About Barb

I have been through many career changes (thanks ADHD!) and am so thrilled and content to have landed in the world of counselling therapy. While I have had many different jobs, my passion for helping people work through personal challenges has always been the one constant. When I was a teacher I didn’t care if my students could spell, but I really wanted to help them work through a conflict with a friend.  When I was working in recreation, I had a revolving door of coworkers and community members coming into my office to talk about a challenge they were facing in their personal life, a welcome distraction from my actual work! When Covid-19 hit and shook up the world, I was left without a job and began searching for my true calling. And here I am! I have completed my Master of Counselling degree and am now registered with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC).

My style is very casual and conversational. I like to collaborate with my clients to understand what works or doesn’t work for them in our sessions together. I primarily use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients develop the self-understanding and skills needed to live the life they want.
I want everyone to feel welcome, safe and comfortable working with me. This is true regardless of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race, colour of skin, size, age, or ability. I identify as a middle-aged cisgender, heterosexual, neurodivergent (ADHD), large-bodied, white female descendant of colonizers with no religious affiliation and I prefer the pronouns she/her or they/them. Whether I identify the same as you or not, I work to understand and respect your lived experiences. Everyone’s mental health is important and I am here to support you.

I am particularly passionate neurodiversity. I am a proud mom of two teenagers, one of which is autistic and one has ADHD. I also have recently been diagnosed with ADHD. Thanks to all the neurodivergent content creators on social media showing us what it looks life in real life!

When it came to parenting, I felt pretty prepared.  Having done my education degree with a specialization in special education, I was somewhat aware of how best to help my children. However, the reality of parenting a child in a world that is not designed for them is beyond challenging. It can be frustrating, disheartening, lonely, and leave you feeling like a failure a lot of the time. This is why I chose to focus my research capstone project on how to support parents of autistic children. 

I am passionate about supporting the neurodiverse community, specifically autistic folks and ADHDers. Whether you are a parent or are struggling to understand and live with your own neurodiversity, I have been in a similar place and I am here to help.

Virtual Sessions Only

  • As requests for virtual sessions have been increasing, Birch Tree Counselling does not currently offer in-person sessions.

Office Hours

  • Monday - Thursday
  • 9:30am - 5pm
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