Ted Leavitt M.Sc., RCC
I lived in the West Kootenays, in a little village called Salmo, (we actually lived outside of Salmo in a ghost-town called
Erie) until I was 13, when my family moved to the city of Langley, BC. This was a shock for me, as Fort Langley Junior High School had more students in three grades than the entire village of Salmo had citizens.
This was also the time when my undiagnosed ADHD and depression began to wreak havoc on my school performance. There were some very dark years in my adolescence and although I didn’t know it at the time, my experience (both personally and otherwise) with various mental health issues was serving to prepare me for a career in the helping profession. Many times I have drawn on my own experiences in attempting to relate to my clients and to communicate a sense of compassion and even companionship in suffering.
Following another bout with depression in late adolescence, I attempted to create some structure in my life and served a mission to Vietnamese refugees in the United States.
It was the most difficult and trying time of my life but proved to be a more than adequate training ground for problems that I would face throughout the rest of my life. During my first semester of university, I was married to my wife Tina, and following an initial miscarriage, we welcomed into our family the aforementioned tribe of children.
Initially, my career plan was to pursue graduate education in clinical sport psychology but during the preparation process for that step, I happened to find employment at a local residential treatment centre for adult men battling addiction to alcohol and drugs. It was here that I began to recognize the need for compassion and understanding in order to help people apply these same principles towards themselves and the world they inhabit.
During my time in the field, I have worked with a wide variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds, diverse ethnic identities, diverse socioeconomic situations, diverse mental health struggles, diverse spiritual leanings, and diverse sexual orientations. My wide variety of experiences has allowed me to have an individualist perspective, underscored by the importance of feeling loved and cared for, despite any differences in background or experiences.
My Master of Science degree in psychology focused on the neurophysiology of anger and anxiety and this has become my main focus on treatment, although using attachment theory as a foundation leads to visiting virtually every corner of the mental health spectrum.
Away from my field, I am also an avid songwriter, struggling artist, and have a diverse athletic background (although this is becoming more historic as time goes on).
So, that’s a little bit about me. I hope you experience me as a fairly open book and if you can relate to any of the information that you have read, please give me a call or send an email and we can begin the journey of self-understanding together.
Tracey Banks RSW, MSW
I can share with you that even before my training as a social worker, I knew working with children, young people, and families of all designs, brought me joy. Whether this joy came from my early days as a camp counsellor, as a recreation support worker, or from my paid social work employment in supporting families, or working with young people struggling with substance use, or in supporting young people in their challenges with autism, my practice focus has always been in working alongside others to feel less alone, to feel heard, to feel seen. And after 25 years of having officially become a “social worker,” this joy has never left me.
But I think what matters most is that only you are the expert on you. And because you are the person or family that knows yourself best, only in meeting with me will you know whether I am a good fit for you. I can offer humour, warmth, compassion and care. In our relationship together, I will be curious about what you think you need and listen to your story with my full self. And I look forward to getting started together.
Steve Price MCP
What I offer:
Freedom from self-harming behaviours, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma and addiction.
After seeing several therapists where I felt misunderstood and judged, I discovered a therapist that saw my truth and helped me find freedom from my self-imposed jail. Life is all about deep meaningful relationships and through developing a safe, authentic connection with you where you feel truly heard and understood, I will provide a healing space for self-exploration and discovery.
I bring a depth of personal and profession experience to my sessions that includes ranges from trauma recovery, anxiety and addiction to helping families heal from the loss of a loved one to overdose. After 17 years as an elementary and middle-school teacher, I am a creative problem solver who can empower you to find workable solutions to your problems and make lasting change. Another strength I have is recognizing and sitting with pain and despair and finding ways to move through them. My other work experience with autism and addiction have shown the importance of relationship and connection.
I practice through a trauma-informed lens using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help clients change their relationship with their internal experience, realize what is blocking them and move towards a life of meaning and purpose. I also use attachment-based therapy and compassionate inquiry to help you recover your true essence. I believe we all have gifts; my gift is helping you discover what is truly important to you in life and teaching you to authentically connect with self and others.
If you are reading this far, I believe you have already begun your journey of healing and recovery. I am excited for your opportunity for growth and to help you discover your resilience. When we face our darkness and accept our present experience, we can live a life of vitality. I will help you finds ways to live in the solution and take committed action towards wellness.
When I feel truly alive:
Being lost in the rhythm of long-distance running, being truly connected with my heart, body and breath in my yoga practice, sharing my vulnerability and laughter with close friends, finding ways to inspire and motivate children in my teaching or sitting with you and helping you navigate your way through pain and despair. When we find what we are meant to do it feels effortless, joyful and playful; this is what I bring to the counselling office. I look forward to working with you!
Sukhneet Bains MCP, RCC
I strive to view every individual through a holistic, client-centered, and strength-based lens. I believe in the power of humans and work to empower my clients towards healing. I employ a trauma-informed lens and a range of therapeutic modalities, with an emphasis on Emotion-Focused and attachment-based work. Seeing all individuals as unique, I am flexible and adaptable to the needs of my clients and have experience utilizing interventions from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy to name a few.
I feel deeply honoured and fulfilled to be doing this work. Witnessing the evolution of clients who let me into their growth drives me to continue this journey and I am committed to helping you on your journey. I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you and get started on the path to your well-being and healing.
Issues I can help with:
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Attention Deficit concerns
- Emotion Regulation
- Communication
- Interpersonal issues: family, friendships, relationships
- Intrapersonal issues: self-esteem, self-definition, life
changes/transitions
Rhonda Comeau MSW, RSW
Counselling has been transformative for me because it helped me develop a core set of emotional life skills that have allowed me to better understand myself and others. This understanding has enhanced my relationships and ability to nurture resilience during tough times.
I value humility, which is a journey and likely rooted in my modest upbringing. My childhood and teen years were spent living with my family and extended family in small and rural communities.
I am a registered social worker with many years experience working with children, youth, families and communities. I am able to help you work through and manage:
- anxiety
- depression
- addiction
- suicidal thoughts and behaviours
- impulse control problems
- family and relationship struggles
Jaspreet Kaler (Student Intern)
To begin this journey, I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia. Currently, I am in the final course of my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree. Much of my professional experience comprises work with children, young adults and their families. In addition, I have experience working with addiction issues, substance use issues and neurodivergent individuals. I am fluent in both English and Punjabi.
I am truly honored and grateful to be working in this field and to be a part of your journey. I look forward to meeting you!
Concerns I can help with:
- Cultivating self-understanding, self-compassion, self-esteem
- Navigating transitions, friendships, relationship, family
- Crisis management
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma
- Substance Use
- Communication
- Emotional Regulation
- Communication
Hannah English MA, RCC
The education I received from a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Artsin Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University has taught me the benefits of understanding of how our brain and body develop and impact each other, and how this knowledge can help us understand ourselves and our own reactions a bit more. With this further understanding, my goal is to help you offer youself a bit more compassion, while also working together to seek out alternative solutions to create a healthier mindset.
I have previous experience offering counselling to individuals ages 12 and up, as well as experience working with couples and families, and offering parent consultations. I have also co-facilitated a 10 week-long dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) group to adults which I thoroughly enjoyed. I feel comfortable working with many presenting concerns, and actually find that many overlap with each other in a beautiful complicated web. I also know that there is no one size fits all approach to counselling, so a few of the theories and modalities that I pull from regularly are:
- Internal family systems (IFS)
- Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally focused therapy (EFT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Narrative therapy
- Attachment therapy
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Experiential and humanistic therapy
- Existential therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Bio-psycho-social-spiritual balance
- Mindfulness meditation
Overall, I am both thrilled and honoured to be here and to be considered as a potential counsellor to work alongside you in your journey towards self-discovery. If you feel like we would be a good fit, I would love to sit down and have a chat about what brings you to Connectivity Counselling.
Sophia Karkouch
I have a special interest in working with trauma, because I recognize how deeply it can impact our lives and wellbeing. I also recognize how it can affect us in so many ways, giving rise to other concerns for which we may seek out support. Gabor Mate and Bessel van der Kolk are the base upon which my approach is built. From their work, I have learned about the interconnected nature of all aspects of our lives.
I am currently a Master of Counselling student at City University, in the last stretch of my educational journey. I am also a single parent and a person who has experienced traumas and life challenges of my own. I learned through my experiences how powerful connection is, especially within ourselves.
My interest in supporting others in their own healing work is what brought me to the field of counselling. I aim to provide support that works for you, because I truly believe that we are all the experts of our own experiences and that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to our mental health. No one knows you the way you know yourself, but I would be honoured to hear your story and to support you through your healing journey.
Chris Barber
I grew up in a small town in Arizona and knew that the world outside of that town held my future. After high school, I served a two-year mission in British Columbia and knew that this place was special. I married a Canadian girl, became Canadian myself, started a family as I worked my way through university. We were eventually blessed with the opportunity to foster a newborn baby boy and eight years later, we are finalizing the adoption process. We have experienced so much through the highs and lows of bringing him into our family.
I know that you are the expert of your own life and that choosing to see a counselor means you are seeking to make your life better. I also know that one of the biggest factors of success in counseling is the relationship you build with your counsellor. That relationship is incredibly important to me as we actively work together to facilitate your growth and goals through your feelings, thoughts and behaviours.
I am currently finishing a Master of Counselling degree from City University, and I am eager to work with you. I utilise my calm nature, patience and understanding to help you with: anxiety, depression, anger, communication, relationships (all of them), social media-related struggles, trauma, grief, emotional regulation.
Ronan Byrne
I have always been curious about why people behave and act like they do. While in university, I focused my studies on social psychology and human performance, and as a student-athlete, I found the combination of high-performance sport and psychology fascinating. I became obsessed with understanding how and why some people can persevere, believe in themselves, and overcome adversity, while others give up or won’t even try.
As a teenager, I faced adversity, moving to a new country, struggling with school (it turns out I have dyslexia and ADHD), and being socially isolated. When I was going through that period in my life, I thought it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me and that there must be something wrong with me. However, that adversity gave me the resilience and mental toughness to get through every challenge, personally and professionally, that I have experienced since then.
I became a clinical counsellor because I love helping people achieve their goals, overcome challenges, and move closer to their potential. While in grad school, I focused my studies on the development of mental toughness and post-traumatic growth through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). While I take an integrated approach to therapy, I find ACT is ideal for many as its intention is psychological flexibility (being able to adapt to any situation). It includes goal setting, knowing one’s values, being able to be in the present (not distracted), being able to defuse from negative thoughts and emotions and taking committed action. In addition to ACT, I use cognitive behavioural therapy, narrative therapy, motivational Interviewing, positive psychology, logotherapy, and solution-focused therapy, depending on the client’s needs and preferences.
What I can help with:
Areas I can help you with include:
- difficulties coping with daily life
- the impact of past trauma
- grief and loss
- addiction
- anxiety
- anger
- emotional regulation
- communication
- interpersonal issues
- self-esteem
- self-confidence.
I view every client as unique and take a client-centred, non-judgmental, strength-based approach. The relationship between counsellor and client is critical to success; therefore, mutual trust, understanding and respect are the cornerstones of my practice. It is also why I encourage clients to get the right therapist, as every counsellor has different approaches and styles. I take a practical, action-orientated approach that will often challenge and push one out of their comfort zone. My goal with every client is to get them to where they don’t need me anymore.