ABOUT DEB
(She/Her)
COUNSELLOR
MACP, BA, RCC
About
Deb holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) from Yorkville University and brings a grounded, thoughtful, and deeply relational approach to her counselling work.
Deb moved to Victoria, B.C. in 1993 to finish her schooling and never left. Coming from a military family, she had long wanted to build permanent roots somewhere. Over the years, she has made Victoria home through community involvement, volunteering with local arts organizations, and working for the Province of British Columbia.
Her educational background includes a degree in Theatre from the University of Victoria (BA), completed in 1996, a degree in Sociology from the University of Victoria (BA), completed in 2014, and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) from Yorkville University, completed in 2024. These areas of study reflect Deb’s long-standing curiosity about people, relationships, belonging, identity, and the many ways humans strive toward self-understanding and self-fulfilment.
Now retired from public service, Deb brings the steadiness, perspective, and care of her lived and professional experience into her counselling practice.
Her work is especiallygrounded in narrative therapy, with a meaningful focus on supporting people through grief, shame, anger, life transitions, and the process of making sense of their stories.
Deb also brings a particular passion for supporting older adults and people navigating aging, disability, and changing access needs. This passion is shaped not only by her professional experience, but also by her own lived experience as an older adult with hearing loss and other disabilities.
Outside of counselling, Deb enjoys walking, CrossFit, reading, and canoe paddling when the opportunity arises. She currently lives in Victoria with her husband, James.
“Grounded in kindness & reflective care, Deb’s practice offers a space to unpack your story at your own pace, exploring possibility with curiosity, compassion, & care — with gentle questions along your path to help notice what may be asking for deeper attention.”
Services Offered:
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Who Deb Works With
Individuals (35+) — older adults
Couples/Relationships (35+) — older adults⏳ Lengths of Counselling
Long-Term / Ongoing
For continued, open-ended support with no defined end date
Focuses on evolving goals, steady care planning, and long-term growth.
Standard Session Package:
2-12 sessions
Short Term/Brief-Therapy
Goal-oriented and structured around a defined outcome.
Notes For Brief Therapy:
- The number of sessions and length of time can be adjusted to fit your therapeutic goals.
- Once a set of sessions is completed, you can book a new short term package to focus on new or ongoing goals.
One Off Sessions
One Time Need Sessions-oriented and structured around a defined outcome that can be completed in one session
Notes For One Off Sessions:
- This is not crisis intervention support replacing emergency services
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Deb is still working to complete training for gender affirming care offerings, so please reach out to her if you want this support but know that she is currently in the process of completing some portions of training around this.
What Is A Gender-Affirming Care?A Gender-Affirming Care Support Session is a dedicated space for people ages 10+ and 16+ (for sessions involving paperwork or letters) to connect with Celina about your gender journey and goals for affirming care.
whatever feels most supportive for you.
Together, we’ll explore where you’re at, what supports are already in place, and what you’re needing next.
Sessions Can Include:Completing forms or letters to access hormone therapy and/or gender-affirming surgery (16+)
Finding gender-inclusive resources, providers, and supportive community spaces
Talking through what transition means to you — including hopes, expectations, and values
Exploring your current and future support systems
⏳ Gender-Affirming Care Session Lengths:
Long-Term / Ongoing Care — continued care and support with no set end date, focusing on affirmation, exploration, and sustained well-being
Short-Term Care — focused support for specific gender-affirming goals, such as paperwork, advocacy, or resource navigation
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Where:
Online- Via Janeapp - For Residents Living In:
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Newfoundland and Labrador
Yukon
Northwest Territories
Nunavut residents
In Person-
Walk and Talk Sessions
(in parks and quiet, accessible streets within the City)
Victoria & Saanich
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Counselling:
For All Counselling
Gender-Affirming Care
In training for how to do HRAs and SRAs so taking waitlist for this
Session Cost:
For
sliding scale ( $55-140) individuals
couples ($155)
groups ($75)Fill out the contact form below to book a session.
Focus & Approach:
“Deb’s approach is calm, collaborative, and grounded in deep respect for each person’s story. She integrates narrative therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, existential therapy, and dialectical behaviour therapy to support clients in exploring what they are carrying, what has shaped them, and what may be possible next.
Guided by values of strength, vigour, health, compassion, and acceptance, Deb recognizes that change, ageing, and ripening happen to all of us.
In session, clients can expect a friendly, steady space where they are invited to unpack their story at their own pace. Deb does not tell clients what to do; instead, she listens closely, asks thoughtful questions, seeks consent before trying new tools, and gently offers challenge when it may support growth.”
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💭 TRAININGS
Counselling Modality Specific
👁️ Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR):
Trained in bilateral stimulation and rapid eye movement processing❤️ Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT):
Trained to support short-term therapeutic work that helps people accept, express, and transform difficult emotions.This training supports clinical work with individuals, couples, and families by building skills in emotional attunement, identifying blocks and defenses, working with reactivity, and helping clients shift from blame toward vulnerability and deeper connection.
Emotionally Focused Therapy Workshop with Leanne Campbell and George Faller: Applying the Evidence-based EFT Model with Couples, Individuals and Families - Psychotherapy Networker
🧠 General Mental Health & Therapy Training:
Trainings that build knowledge about mental health, brain development, and effective ways to support mental health and well-being
Upcoming Trainings:
Narrative Training- Dec 15, 2026 online through CTRI
Gender Affirming Care- How to facilitate and support people accessing HRAs and SRAs ages 35 and up, as well as before and after support -
Grief & Loss – support for people moving through grief, bereavement, life changes, and the layered emotions that can come with loss.
Shame & Self-Understanding – exploring shame with care and curiosity, while making space for dignity, compassion, and new ways of understanding yourself.
Anger & Rage – support for making sense of anger, rage, frustration, and resentment without judgement, and exploring what those emotions may be protecting or expressing.
Life Transitions – counselling through major changes such as retirement, aging, relationship shifts, health changes, caregiving, identity changes, and changing roles.
Aging & Older Adult Support – support for older adults navigating change, independence, disability, access needs, grief, identity, relationships, and belonging.
Disability & Changing Access Needs – support for people adjusting to, disability, health changes, mobility changes, and the emotional impact of needing different supports.
Anxiety & Fear – support for worry, uncertainty, fear, overwhelm, and the nervous system impacts of stress and change.
Depression, Loneliness & Despair – support for people feeling disconnected, low, hopeless, isolated, or unsure how to move forward.
Narrative Therapy – exploring the stories people carry about themselves, their lives, their relationships, and what may still be possible.
Meaning, Identity & Belonging – support for people reflecting on who they are, where they belong, what matters to them, and how they want to live.
Relationship Support – support for individuals, couples, and relationships navigating communication, conflict, grief, transition, aging, care, and connection.
Calm, Reflective Counselling – a steady and friendly space where clients can unpack their story at their own pace, with gentle questions and consent-based exploration.
Session Cost:
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Indirect Coverage
(You pay upfront and submit receipts to your insurance provider for reimbursement.)
✅ All insurance providers covering:
RCCs (Registered Clinical Counsellors) — BCACC #21105
If you’re unsure whether your plan covers counselling:
Ask your provider if they reimburse sessions with:Registered Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), or
Provide my full name and registration number listed above, or search for me by name and number on your insurance provider’s website.
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What is Sliding Scale?
💧 Sliding Scale (Supported Access)This type of pay is designed to make counselling accessible for those with no, low, or fluctuating income
This reflects equitable access for community.
Currently Accepting Sliding Scale Clients For:
All Session Types
(Rate- $55-140 per session) -
What is a set rate?
A set rate for counselling is- a fixed, standard session fee.(If you’re looking for lower-cost sessions, please visit the Sliding Scale and Now Accepting tabs to see current reduced-rate options and availability.)
Set Rates:
$140 for individuals
$155 for couples/relationships
$75 for groups
Let’s co-create what grows next:
