Counsellor bios
The Douglas counselling team consists of 10 counsellors who all have master’s-level education and 2 practicum student counsellors currently completing their master's degrees. If a particular counsellor seems like they might be a good fit for your needs, you can request a meeting with them when booking your appointment. Alternatively, if you don’t have a preference or your concerns are urgent, we’ll connect you with the person we feel will be best able to assist you in a timely manner.
Amandeep, MSW, RSW
| Pronouns: He/him Languages: English & Punjabi Campus: New Westminster About: Amandeep, a first-generation Canadian born and raised in East Vancouver, has deep family roots in the Punjab region of India. Growing up in a traditional Sikh, multi-generational household, Amandeep has personally navigated the culture-clash between the expectations of immigrant families and the social norms of Canadian peers. He enjoys being active in the outdoors (mountains > beaches), indulging his foodie side, and spending time with loved ones. Amandeep is deeply committed to helping students handle the complexities of post-secondary life, including managing relationships, building self-confidence, fostering personal growth, and thriving with independence. Therapeutic approach: Amandeep’s therapeutic approach is grounded in evidence-based practices and incorporates a range of modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC). You can expect your counselling experience with Amandeep to be solution-focused, non-judgmental, calm, and supportive. |
Angela, MA CCC
| Pronouns: She/her Languages: English and conversational Greek Campus: New Westminster About: Angela is a second generation Canadian of Greek heritage. As a child of immigrants, in a mixed-faith and mixed-culture marriage, she is in tune with the challenges and gifts that come with integrating cultures. She enjoys connecting with family and friends, having new food experiences, and travelling the world. Therapeutic approach: Angela’s approach is person centered and strengths based. Her work draws on a variety of therapeutic tools based on each client’s individual needs. She has a particular interest in family systems dynamics and the biopsychosocial connections that affect our well-being. Angela has additional training in sexual violence support and education and has experience supporting international students as they adjust to life in Canada. |
Chantelle, MA RCC Indigenous Counsellor
| Pronouns: She/her Languages: English Campus: New Westminster About: Chantelle is a proud born and raised Yukoner and a member of the Kaska Dene Nation. She knew early on that she wanted to become a counsellor and started her career in Mental Health as a Community Support Worker in 2008. Helping, learning and growing alongside her clients as a frontline worker, fueled her passion for counselling as she obtained her higher education. As past alumna of Douglas College, Chantelle is excited to be back at Douglas, supporting the next generation of students on their journey through post-secondary education. Therapeutic Approach: Guided by feminist and decolonial practices, Chantelle brings a relational, holistic and collaborative approach to counselling. Integrating a compassion focused, narrative practice, she will utilize somatic and mindfulness practices in a strengths-based approach. Chantelle's schedule will prioritize supporting Indigenous Students |
Dylan, MA RCC
| Pronouns: He/him Languages: English and conversational French Campus: Coquitlam About: Dylan was born and raised in the unceded territory of the Mohawk in Montreal, where his family has lived for five generations since emigrating from Scotland and France. He received his master’s degree in counselling psychology in 2009 and has over 22 years of experience working with post-secondary students. Dylan has a particular interest in contemplative practices (such as meditation, mindful movement, activism, music and art) and their relationship to wellness. He enjoys learning about how the brain processes the world and how it can change in response to lived experiences and new knowledge. Dylan spends his free time with his family and friends doing outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, kayaking and hiking. He regularly volunteers in his local community. Therapeutic approach: Dylan’s approach to therapy focuses on cultivating an individual’s inherent skills, resiliency and internal resources. He draws on Adlerian and Existential Therapy. |
Edith, DCP MEd RSW CCC
| Pronouns: She/her Languages: English, Cantonese and Mandarin Campus: New Westminster About: Edith was born in Hong Kong and moved at the age of seven to Australia, where she lived for 22 years before coming to Canada. She’s an old-school gamer (MMORPGs) and enjoys watching anime and reading fantasy novels. Edith is a proud cat mom and starts each morning with a cup of flat white coffee. Edith has a particular interest in helping students with their academic and career planning. She is skilled at assisting students in navigating relationship conflict, depression, anxiety, trauma, suicide prevention, culture shock and acculturation stresses such as discrimination and loneliness. Therapeutic approach: Edith is grounded in the person-centred approach, and she works from the social justice and strength-based framework. In addition to this framework, she has experience and training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). |
Erin, MA RCC
| Pronouns: She/her Languages: English Campus: Coquitlam About: Erin is of British settler heritage and grew up mainly in Northern B.C. She spends her free time in nature and hanging out with her family. She has travelled extensively and is an avid learner, especially on the topic of social issues. Erin has been a counsellor at Douglas College since 2010. Erin has a particular interest in career counselling and helping students transition smoothly to post-secondary. She enjoys helping students navigate mental health and well-being concerns, including anxiety, self-esteem and perfectionism. She is also passionate about educating the College community about sexual violence and mental health topics. Therapeutic approach: Erin’s counselling style is empathetic and strengths-based. Like most counsellors, she uses many approaches, including her training in Narrative Therapy and Feminist-Narrative Therapy. She is currently learning somatic and attachment-oriented approaches to counselling. |
Fatima, MCP RP
| Pronouns: She/her Languages: English, Urdu, Hindi and conversational Punjabi Campus: Coquitlam About: As the daughter of Indian immigrants, Fatima has lived experience with the hardships of reconciling cultural and personal identity. She became a counsellor to fill a gap she herself experienced: South Asian and female representation in the post-secondary and mental health fields. In her spare time, Fatima watches too much UFC and is an avid boxer. When she is not watching people hit things, or hitting things herself, she likes to read the latest Bollywood gossip for no reason other than to have useless information in her head. Therapeutic approach: Fatima believes that her clients are the experts of their lives and stories. With that in mind, she uses person-centred and narrative approaches to supplement solution-focused therapy for her clients. As an empathetic listener who infuses her therapy methods with humour, Fatima believes in meeting clients where they need to be met and uses a holistic approach to honour their unique experiences of marginalization, oppression, and intersectionality. |
Gurmit, MEd
| Pronouns: She/her Languages: English, Punjabi and Hindi Campus: New Westminster About: Gurmit is a first-generation Indo-Canadian raised on the unceded Tsimshian territories in Terrace, B.C. After 15 years in the business and non-profit sectors, her journey to find meaningful work led her to the field of counselling. She enjoys dancing, reading and challenging herself; her most memorable moment was trekking to one of the base camps at Mount Everest. Therapeutic approach: Gurmit’s integrative approach draws on mindfulness, CBT, family systems and solutions-focused modalities to support students in achieving their personal and academic goals. She uses a holistic, trauma-informed and intersectional lens to create a safe, respectful space for individuals of all backgrounds. |
Michael, MA
| Pronouns: He/him Languages: English Campus: New Westminster About: While pursuing his education in psychology, Michael took a break between his bachelor’s and master’s degrees as a rock musician touring North America. He is interested in relationship counselling and human sexuality. In addition to being a counsellor, Michael is also an instructor at Douglas. When he’s not working, he enjoys Italian cuisine, movies and vacationing in sunny locales. Therapeutic approach: Michael's approach to counselling is person-centred and solution focused, and is informed by various schools of thought, including evolutionary, humanistic and behavioral psychology. |
Sarah, MSW
| Pronouns: She/her Languages: English Campus: New Westminster About: Sarah is a sixth generation White settler of German, Hungarian, English, Irish, Scottish, Italian, and Romani heritage. She grew up locally on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), xʷməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and qiqéyt (Qayqayt) Nations. Growing up in a large, blended, multicultural family, Sarah developed a deep appreciation for the broader contexts that shape our lives. These experiences inform her counseling practice and foster her commitment to understanding and honouring people from a nuanced, compassionate, and holistic perspective. Sarah has a keen curiosity and passion for learning, qualities she brings to both her work and personal life. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys heartfelt conversations, tending to her plants, and learning about the intricate lives of animals. Therapeutic approach: Sarah takes a collaborative and relational approach to counseling, grounded in critical intersectionality and anti-oppressive practices. Her approach is eclectic, integrating multiple therapeutic modalities within a trauma-informed, person-centered, and strength-based framework to meet each person where they are in their unique journey. |
Jen Practicum Student Counsellor
| Pronouns: She/her Languages: English, Mandarin Campus: Coquitlam About: Jen is a first-generation Chinese immigrant who began her journey in Vancouver in 2014. After a decade of caring for patients as a registered nurse, she felt the pull toward a new path—one where she could support people physically, mentally and emotionally. After her nursing license renewed in Canada, Jen ventured into the world of counselling, where her unique blend of compassion and expertise has made a lasting impact. Jen understands the pressure many of us face in striving to meet the expectations we set for ourselves—the endless "shoulds" that leave us treating others with more kindness than we offer ourselves. Her mission is to help her clients embrace life as it is, to find life glimmers even in the darkest times, and most importantly, to reconnect with their true selves. Her passion lies in addressing the inner critical voices that often hold us back and guiding individuals through the complexities of cultural adjustment, family dynamics, and relationships. She has a special heart for international and mature students, helping them navigate the delicate balance between work, study, and life. Therapeutic approach: Jen’s approach is grounded in the power of inner healing, helping individuals reconnect with their inner child through a psychodynamic lens. She understands that early life experiences shape who we are, influencing our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Resilience lies at the core of her counseling philosophy. Her role is to support clients in discovering their inner strengths, helping them build resilience, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and empowering them to heal past wounds to embrace their authentic selves. Jen’s approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to support students in achieving their personal and academic goals. |
Taha, HBSc Practicum Student Counsellor
| Pronouns: He/him Languages: English, Afrikaans Campus: New Westminster About: Taha is in the 2nd year of his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology program and is currently completing his practicum. He was born in Ontario but spent most of his childhood in Cape Town, South Africa, where he and his family originate. At 13, he moved to British Columbia and has lived in Canada ever since. Taha enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends and has a passion for travel, with the goal of visiting all 50 states in America. He is also a big-time sports fan – specifically boxing, MMA, soccer, and basketball. As a Muslim immigrant to Canada, Taha is particularly interested in supporting individuals in navigating the immigrant experience and integrating cultural and religious expectations with Canadian societal norms. Therapeutic Approach: Taha’s therapeutic approach is rooted in person-centred therapy, emphasizing on the inherent human capacity for self-directed change. He integrates systemic and narrative approaches, acknowledging the significant influence of wider systems on a person’s life and empowering clients to reframe and reshape their personal stories. Central to his practice is prioritizing the therapeutic relationship, meeting clients where they are and understanding that building a strong, trusting connection is essential for fostering meaningful change. |