About Us – not live
Our Clinical Focus
At Strength Counselling Services we provide a variety of options for holistic healing through therapeutic practice through E-counselling with a clinical focus given to mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health.
With a diverse team of trained and registered clinicians we have worked with a number of client concerns including:
- addictions (drug and/or alcohol)
- abuse
- anxiety
- body image issues
- maladaptive eating
- sexual behaviours
- personality disorders
- dual diagnosis
- codependency
- family conflict
- adoption
- anger management
- autism/asperger
- mood disorders
- breath control services
- meditation
- parenting issues
- peer relationships
- school issues
- self-harming
- weight loss
- meal planning
- exercise plan
- depression
- marital discord
- family development
- parenting and child rearing
- family of origin issues
- rehabilitation from trauma
- bipolar personality disorder
- borderline personality disorder
- career guidance
- youth mental health
- chronic illness management
- chronic impulsivity
- chronic pain management
- impulse control disorders
- life coaching
- psychosis
- narcissistic personality disorder
- obesity
- obsessive-compulsive disorder
- self-esteem issues
- sex therapy
- sexual abuse
- sexual addiction
- life management issues
- emotional turmoil
- suicidal ideation
- gender identity
- LGBTQ challenges
- coping skills
- developmental disorders
- divorce
- domestic abuse
- emotional disturbances
- gambling
- grief
- infidelity
- dissociative disorders
- non-ordinary experience integration
- internet addiction
- life transitions
- sleep issues or insomnia
- non-emergency spiritual issues
- stress
- transgender transition issues
- trauma and ptsd
- video game addiction
Please contact us if you wish to work with any of the practitioners listed below.
Leadership Team
Amanda Dewar
M.Ed, RCC
Director
Amanda Dewar, M.Ed, RCC
Director
Since 2005 Amanda has owned and operated three private enterprises. Since its origin in 2010, Strength Counselling Services has become a leading corporation in the field of private mental health services. Additionally, Amanda holds a Counselling Psychology Masters of Education degree and is a registered member of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors; designating her as a Registered Clinical Counsellor. Here at Strength Counselling Services, Amanda is responsible for managing all team members, and ensuring quality delivery of care to clients.
Dr. Bekayla Dewar
M.A., PsyD., RCC
Supervisor & Ethics Officer
Dr. Bekayla Dewar, M.A., PsyD., RCC
Supervisor & Ethics Officer
Bekayla graduated from Midwestern University in 2013 with her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology after which she completed a two year post-doctorate. Over the past eight years Bekayla has worked as the Director of an inpatient psychiatric unit and has held counselling positions at two of Canada’s premiere addiction/residential treatment centres. Over the course of her training and work experience, Bekayla has worked with children, adults and geriatrics providing individual, family and group therapy, crisis stabilization and rehabilitative services. Bekayla seeks to recognize the unique needs of each of the clients with whom she works and believes in treating the whole person; mind, body and soul in order to create a sense of wholeness for her clients. To do this, Bekayla practices from an integrative approach utilizing person-centred, humanistic, existential and trauma-informed therapy. Bekayla believes in facilitating lasting change in people’s lives and is passionate about helping others see and reach their full potential. At Strength Counselling Services, Bekayla is responsible for front-line clinical supervision and monitoring team decisions from a strong ethics-informed lens.
Clinical Team
Ewan Kirkaldy,
BSW, RSW, CCAC
Counsellor
Ewan Kirkaldy, BSW, RSW, CCAC
Counsellor
Ewan holds a social work degree from the University of Victoria and he is a registered social worker with the BC College of Social Workers. Ewan is also a certified addiction counsellor with the Canadian Addiction Counsellor Certification Federation. He is trained in trauma counselling using CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), and is currently in training to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Ewan has experience working in a number of Canada’s premier inpatient and outpatient facilities treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use issues. Ewan works from a client centred strengths based approach, using a trauma informed lens.
He believes in working holistically to improve vitality and quality of life in all areas. He is able to draw on not only his professional expertise, but his own personal experience recovering from severe substance use disorder, depression and trauma. He has experience working with individuals and families to help identify goals, create, and execute an individualized plan for healing and wellness.
Jake Sombrutzki,
BHSc, MC (cand.)
Counsellor
Jake Sombrutzki, BHSc, MC (cand.)
Counsellor
Jake brings a wealth of experience with 9 years of counselling in the field of addictions and codependency. He has completed his Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Addictions from the University of Lethbridge and is in the process of completing his master’s in counselling psychology from Yorkville University. Jake’s personal development is rooted in Buddhist and eastern philosophy which meld well with CBT and DBT therapy techniques. He is passionate about working with codependency, anxiety, depression, and clients experiencing self-worth issues. Jake has a natural ability in articulating insights about thinking patterns in a nonjudgmental way. His approach is grounded in being present, accepting, and compassionate. His abilities help clients bring intentional awareness into their everyday lives in an effective and practical way.
Rosa Toste,
CCAC
Counsellor
Rosa Toste, CCAC
Counsellor
Rosa is a passionate humorous being who has a knack for intuitively supporting those with eating disorder and body images issues throughout their recovery journey. Rosa has both personal and professional experience in the mental health and addictions field for almost 20 years and, specifically, with eating disorders for the past five years. Rosa’s person centered approach can assist clients to increase their knowledge, and alter their attitudes, and behaviors associated with disordered eating, body image issues, and any relatable dependency issues. Rosa is tenacious, kind and driven, and is committed to walking beside her clients through their process in the timeline that is necessary for optimal healing. “Together, we will collaborate on meeting achievable and realistic goals to a better you”.
Janet Nielsen,
M.Ed. C.C.C.
Counsellor
Janet Nielsen, M.Ed. C.C.C.
Counsellor
Janet has a Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology (Addictions and Mental Health) from the University of Lethbridge and is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2016 with a BA double major in Psychology and Religion, and an M.Ed. in 2019. Janet believes that we are a combination of body, mind, and spirit and that these elements need to be considered when trying to heal the whole person. She practices an integrative approach to counselling, which combines existential, cognitive-behavioural, trauma-informed and transpersonal therapy amongst others. Within this integrative framework, her central aim is to promote wholeness for her clients in all aspects of their lives. She counsels from a client-centered focus and believes in individual services and interventions that meet the unique needs and personalities of each client. She believes in facilitating the integration of body, mind, and soul by promoting growth and compassion for her clients that can lead to long-lasting, transformational change. Janet is passionate about exceptional human experiences (near-death experiences and mystical/transcendent experiences) and has researched these extensively. She has worked with many clients in relation to grief and loss, death and dying, and she completed her death doula certification in October 2019. She considers this work to be sacred and it allows her to support people and their families as their life comes to a close.
Mel Devine,
M.C, RSW, RCC
Counsellor
Tanya Helle,
MSW, RSW
Counsellor
Michelle Lafreniere,
MA, RCC
Counsellor
Ajay Booth,
BSW
Counsellor
Ajay Booth, BSW
Counsellor
Originally from Mi’kmaq territory on the East Coast of Canada, Ajay has lived on Vancouver Island and called unceded Snuneymuxw First Nations territory their home for the past 7 years. Ajay graduated from Capilano University and Vancouver Island University and has a background in Social Work, activism, advocacy, community development, mental health and addictions and has worked with marginalized and vulnerable populations for over 15 years.
Ajay practices from a strength based, trauma informed, anti-oppressive lens, and seeks to utilize holistic and culturally competent teachings to empower their clients. Ajay utilizes a collaborative and integrative client centered approach, focusing on the unique and diverse needs of each client, while utilizing the Anishinabek Medicine Wheel teachings as a framework for practice; the balance of spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental wellness is essential to healing. Ajay has studied under Dr. Gabor Mate and is a certified Compassionate Inquiry practitioner and is trained in a diverse array of therapeutic approaches including: DBT, CBT, Mindfulness Therapy, Compassion based, Humanistic Approach, Interpersonal Positive, Play therapy and Group Therapy. Ajay specializes in working with issues around Sexuality and Gender Identity and Transition, Body Dysphoria, Complex Trauma, Grief, Addictions, Neurodivergence, Family dynamics, Interpersonal Relationships- including Polyamory and Ethical Non-Monogamy.
As a member of the LBGTQ2S+ community, Ajay identifies as Trans Non-Binary and uses They/Them/Their pronouns. Ajay also runs a community-based business Kaleidosphere Consulting offering consulting, mediation, life coaching and comprehensive LBGTQ2S+ educational workshops to help agencies and businesses offer more inclusive services to their employees and clients. Ajay looks forward to continually expanding their practice, by completing their Master’s in Social Work and incorporating more Indigenous ways of knowing, diverse modalities and plant medicine and spiritual theory into their practice.
Vanessa Rae,
MC (cand.)
Counsellor
Vanessa Rae, MC (cand.)
Counsellor
Vanessa completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary, attaining her honours in Psychology while doing neuroscience research for her thesis. She is currently getting her Masters degree and completing her practicum hours. Her passion is finding ways to heal and guide those who are struggling with mental illness, emotional distress, and trauma. Primarily, Vanessa’s interest is in eating disorders. Recovered from one herself she wishes to dedicate her life to helping others become anchored in pure self love, recovery, and health. At Strength Counselling, Vanessa has worked as our main administrative assistant and, has since, transitioned into the role of a clinician. Vanessa’s current role is creating and delivering individualized programming for clients on her caseload.
Specialized Services
Dr. Kenneth Kunz
Medical Consultant
Dr. Kenneth Kunz
Clinical Navigator & Research Advisor
Kenneth Kunz is excited to join Strength Counselling Services to further his already rewarding career in scientific research and academic medicine. While in medical practice, Kenneth, who is in recovery himself, noticed that most of the chronic diseases burdening today’s society were actually the end result of untreated addictions, mental health issues, and related process disorders. For example, decades of smoking, the most prevalent addiction, will eventually lead to heart disease, stroke and cancer - the most prolific killers in the Western world. Kenneth is very interested in the biology of addiction, experiences, the shape the structure and function of our brains, and how these pieces ultimately give rise to motivations and actions that may prove harmful or even fatal. Kenneth’s greatest delight however is in serving as a companion and helper to those wishing, like him, to recover from addiction. He believes in a client-centred, strengths-based, trauma-informed, twelve-step approach to the treatment of addiction. Kenneth sees addiction as the single most common, most under-recognized, and most treatable of all human conditions.
Samantha Waagenaar
Nutrition and Fitness Consultant
Tyler Huston
Founder of
Breath Control Therapy
Tyler Huston
Founder of Breath Control Therapy
Tyler is a First Responder Paramedic, Addictions Nurse, Certified Occupationally Aware Clinician and Founder of Breath Control Therapy. Tyler has spent years working with clients and patients from all walks of life in community, private and hospital settings as well as at several of Canada’s premier Addiction Rehabilitation Treatment Centers. Tyler has collaborated with Physicians, Coaches, Counsellors, Navy SEALS, Veterans, Police Officers, Firefighters, CEO’s, Professional Athletes, Parents, Grandparents and Children to develop Breath Control Therapy.
Students
Laura Bates,
BA, MC (cand.)
Student
Laura Bates, BA, MC
Counsellor
Laura graduated from the University of Victoria with a degree in Child and Youth Care in 2012, and completed her Master’s of Counselling degree at City University in Canada. Laura has a background working with children within the Greater Victoria School District, as well as with youth aging out of care with the YMCA; and is honoured to work, live, and play on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples.
Laura has experience working with a wide range of individuals and couples, and values an inclusive practice that is open and accepting of people from all identities, backgrounds, and walks of life.
Laura aims to see her client’s strengths and their resilient human spirit by utilizing Narrative Therapy, DBT, and a Solution-Focused lens; in an effort to collaborate empathically and effectively with her clients. Laura truly believes counselling should be effective, and looks forward to creating an empowering journey with all her clients by upholding their dignity, sense of self, and exploring genuine solutions that fit their unique worldviews.
Kim Wood,
BA, MC (cand.)
Student
Kim Wood, BA, MC (cand.)
Student
Kim comes to the work of personal counselling with a diverse background in hospitality and conference management, social work, cross-cultural experience, restorative justice facilitation, emergency response, and vocational counselling. She is currently completing her Master of Counselling degree with City University Canada.
Kim believes that the answers to the questions that brought you to counselling reside within you, and views her role as supporting you to discover them for yourself as your ally, witness, and guide on the journey of learning and healing. Her approach is warm, collaborative, integrative, and tailored to meet your unique personality, interests, and goals. She is passionate about supporting others to cultivate a kind, loving, and compassionate relationship with the Self, seeing this as the foundation and springboard for all transformation. She draws on counselling tools from a variety of therapeutic modalities appropriate to your specific situation.
In addition, Kim wholeheartedly invites clients to bring their spiritual or religious beliefs and practices into the work of counselling as a source of strength and guidance. She considers this work an honour and privilege, and looks forward to being of service.
Kristin Munro,
BA, CPHR, PMP (cand.)
Student
Kristin Munro, MC, CPHR, PMP
Counsellor
Marketing Team
Micky Capra
Social Media Assistant
Micky joins the team with a Diploma in Marketing and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Event Planning. After working in the automotive industry for many years, Micky had the desire to branch out and explore other industries. She is excited to be a part of a team that is dedicated to assisting individuals in their mental health and recovery journey.
Micky Capra
Social Media Assistant
Micky Capra
Social Media Assistant
Micky joins the team with a Diploma in Marketing and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Event Planning. After working in the automotive industry for many years, Micky had the desire to branch out and explore other industries. She is excited to be a part of a team that is dedicated to assisting individuals in their mental health and recovery journey.