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Andrea is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Social Worker and a Registered Professional Counsellor. She is a member of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, BC College of Social Workers and the Canadian Professional Counsellor’s Association. She has a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a Diploma of Professional Counselling with a focus in sexual abuse counselling and substance abuse counselling. Andrea has been providing mental health & support services for more than ten years. In those ten years, she worked in a variety of settings, gaining experience that provides valuable insight into her work as a counsellor. Andrea joined the team at C&C Resources for Life in 2019.

Andrea’s philosophy when supporting her clients is in line with a quote from Ann Voskamp, “Shame dies when stories are told in safe spaces.” She recognizes that healing is often messy work and that for many clients, it can be like a roller coaster. Andrea partners with her clients to help them navigate the unique twists and turns in their healing journey. She offers a client-centred approach that is both open-minded and deeply accepting, and clients often note that she “doesn’t shock easily” as they come to her for support.

Andrea uses a grief-informed and trauma-informed lens in her work with clients. She has specialized training in Observed & Experiential Integration (OEI), an approach that is very useful to reduce the impact of traumatic experiences and address symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. She also draws from other counselling modalities, including cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT), dialectical-behaviour therapy (DBT), compassion-focused therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and more, to deliver an integrated and personalized treatment approach for each client. Andrea is a lifelong learner, and her endless curiosity about human behaviour means she is always completing some kind of schooling or training to add to her existing tool kit.

Andrea provides counselling for concerns related to grief & loss, suicide & self-harm, depression, anxiety, infertility, adoption, birth trauma, relationship struggles and more. Specialized training in trauma & addiction counselling has equipped Andrea to work with individuals, couples, and families whose lives have been impacted by intergenerational trauma and substance use.   Andrea is a compassionate, warm, and dynamic person. She grew up in a ski town in the Kootenays and enjoys the small-town vibe of Kamloops and its easy accessibility to nature. In her free time, she can be found spending time with her husband and daughter, camping, skiing, hiking, or wandering the shores of Vancouver Island (her favourite place to retreat).

Andrea is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Social Worker and a Registered Professiona... Read More

Mark is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Biology and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Beyond academia, Mark is an avid and devoted coach in the sport of hockey. He holds an NCCP High-Performance coaching certification and has coached at various elite levels of youth hockey in BC and SK (U15/U18 AAA, BC-U16 High-Performance, Junior B, and Junior A).

Mark, who is an associate at Living Bridges Therapy, is eager to support anyone facing difficulty in their life. Many have acclaimed that Mark – who is patient and kind – has a calming presence and natural ability to assuage client fears and the intensity of their problems. Mark strives to create a safe and comfortable environment built on trust, transparency, honesty, and respect. Mark supports clients in developing ways to understand and regulate their nervous systems, providing them with skills and strategies to deal with distress and discomfort. Mark’s counselling philosophy aligns with a popular Navy Seal quote: “Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training.” The work – or training – that clients complete in counselling helps to prepare them for future challenges, strengthening their resiliency and improving their ability to cope. ‘Training’ can be difficult, but the work completed in counselling is an investment in oneself and their future. Counselling helps clients process experiences, enhance self-awareness, prioritize goals, identify values, explore one’s personal identity, expand perspectives, and develop, improve and/or restore coping skills and depleted resources (to name a few).

Mark is a person-centred, trauma-informed clinician who – perhaps due to his many years as a coach – is exceptional at motivational interviewing. He also draws on principles of Gestalt, Internal Family Systems (“parts” work), and Cognitive Behavioural therapies - all empirically supported modalities. Additionally, Mark holds a Level II certification in Observed Experiential Integration (OEI), an innovative, neurobiological treatment for psychological trauma, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and anxiety disorders. Preliminary evidence has also demonstrated OEI’s effectiveness in helping athletes reach optimal performance and personal well-being (Wall et al., 2014).

In his current work with athletes, Mark utilizes video footage of games or practices to target client identifications of cognitive, emotional, and/or physical disturbances related to performance (e.g., perceived failure and/or self-blame), followed by application of OEI techniques to desensitize the associated distress and alleviate negative distortions of self and/or others. Mark utilizes OEI’s “bottom-up” processing and “top-down” reflection approach with clients – exploring and attending to clients’ somatic responses to situations and their body’s association to or influence on thoughts and emotions, complemented by uncovering meaning from increased self-awareness. Mark is committed to supporting regulation and awareness of more than just the mind, and he provides the space and time for healing and committed action to occur.

In his practice, Mark is eager to work with youth (ages 12-25), adults, athletes of all sports (ages 10 & up), coaches, and sport officials seeking help for the following issues:

  • Relationships
  • Sport performance
  • Abuse
  • Fear of failure
  • Social conflict
  • Athlete burnout
  • Athlete injuries & transitions
  • Self-issues (e.g., worth, concept, identity, esteem, and efficacy)
  • Perfectionism
  • Men’s health
  • Divorce
  • Jealousy & Anger
  • Depression & Anxiety
  • Peer relationships
  • Risky behaviours
  • Grief & Loss
  • Coping skills
  • Life transitions
  • Trauma
  • Attachment

Mark is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. He has... Read More

My lifelong love of horses and interest in psychology and counselling brought me to a convergence point. Horses were my support and sanctuary when life was hard and they were my inspiration and dreams when the possibilities of life were endless. They nourished my heart and spirit with non-judgmental acceptance and positive regard. Horses taught me the intricacies of relationships and how delicate the balance is between respect, trust, communication, and boundaries.

For more information on Equine Facilitated Wellness please visit: https://www.equinefacilitatedwellness.org/

My lifelong love of horses and interest in psychology and counselling brought me to a convergence... Read More

Cristela has a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is an Associate Member of the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. She has experience working with couples, individuals and adolescents who have struggled with relationship issues, divorce, depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, addictions, self-harm, sexual assault survivors, and other mental health issues. She also has experience with pre-marital counselling and sports psychology.

Cristela uses a collaborative approach to counselling which includes Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Solution-Focused, and Cognitive-Behavior.

Cristela also teaches online undergrad psychology courses at Athabasca University where she loves working with post-secondary students. Cristela also coaches cheerleading at Freeze Athletics and has been involved in this sport for over 20 years. In her younger years she was also a competitive swimmer.

When she is not working Cristela enjoys spending time outside mountain biking, hiking or stand-up paddle boarding. She moved to Kamloops with her husband in the summer of 2019 to be able to enjoy more of the great outdoors that they both love so much.

Cristela is a first generation Canadian; her family is originally from Argentina. Her parents immigrated as refugees to Canada after suffering extensive trauma at the hands of a dictatorship that was in power at the time. Her parent’s struggles and how it impacted the rest of the family provided her with a greater understanding of trauma and multigenerational trauma.

Cristela is bilingual in both Spanish and English. She was born and raised in Edmonton but also spent part of her childhood living in Argentina. Her multicultural background has provided her with a greater appreciation for the importance of culture and enjoys working with people of different backgrounds.

Cristela is taking virtual appointments for individuals and couples. Please contact the office at 250-554-4747 or you can email Cristela at cristela@livingbridges.ca to book an appointment. If you would prefer an in-person appointment please let us know at the time of booking.

Cristela has a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is an Associate Member of the C... Read More

Tatyana is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (#21489) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and holds a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology. Tatyana utilizes a holistic, culture-sensitive approach and incorporates theories like Emotion-Focused Therapy, Person-Centered Counselling, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness-based approach, and Polyvagal theory. She is a certified facilitator of a Safe and Sound Protocol, a sound treatment modality which helps reset and regulate the nervous system to improve resilience and a feeling of safety. She is also trained in Observed and Experienced Integration (OEI) trauma modality that helps address the impact of traumatic experiences.

Tatyana is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (#21489) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsell... Read More

Jamie has worked in the mental health field since 2005 holding positions with both non-profit and health authority positions for Adult and Child and youth Mental Health. Jamie has run a private practice since 2008, and recently completed her Masters in Counselling Psychology, and certification in EMDR.

Jamie works from a holistic perspective with her clients, assessing and supporting clients from a mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical perspective. Jamie has a background in hypnotherapy and Reiki supporting her counseling practice.

Jamie works from a Trauma-Informed practice and has experience in working with minority groups.

Jamie has worked in the mental health field since 2005 holding positions with both non-profit and... Read More

Jolene is a Registered Social Worker with the BC College of Social Workers and an active member of the BCASW. She has been practicing in Kamloops since 2006, working primarily in Mental Health and Substance Use services.

Jolene has a Bachelor’s Degree of Social Work from Thompson Rivers University and a Master’s Degree of Social Work from Dalhousie University. She has extensive practical knowledge of the psychiatric system and treatment modalities (CBT, DBT, Biopsychosocialspiritual models, etc.) for mental illness, with specialization in concurrent disorders. Jolene has advanced training in Motivation Interviewing, which is incredibly effective in assisting those with substance use struggles and has been a local facilitator for Core Addictions Practice training since 2012. Jolene also has training and experience in Adult Education, Indigenous Cultural Competency/Cultural Sensitivity, Suicide Prevention/Intervention/Postvention, Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use, Sexual Assault Response, both clinically and administratively and Field Instruction for BSW Students. Jolene will also be specializing in Children’s Grief and EMDR for trauma treatment.

Jolene was born and raised in Kamloops, BC. She appreciates the warmth and connectedness of this community, as well as the beauty of the land surrounding us. From forests to rivers and mountains to lakes, Jolene has always appreciated the opportunities the Tk’emlúps/Kamloops territory offers for pleasure, exploration, healing and growth. Jolene is grateful to be a part of the healing community here in Kamloops, feeling as though this process has come full circle in her own journey of healing.

Having lost her father to suicide at the young age of 17, Jolene brings with her an integrated understanding of the complexities that grief can hold within someone. This, complimented with over 8 years of postsecondary education/training and 12 years of direct clinical expertise in mental health and substance use treatment, Jolene brings with her a comprehensive set of skills to draw from when personalizing treatment approaches and providing therapeutic healing interventions. As a social worker, she is also acutely aware of the larger systemic and structural barriers that can negatively influence a person’s well-being and will work holistically to address the impacts of these in ones’ healing journey. Person-centered and strengths-based approaches are core underpinnings to her generalist therapeutic approach. Jolene believes strongly that people truly know what is best for themselves, but they might just need someone to walk along side them to help them acknowledge it and bring it to realization. Jolene respects the importance of self-determination and honors each person’s intrinsic desire and ability to change to realize ones’ full potential.

Jolene is a warm, charismatic and playful person. Humor has always held a healing and joyful place in her life. When Jolene is not working, she is enjoying her time with her son and twin girls, along with her feline and canine companions. Her childhood passion was dancing. She has always carried a love for the outdoors, camping and adventure. Her adulthood passions have evolved to travelling, creating delicious food in the kitchen and always keeping a few irons in the fire, celebrating learning as a lifelong process.

Jolene is a Registered Social Worker with the BC College of Social Workers and an active member o... Read More

Tennille Phipps (RPC, MPCC) is one of the owners of Living Bridges Therapy Collective. She is passionate about supporting clients and the community in building bridges to a strong and hopeful future. Her desire is to inspire others to fall in love with life, even in the messy and hard moments, and to walk in their truth and purpose.

Tennille has been working in the field of mental health & addictions for the past 15 years. She has an educational background in counselling & psychology, leadership, and is currently working on her MA in Counselling Psychology. In addition to her extensive experience in therapeutic work, her portfolio includes case management, development and facilitation of programs and workshops, as well as team leadership. Specifically, she was a program coordinator for a recovery centre for women in Kamloops before relocating to Calgary. There, she spent three years with the Mustard Seed supervising a Housing First program for individuals with high needs in the downtown core. In her counselling practice now she focuses on trauma, grief and loss, burn out, addictions, support for first responders, attachment disruptions, and identity development.

Tennille is certified in trauma-informed practice and Observed Experiential Integration (OEI), which is a specific technique used in the treatment of trauma (read more about this form of therapy on our blog entitled OEI). More recently she has begun to apply this technique to assist athletes in overcoming obstacles and enhancing their performance. Her work with athletes also includes teaching leadership and team building skills.

Tennille uses an integrative approach to counselling, respecting the individuality and autonomy of each client, and believing that there is no “one size fits all” method. Accordingly, she collaborates with her clients as she supports them in their healing journey, believing that creativity and curiosity are our most important tools in therapy. This collaboration strengthens the therapeutic relationship, and sometimes even includes her dog, Kaiah, whose presence in the therapy room helps to provide grounding and comfort. Kaiah comes in at the request of the clients.

Born and raised in Kamloops, Tennille enjoys exploring the many trails around the area with her partner and Kaiah. She finds joy and peace in music and art, creating, loves to cook, play games, and is learning to garden. Traveling has always been a passion for her as she loves adventure and experiencing different countries and cultures. Even though she has moved away a few times, her love for the community of Kamloops keeps calling her home. She feels honoured to be serving in the Interior and has a passion to make a difference in the health and wellness of the members of her community.

Tennille Phipps (RPC, MPCC) is one of the owners of Living Bridges Therapy Collective. She is pas... Read More

I am a trauma counsellor who helps people find joy and meaning in their lives after disaster has happened. I am particularly drawn to working with people who are living with chronic disease or disability, or who are in palliative care. In 2004 I was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis so I have first-hand knowledge of how suddenly one’s life can be changed by bad news or an accident. If you are overwhelmed by life circumstances and drowning in feelings of grief and loss, I understand you. I’ve been there. I’m still there. Let’s talk.

I am also always available to talk to people who love and support disabled, ill people and people who are in palliative care. You make life worth living for the disabled and ill and it takes a tremendous toll on your mental, physical and emotional health.

My preferred counselling methodology is Humanistic Existentialism. In plain language, I like to help people find the answers to the big questions: Why did this happen to me? Now what? What is my purpose in life? How do I get unstuck and move past this situation?

My past history includes working as a cattle rancher (who spent a lot of time pondering the big questions on the back of a horse), raising children, volunteering with the MS Society of Canada, working as a fitness coach (yes, a disabled fitness coach) and authoring two books: A Quiet Roar: Living with Multiple Sclerosis and Raising Janis: an autistic child grows up. Doing research for the Raising Janis book gave me an interest in, and appreciation for, working with people on the autism spectrum and their caregivers.

Prior to tackling a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology I did an undergraduate degree in German and Russian languages and literature. I am fluent in German and welcome any excuse to keep my language skills sharp. If you want to converse with me in Russian it will be more difficult for me and will involve a lot of sign language and hand-waving on my part, but I’m game to try.

My husband Tom (my caregiver and phenomenal support person) and I have been married for 36 terrific and tumultuous years this year and we have three grown children. We are expecting our first grandchild in December. I am new to Kamloops and am loving living here. The people are wonderful and when it’s not forest-fire season, the weather is pretty good too.

I am a trauma counsellor who helps people find joy and meaning in their lives after disaster has ... Read More

Usman Sharif is a trained therapist with a passion for helping people heal from their struggles and achieve their goals. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD) degree to further enhance his expertise in the field of psychology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling psychology, where he gained valuable skills and knowledge in various therapeutic approaches.

Usman has completed extensive training in several evidence-based therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). These therapies have been proven to be effective in treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more.

Usman specializes in trauma-focused therapies, including EMDR, ACT-Trauma, and CBT-Trauma, which have been specifically designed to help individuals overcome the effects of trauma. He is also skilled in general therapy and has helped countless individuals overcome a wide range of mental health challenges.In addition to his training in evidence-based therapies, Usman is a lifelong learner and is always seeking to improve his skills and knowledge in the field of psychology. He is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest research and techniques and regularly attends workshops and conferences to expand his knowledge.Usman is a compassionate and empathetic therapist who believes that the most important factor in therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client. He strives to create a safe and non-judgmental space where his clients feel comfortable sharing their deepest emotions and experiences.

If you’re looking for a therapist who is highly trained, compassionate, and committed to helping you achieve your goals, Usman Sharif, is the right choice for you. Whether you’re struggling with the effects of trauma or simply seeking support and guidance in your life, Usman can help you overcome your challenges and live your best life.

Usman Sharif is a trained therapist with a passion for helping people heal from their struggles a... Read More

Sarah joined Living Bridges Therapy Collective in September of 2016 after graduating from Thompson Rivers University with her BSW degree and has since gone on to complete her MSW in 2021 through Dalhousie University.

This marks the beginning of her third career all of which have brought her into caregiving roles. During the twenty years since high school graduation, she has been a hairdresser/esthetician. For 7 of those years, she successfully ran her own business providing specialized hair care and foot care to seniors, both in facilities and in their own homes. At Living Bridges, Sarah started out by taking over the management of the business and is now a managing partner, along with Tennille Phipps and her mom, Mary Widmer. As she has developed her social work career, she has taken further training in Satir Family Therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy, Satir Family Therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy, Satir Sand Tray Therapy and Observed Experiential Integration.

Sarah deeply values the opportunity to walk with those experiencing grief and trauma and has a special affinity for cross-cultural work since she spent the early years of her life in Thailand and attended boarding school in Malaysia.

In her spare time, she enjoys Starbucks with friends, music, and spending time with her dog, Norrie.

Sarah joined Living Bridges Therapy Collective in September of 2016 after graduating from Thompso... Read More

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Located at: 618 Tranquille Rd, Unit 1, Kamloops
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