The Team

Since joining us in 2007, Geoff has demonstrated an exemplary ability to connect with clients. An extensive background in both residential and outpatient addiction treatment has helped Geoff keep things in perspective when clients feel overwhelmed.

Geoff earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from Saybrook University and is a certified member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. He spent several years as a Clinical Addictions Counsellor at Maple Ridge Treatment Centre in British Columbia and also managed two provincial government treatment programs. Geoff is also the Executive Director for the International Network on Personal Meaning, managing editor of the International Journal of Existential Psychology and Psychotherapy, and Program Director of its biennial Meaning Conference. 

Among his publications are:

• A Long Night’s Journey into Day: A Psychobiography of Eugene O’Neill’s Recovery from Alcoholism (2006)
• Thompson, G. R. (2012). A Meaning-centered therapy for addictions. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 10(3), 428-440.
• The Positive Psychology of Meaning and Addiction Recovery (2013).
• Thompson, G. R. (2015). Meaning therapy for addictions: A case study. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 56(5), 457-482.

You can also find Geoff’s articles in the following: 

• Treating addiction as a problem of meaning (2018). in D. Grosse (Ed.), About face: Essays on recovery, therapies, and controversies of addiction in Canada (pp. 364-372). St John’s, NL: Breakwater Books.
• Sunshine Coast Health Centre (2018). in D. Grosse (Ed.), About face: Essays on recovery, therapies, and controversies of addiction in Canada (pp. 364-372). St John’s, NL: Breakwater Books.
• Addiction treatment through the lens of meaning: Observations on a program developed in a residential facility (2017). [published online in 2018] International Journal of Existential Positive Psychology [formerly International Journal of Existential Psychology and Psychotherapy], 7(2).
• The Positive Living in Difficult Times Newsletter (INPM Monthly Newsletter)

Sara joined our clinical team in 2016 when she returned to her hometown. She brings a background of working on the downtown eastside in Vancouver for more than 10 years, which has given her much experience working with addiction and mental health issues, particularly trauma issues. Sara has also worked in both residential and outpatient settings as a concurrent disorders counsellor. Her strong belief in the worth of each individual, optimism in the face of adversity, as well as respect for autonomy and dignity, has served her well in this work.

Sara completed her BA in psychology at Simon Fraser University in 2005 and her Masters of Counselling Psychology at Adler University in 2008. In 2009, Sara started a post-graduate program in Existential Analysis and in 2013 became a founding board member of the Existential Analysis Society of Canada.

Laura is a psychotherapist with experience in supporting individuals, families, and groups navigate the language of behaviour from developmental disabilities to trauma to daring to do differently. When we can make sense of our responses to our social world we gain an understanding of how we find dignity, meaning and purpose. Our behaviour is understandable when we can put it into a relational, or social, context. Laura will often incorporate approaches such as narrative, existential, response-based, and brief therapies. Essentially, Laura’s is a practice built on feminist ideology that reveals strengths and resilience. Counselling is a personal, individual process, or journey, built on what is important to the client.

 Laura holds a Bachelors of Child and Youth Care and a Masters in Counselling. She has experience working with children living with complex developmental disabilities, including teaching in the field of early childhood education, as well as working with marginalized families.  Laura’s work experience in Air Traffic Control introduced her to the complex understandings of systems thinking and the inter-connectedness of the human experience.

Quyn’s passion and dream is to empower others by helping them live authentically through discovering their inner gifts and core values. With each client she encounters, Quyn strives to regard him or her with deep empathy and acceptance. She has faith in each of her clients, even when addiction has clouded any faith a person has in themselves.

Quyn obtained her Masters degree in Counselling Psychology at Simon Fraser University. She has worked as a psychotherapist in various areas including palliative care, rehabilitation, post-secondary, domestic violence, trauma, and marriage/relationships to name a few. Quyn has also spoken extensively as a keynote speaker and educator. Most notably, she spoke at Tedx Simon Fraser University where she shared her journey as a blind refugee from Vietnam who realized her dream to become a psychotherapist. Quyn is also a radio host for her own radio talk show called Quyn’s Empowerment Hour.

Tatiana’s has an impressive list of accomplishments that includes 20 years as a psychiatrist working with addicted and mentally ill individuals in her native Russia and 4 years at the University of Washington on a National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) addiction research grant.

Since immigrating to Canada, Tatiana has been employed as a child and youth counsellor for the Interior Health Authority in 100 Mile House prior to joining our team. Tatiana is a graduate of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in Moscow.

Carissa approaches clients from a belief that values the inner wisdom and strength of the individual. Borrowing from existential and meaning-based approaches, Carissa believes that when individuals are able to function in a healthy manner in all areas of their life, then they are able to be authentic. Exploring barriers to authenticity guides clients to develop a way to engage with life in a meaningful and rewarding manner. Rather than viewing treatment as changing or repairing an individual, she believes it is the restoration of what is already innate.

Carissa specializes in family dynamics and couples relationships where substance use is present. She is currently completing her doctorate degree in psychology and conducting research exploring family impact on the recovery of substance use disorder.

Jeannette believes in the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of a holistic approach to treatment. She loves to empower and support others as they set goals and reach for their dreams. Jeannette’s previous careers involved working with “at risk” families and individuals in order to support them in achieving greater health and happiness. 

Jeannette possesses a BA (psych) and is studying, according to the scientist/practitioner model, to complete a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology.

She is very happy to find herself at a facility that resonates with her core values of holistic care, empowerment, autonomy, and constant striving to offer the best care possible.

Fernando has been working in different capacities in the field of mental health and substance use disorders for more than 10 years. Fernando is grateful for the opportunity to work at GSWC where the approach is to empower everyone to become the authors of their own life. 

Currently he works as a Hakomi Practitioner, with a great passion for this method as it uses Mindfulness and Somatic Therapy to assist clients in a journey of self-discovery, where unconscious core beliefs can be re-assessed and unnecessary suffering can become optional.

Monique has a BA from the University of Alberta and trained as an Occupational Therapist at the University of the West of England. In England, she worked in inpatient and community mental health settings, helping people work towards what they value through the use of activity and interaction with others. Monique has worked at the SCHC since March 2017 as a Case Manager. Today, Monique provides Occupational Therapy as well as lead the DBT workshops and coaching sessions.

Kye has been an employee at Sunshine Coast Health Center since 2008. Kye enjoys the challenge of working with a diverse spectrum of clients and has enjoyed working in a program that values physical fitness as part of an overall focus on wellness. Kye is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University in the field of Exercise Science and has worked in both Washington State and British Columbia in a variety of outpatient clinical settings.

Bianca has a professional background in the medical field and is a certified BCRPA Group Fitness, Aqua, Weight and Personal Trainer. Her focus is to coach and motivate people to achieve their individual fitness goals. Her fitness motto is: “Not the beginning will be rewarded, but the will to follow-through”.