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Our Team Welcome to our Burnaby Counselling Group Team! We have a unique team of therapists committed to providing the highest quality of care for our clients. Our team has training and experience in diverse areas of counselling and we offer a range of payment options for our clients. We invite you to read about our therapist's backgrounds and hope that you will find a therapist to assist you with your specific therapy concerns. Please call us with any questions that you may have in selecting a therapist 604.430.1303. We look forward to working with you! Carlene Van Tongeren Executive Director Administrative Team ACTS Counsellors Denise Caldwell Vivian Chan Susan Hobkirk Michael Mandrusiak Linda Medaris Karla Saruk Carlene Van Tongeren Ian Verseveldt Jon Wieser Pablee Wong Administrative Team Ashling, Jo, and Patty have 16 years of combined experience providing client care at the front desk and on the phone. They work closely with the therapists to facilitate you finding the therapist most suited to your needs. In this process, clients are treated with respect and confidentiality. They will be here to greet you with tea, coffee, and a warm welcome to our group! back to top ACTS CounsellorsThe ACTS Counselling Centre is a training facility for Graduate Students in the Counselling program at ACTS of Trinity Western University. Under the direct supervision of an approved supervisor with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Graduate Students provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families who are experiencing life challenges and transitions. They also offer play therapy for children experiencing a variety of difficulties including anxiety, low self-esteem, loss, and behaviour issues.Fees range from $20-$30 per 50 minute session. back to top Denise Caldwell, B.A. Denise Caldwell has been counseling at the Burnaby Counselling Group since 1984. She works with individuals of diverse backgrounds, facilitating greater insight and understanding about the place to which their lives have led them. Denise is also gifted in working with clients to develop greater perspective as they encounter challenges and barriers in their faith. Some of the key areas that Denise works with are:
Denise’s breadth of experience in teaching and public speaking includes:
"Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you.”
Parker Palmer, 2000 back to top Vivian Chan, M.C., RCCVivian holds a Master of Counselling degree with a focus on individual, children and family counselling. She uses a non-directive and client-centered approach to help individuals process their internal feelings and thoughts. Her international background and cross-cultural counselling experience has equipped her to work sensitively with a diverse population of clients. Some of the key areas that Vivian works with are:
Vivian enjoys working with children because she believes in the sacredness and inner strength of each child. Through the use of play therapy, children can work through their internal conflict and to express their inner thoughts, in addition to using words/language. “I believe parents/caretakers are the best agent to help promote secure attachment and emotional health of their child,” she states. Vivian is dedicated to work collaboratively with parents to enhance parent-child relationship and attachment. Vivian is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. back to top Susan Hobkirk, B.S.W., R.S.W. Susan is a Registered Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience counselling individuals, couples, and families. Susan’s passion is to work collaboratively with people in facilitating their personal growth and change. She works with individuals, couples, and families to help them articulate their feelings and longings and to renew and renegotiate their relationships. She provides clients the opportunity to become less burdened by the impact of challenging or painful life experiences, and helps them move toward a clearer understanding of themselves and others. She is attentive to the goals that clients have and the needs that they express. “I know that it is possible for any one of us to become overwhelmed or stuck in our primary relationships and with life’s challenges, and that we can benefit from the skills that a compassionate counselor provides,” Susan states. Working with Susan could help you:
back to top Michael Mandrusiak, Psy.D., R.Psych. # 01803 Michael is a Registered Psychologist in British Columbia who works with adults and adolescents in individual and group settings. Some of the treatment goals that Michael could help you with include:
In conjunction with his work at the Burnaby Counselling Group, Michael is a full-time faculty member at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in downtown Vancouver where he teaches courses in lifestyle and career development, counsellor professional development and counselling skills. back to top Linda Medaris, M.C., RCC, RMFT Linda is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Marriage & Family Therapist, Approved Clinical Supervisor and Certified EMDR trauma therapist. She received her Masters degree in counselling from Trinity Western University and completed specialized training in marriage and family therapy as well as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). Linda is committed to helping individuals, couples and families understand and work through the painful and distressing symptoms that are often associated with the difficulties and challenges of life. Some of the key areas that Linda works with are:
“… a precious gift, which is meant to be lived to the fullest, although, it is often fraught with difficulties and challenges that can, at times, paralyze us and keep us stuck in negative patterns. These behaviours can prevent personal growth and cause conflicts and strain on our relationships. We know that it’s in relationship that we can find our greatest joy and greatest pleasures; however, we also know that it’s in these relationships that we are most often wounded. A therapist can help at times like these.” Linda’s professional affiliations include:
back to topKarla Saruk, PsyD, R. Psych #1894Dr. Karla Saruk is a Registered Psychologist providing individual counseling and assessment services. She has worked extensively with children, adolescents, adults and families from a wide variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. She works with her clients to address a wide range of issues and concerns, including:• Depression and Grief • Fear and Anxiety • Stress Management • Child/Parent Relationships • Managing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) • Adjusting to Major Life Changes • Disordered and Emotional Eating • Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (eg: "baby blues", postpartum depression) Assessment Services: • Psycho-educational Assessments • ADHD Assessments Dr. Saruk specializes in cognitive-behavioural and interpersonal therapeutic interventions; focusing on the way thoughts, behaviour and relationships impact our mental health and everyday living. Dr. Saruk completed her Master’s degree in clinical psychology at Boston University before going on to do her doctorate in psychology at Wheaton College in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Saruk also provides consultation to teachers, physicians, and social workers, for the purpose of assisting them in addressing mental health concerns with their students, clients and patients. Dr. Saruk provides therapy services to both English and Spanish speaking clientele. back to top Carlene Van Tongeren, M.A., R.C.C. Carlene is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia. Through your work with Carlene, she will help you understand yourself more deeply and help create the change you need in your life to achieve your personal and relationship goals. Carlene integrates creativity from her background in the performing arts and goal-directedness from her experience as a competitive athlete to create a motivating counselling experience. Her interest in empowering individuals to achieve their personal goals could help you:
Carlene’s passion for inspiring couples to improve their intimacy and communication led her to an extensive internship in Emotion Focused Couples Therapy at the Vancouver Couple and Family Institute. She has worked with couples across a variety of contexts including relationship counselling, marital workshops, and clinical research interviews. Carlene has also participated in multidisciplinary training regarding issues of sexual dissatisfaction and dysfunction. Carlene has been recognized as a highly trained scholar and skilled therapist throughout her career. She has been selected for honors including the BC Premier’s Award of Excellence, Simon Fraser University’s Best All Around Graduate, and a finalist for Vancouver’s YWCA Women of Distinction Award. Her approach to creating individual and interpersonal change is based on a standard of excellence in training and an excitement for helping you reach your potential. back to top Ian Verseveldt, Ph.D., R. Psych. #01292, R.M.F.T., Clinical Member of A.A.M.F.T., Clinical Director Burnaby Counselling Group
Jon Wieser, Associate TherapistJon works with individuals, couples, and families to explore and overcome issues underlying distress and discomfort in their lives and interpersonal relationships. He received his Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Trinity Western University and pursued specialized training in Neurofeedack, Emotion Focused Couple Therapy, and Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1). Jon’s diverse training and background contribute to his evidence-based approach to therapy. He integrates his neurological awareness and systemic perspective to create a holistic counselling experience.Some of the key areas Jon works with are:
Jon adopts a caring, client-centered, collaborative approach to counselling which he believes allows people the safety to discover new adaptive and resilient ways of being. Through your work with Jon, he will help you develop your self-awareness, (re)discover your personal resources, and improve your sense of effectiveness and well being in your life. back to top Pablee Wong, MC, RCC, RMFT, RPT-SPablee holds a Masters degree in Counselling. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor of BC (RCC), Registered Marriage & Family Therapist (RMFT) and Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor (RPT-S). With cross-cultural backgrounds, Pablee has extensive experiences working with children, adults and couples in various settings. Her work is influenced by the family system perspective and the attachment theory.Pablee is trained to help clients in the following areas:
In the process of counselling, Pablee facilitates her clients in exploring their current challenges, searching for alternatives and utilizing their inner potentials. When working with children, she adopts a child-centered approach and practices evidence based intervention. As an “ordinary devoted mother,” (Winnicot, 1946, 1966), Pablee believes that every parent has the natural capacity to care for their children. She provides play-based intervention for children with developmental, emotional and behavioral challenges. She is trained in helping children with trauma, child abuse as well as divorce adjustment issues. back to top |
