Hi, I’m Mel (she/her),

I am a white settler of Irish, English and Scottish ancestry and work from an anti-oppressive, harm reduction and trauma informed lens. I am queer, trans, kink/BDSM and poly-am affirming. I am committed to creating a space that is welcoming of all people, regardless of race, religion or spirituality, sexuality, gender and relationship configurations.

I value humor and intuition and take great joy in helping people tune in to their own inner healer while celebrating their immense resilience.

You can anticipate me showing up as my most authentic self and I encourage my clients to do so as well. I aim to create space where people can drop their masks and bring their whole self to their sessions, a place where the unspoken may be spoken. I believe each person is the expert of their own lives and I strive to minimize power imbalances in therapy the best I can; recognizing my own locations of privilege and power is a big part of this.

See my services

My Education & Experience

I have been working in the helping profession since I was 19. The trauma I experienced as a child and teen inspired me to pursue this path, and it's a journey I've never looked back on.

Supporting people through their journeys is both an honor and a privilege-one that I take very seriously. Over the past two and a half decades, I have had the privilege of working with a diverse range of people, including those living with HIV/AIDS, individuals who have experienced a wide variety of traumas, members of the street and queer communities, couples and relationship structures of all types, youth and families, as well as youth involved in the criminal justice system, and individuals living with significant mental health challenges.

I hold a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Counselling degree, along with several specialty certifications. These include training in PACT LEVEL 1& 2, The Developmental Model Level 1, Relational Life Therapy Level 1, Relational Somatic Therapy, EMDR, DBT, Satir Family Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Intensive Sex Therapy (University of Guelph), Holistic Sex Therapy, Advanced Personality Disorders Assessment and Treatment, Relational Somatic Psychedelic Therapy, and specialized training in anxiety and Gender Affirming Care and Hormone Readiness Assessment. My internship experiences include the Indigenous Child and Youth Mental Health Team, Capital Mental Health, and AIDS Vancouver Island's Needle Exchange program.

In my practice, I integrate several therapeutic modalities to create a flexible, results-oriented approach for our work together. I strongly believe in holistic care, and I approach my practice from a mind, body, and spirit perspective. If an issue arises that falls outside of my expertise, we can collaborate to connect you with the right practitioner who can support you, either alongside our work or by taking over your care if needed.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my two children (ages 14 and 16), my wife of 19 years, and our sweet dog, Skippy. I'm always up for a dance party, time in nature, sharing good food, and being in great company. I believe deeply in the infinite possibilities and beauty that this wild, magical ride on planet Earth offers.

I would also like to respectfully acknowledge that I work, live, and play on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the K'ómoks Nation.

Professional Associations:

BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
BC College of Social Workers
American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counsellors, and Therapists

Reach out to me today!

Please complete the form below to schedule an appointment.
I will try my best to accommodate your request and will be in touch ASAP.