beyond surviving toward thriving—supporting clients in building resilience, strengthening relationships, and maximizing well-being and life satisfaction.

My practice is shaped by both professional experience and lived experience, which inform my deep respect for the courage it takes to reach out for help.

I feel fortunate to call Sooke home. In my spare time I enjoy swimming in the Sooke River in the summer, bundling up for winter walks at Whiffen Spit (and greeting every dog I meet along the way), attending live music, and spending time with my partner and our cat.

Services Melissa Offers

• Counselling that blends reflection, practical strategies, and nervous system regulation • Single-session, short-term, and longer-term therapy • Psychoeducation and practical skill-building • Support for life transitions, stress, and personal growth • Collaborative goal-setting and strengths-based support Modalities I Incorporate • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) • CBT for Substance Use and Addictions • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) • Trauma-informed counselling • Nervous system regulation strategies • Strengths-based and recovery-oriented approaches • Psychoeducation and skill development

Areas of Focus

• Anxiety and depression • Substance use and recovery • Stress and overwhelm • Self-esteem and self-compassion • Life transitions and adjustment • Neurodiversity, including ADHD and late diagnosis in adults • Nervous system regulation and emotional resilience • Building coping skills and resilience • Maximizing wellbeing, meaning, and life satisfaction

Hello, I’m Melissa (she/her), an Intern Counsellor at Sea to Tree Health & Wellness completin... Read More

Hi, I’m Brooke — I’m so glad you’re here.

Born and raised on the beautiful West Coast, I’m a true islander at heart with a deep love for nature, community, and connection. I am a Registered Social Worker with the British Columbia College of Social Workers. I gained a Bachelor of Social Work from Vancouver Island University, and I am currently completing a Master of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. I’ve always been passionate about supporting people through life’s ups and downs — helping them find their footing, build resilience, and reconnect with their own strengths. My background includes counselling, life coaching, and addictions and mental health support. In every session, I bring a compassionate, client-centred approach that focuses on creating a space where you feel truly seen, heard, and supported.

My Approach:

I believe that healing and growth happen when we feel grounded and connected — to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us. My approach blends conversation with experiential and nature-based practices, helping you explore what balance and well-being look like for you.

I draw from several approaches to fit your unique needs, including:

∙ Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

∙ Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

∙ Humanistic and Person-Centred Therapy

∙ Experiential Therapy

∙ Motivational Interviewing

∙ Attachment Narrative Theory

Whether we’re talking through challenges, walking in nature, or exploring new perspectives, my goal is to meet you where you’re at and walk alongside you in your process of change and self-discovery.

Services I Offer

• Addiction and Recovery support for individuals and families

• Counselling and life coaching for mental wellness and personal growth

• Support navigating systems and resources (both government and private)

• Eco walks from the Shirley Yurt, combining nature and therapy for deeper grounding

• Support for individuals and families navigating disabilities

• Virtual and in-person sessions available in Sooke and Colwood

Whether you’re looking for support, clarity, or simply a place to pause and reconnect, I’d be honoured to work with you. Together, we can create space for reflection, healing, and meaningful change.

Hi, I’m Brooke — I’m so glad you’re here. Born and raised on the beautiful West Coast, I’m a tru... Read More

Janet is a mature registered MSW from UBC with over 30 years practice providing clinical counselling, corporate, medical, academic consulting services. She has have developed a therapeutic intuition and wisdom over many years while recognizing that supporting a client to access their own deepest knowing and inner wisdom is the most effective method.

Janet is extensively trained in Mindfulness and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Conflict Management, Expressive Arts, Family Systems Theory, Insight Personality and MBTI, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD).

Issues Janet most frequently works with are:

anxiety, depression, trauma and childhood abuse, COVID fatigue, relationship disconnection, divorce, parenting, grief and loss, workplace, family and interpersonal conflict, medical stress, intimacy, substance misuse, and life transitions.

She offers 50-minute sessions for both individuals and groups - elders, adults and family.

Janet is a mature registered MSW from UBC with over 30 years practice providing clinical counsell... Read More

Hello and welcome! I’m Julia (she/her), an intern counsellor completing my Master of Counselling at City University in Canada. I bring a background in Athletic and Exercise Therapy, a deep reverence for the wisdom of the body, and a heartfelt commitment to supporting people through meaningful and challenging life transitions.

I’m a mother of four, and my own journey through the shifts of parenthood, identity, and life transitions deeply informs my work as a counsellor. I’ve learned firsthand how complex, beautiful, and sometimes heartbreaking it can be to navigate change, and how powerful it is to find a way back to your own body, voice, and inner knowing.

Outside of counselling, I enjoy connecting with nature, by the river or ocean, or in the forest and tending to hands-on creative projects at home. I also find stillness and balance in meditation, sound practices, and moments or connection and reflection.

I approach counselling with curiosity, compassion, and authenticity, and I’m committed to walking alongside each person with care and respect. I hope to help you reconnect with yourself, reclaim your resilience, and discover a sense of belonging within your own life, your body, and the natural world around you.

I’m honoured to offer counselling that meets you where you are – with compassion, curiosity, and respect for your unique experience. My approach is grounded in trauma-informed, feminist, and strengths-based principles, and informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic and narrative perspectives, and mindfulness. I also draw on nature-based and cyclical models of healing, helping you reconnect with your body, your story, and your sense of self-trust.

How I Work With Clients

• Trauma-informed, feminist, anti-oppressive, and social justice lenses • Somatic and body-based approaches • Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed • Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) trained • Mindfulness, self-compassion, and nervous system regulation • Intuitive and cyclical frameworks for healing • Eco-therapy, walk-and-talk, and nature-inspired integration • Collaborative, client-led pacing and meaning-making

Areas of Focus

• Life transitions – including relationships, career, parenthood, aging • Grief ambiguous loss, and emotional overwhelm • Postpartum adjustment, menopause, and identity reshaping • Neurodiversity-affirming support (such as ADHD and autism; life-long or late-diagnosed) • Reconnecting with intuition, values and inner resilience

Hello and welcome! I’m Julia (she/her), an intern counsellor completing my Master of Counselling ... Read More