https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/home daily 1.0 2025-10-01 https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/contact daily 0.75 2026-04-01 https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/faqs daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/resources daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meet-mady daily 0.75 2025-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/1619826894819-SJ6IBLT86MS11F02SXLW/image-asset.jpeg Meet Mady - I am so glad you made it here! My name is Mady Harber and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am an uninvited settler who was raised on the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg, specifically the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. I now live, work and play on the unceded traditional territories of the Lekwungen speaking peoples (The Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ). I am grateful to the indigenous keepers and caregivers of this land that is integral to the mental wellness of all of us. I am the Clinical Director of Burn Bright Counselling. Prior to starting Burn Bright Counselling in 2021, I had been working with youth and families through non-profit organizations for nearly 10 years, specializing in mental health, family relationships, substance use and LGBTQ2S+ counselling. I am a Registered Social Worker and graduated with my Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Victoria and am committed to continued learning and growing as a practitioner. I strive to create a safe space for teens, parents and adults to feel comfortable in bringing their authentic self to the counselling space in order to further explore the connection to themselves and their healing process. My experience and passion in connecting with queer and transgender youth and young adults has brought immense joy and gratitude into my practice. The challenges and triumphs of being in the LGBTQ2S+ community are those I know on a deeply personal level which helps me to understand the distinct perspectives of queer adolescents. In my off work time I am a very passionate roller derby player with our local league the Eves of Destruction. Roller Derby has offered an opportunity to connect to my body, build incredible relationships and be a part of a one of the most rad communities I have ever known. When I am not counselling or skating you can also find me as close to the ocean as possible. I strongly believe in the healing power of the earthly elements and feel that connecting to the spiritual strength of the life all around us leads to inner peace and empowerment. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/our-team daily 0.75 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/08f73367-78d0-4015-8750-168a2edc026d/Burn+Bright-27.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/654f7752-dd7c-409f-bab0-770749f19b4f/Burn+Bright-33.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/f62b931e-141f-49d7-8776-84978088c780/N23_0010.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/d4cc41b1-78cb-4ff5-abfa-ddfb5180daea/Logan.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/b7a74556-7a08-4532-b2a8-ab5ddb1d3fe2/IMG-20240519-WA0019.jpeg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/e1f9f45b-e861-429b-81b6-7c541579e23d/grey+cat.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/a955ee4b-ed2a-4107-a699-1b200c9aaae7/hamish.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/a76e8f23-4097-465a-a032-730f3321dac5/Burn+Bright+2024-15+%281%29.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/5090a8ef-e4ec-472a-97c4-99e0ab4568a6/Burn+Bright+2024-19.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/f7c4315c-fc2d-493c-9902-4ded870dda65/Screenshot+2024-08-29+143700.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/f075b52c-3854-4b71-a6e8-045f9e4b5463/boo.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/cdcc457e-04ac-4858-a02d-1b7ce2c29c17/shay+cats.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/421f0425-afab-4f7f-ba58-42ef6709faea/Burn+Bright+2024-26.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/4a89cb20-0cef-4896-b5c0-4c5e19032cd6/BurnBrightJune2025-02.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/960a47b3-f329-40d6-8fea-582589d2eaed/BurnBright-6.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/b9d5fffe-b70e-46c0-8ed9-71ab5f7ee5f4/BurnBrightJune2025-13+%281%29.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/b26de194-5215-49f9-8dbf-33d5611635d0/BBC-oct2025-2.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/c9c42731-8705-4584-aa13-116b0812409c/BurnBright_H-1.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/5cde03ee-4305-4648-abfc-1ba802a18623/BurnBright2025-5+%283%29.jpg Our Team https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meet-sarah daily 0.75 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/29a0409b-edb0-4d49-9300-4a04db420ee6/Image.jpeg Meet Sarah - Your story deserves to be told. My name is Sarah and my pronouns are she/her/hers. Allow me to introduce myself as a settler living as an uninvited guest on the unceded and ancestral territory of the Lekwungen peoples. While my undergraduate background is in psychology, my unwavering passion for social justice led me to getting my Master of Social Work degree from the University of British Columbia. I happily bring my whole self into every session (humour, warmth, quirks, and all) and I strive to co-create a safe space with everyone I work with so that you are invited to do the same. As a proud queer-identifying counsellor, I prioritize actively implementing anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based perspectives. I also weave aspects of modalities like Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy into my work. I love to tap into the creativity of others by incorporating art, nature, and story-telling into sessions wherever applicable. Some of the areas I plan to continue growing as a professional include further training in somatic-based trauma therapies and receiving certification in the Gottman method of couples counselling. Born in Nova Scotia and raised in Ontario, I naturally love to mix my time between being by the ocean and exploring the land via hiking, camping, rock climbing and roller skating. When I feel like being more of an indoor cat, I love to read, draw, paint, embroider, and listen to fun podcasts while I do it all. I’m so excited you’re here and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to hear your story. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/counselling-services daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meet-danielle daily 0.75 2025-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/aba25ee7-2a53-4dcc-b44c-cc79792c5ee7/IMG_3943.JPG Meet Danielle - I come as I am and invite you to do the same. My Name is Danielle Nori and I use she/her/they pronouns. I'm an settler of Scottish and Italian heritage, living, working, and learning on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples — the Songhees, Kosapsum, and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations. I'm a Registered Social Worker and a graduate of the University of Victoria. My early work was in non-profits, offering education and resources in sexual health, harm reduction, and crisis response. In 2021, I shifted into counselling — and it felt like coming home. Like I’d landed exactly where I was meant to be. I work with folks individually and in groups, and while I love both, I have a giant soft spot for group work. There's something uniquely powerful about healing in a collective space — transformation that happens through relationship. As a facilitator, I strive to co-create an environment where we can step into a bit of discomfort, while still feeling safe, supported, and heard. My own neurodivergence deeply informs how I show up in groups. This is a collaborative process — I’m not the expert, and I welcome new perspectives, adaptations, and ways of being together. In individual sessions, I bring my full (and very human) self. I’m a relational counsellor, which means you can expect warmth, laughter, presence — and more than the occasional Lord of the Rings quote. I feel deeply honoured to be invited into people’s stories — their joy, grief, uncertainty, and everything in between. I’m trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). I find these approaches work beautifully together — helping us make sense of emotional pain in the present, while also gently exploring its roots. I believe every human is a kaleidoscope of memory, experience, hopes, fears, and dreams — and I’m here to support you in making meaning, finding balance, and moving through the world in a way that feels true to you. Outside of sessions, you’ll usually find me curled up with my cats, Burt and Hamish, working on whatever crochet project has currently taken hold of my brain — or laced up on roller skates, smashing into pals with my roller derby team. Finding the right counsellor is all about the right fit. If you think that might be me, I’d love to connect for a consultation. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/understanding-asexuality-and-aromanticism daily 0.75 2026-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/74fe2d1b-2892-4abf-bb49-b02586512b54/Ace%26Aro_2026.jpg https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meetnicole daily 0.75 2025-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/7307ce84-a05e-4a59-ba58-99d4b7785d9f/Protest+Shot.jpg Meet Nicole - You deserve to feel radical acceptance and joyful connection! My name is Nicole and my pronouns are she/her/hers. As an uninvited person existing in various locations across Turtle Island, I have come to live on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen, Esquimalt, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ nations and peoples, whose ancestral relationship with the land continues to this day, otherwise known as Victoria, BC. As a white, cis-gender, settler woman descendant of English, German, and Newfoundland heritage, I arrive with immense privilege and aim to work from a decolonizing, queer, and social-justice framework. This simply means I work to disrupt imbalances of power, starting with placing the client-therapist relationship as collaborative. I am a curious life-long learner who aims to work alongside LGBTQ2S+ clients as more than an active ally, but in solidarity with them. It can feel daunting to sit down with a stranger and unpack whatever is going on for you. I see you as the expert in your own life and aim to create a space where you feel comfortable, accepted, and understood —where you can come as you are. As someone who questions and challenges the so-called “normative” assumptions of society at large, I recognize the importance of honoring and affirming diversity in however that shows up for my clients. As a therapist, I am dedicated to walking alongside you on your journey, working with the strengths you already possess to flourish as your best self. With an abundance of generosity and warmth, I bring a sense of humor and levity to our sessions, knowing that even through the darkest of times, there is space for light. Therapy should be accessible for everyone, and I hold space for all identities and experiences by working from an anti-oppressive, decolonized, and queer theory standpoint that seeks an inclusive, affirming, and socially just environment. My unlearnings have gifted me a lesson in deconstructing binary thinking and so-called normative assumptions related to gender and sexual orientation, holding queer theory close to my heart in supporting my clients to explore and express themselves as authentically as they wish. My work within the school system over the past 15 years, as well as my volunteer work with non-profit organizations, has taught me that connection to community, support systems, and participation in collective change are integral to emotional and mental well-being. When I’m not studying or practicing counselling, I love relaxing, giggling, and spending time with my wonderful partner and being a Bonus Mom to his two super rad kids. Things that spark joy for me involve experiencing live music, dancing, cooking, baking, eating delicious food, practicing yoga, being overcome with joy at drag shows, watching hilarious comedy, laughing, cozying up with a good series, reading, travelling, learning, camping, playing D&D, and swimming in oceans, rivers, and lakes. I volunteer and donate whenever I am able with the Canadian Blood Services and help behind the scenes with the barrier-breaking, local non-profit organization, The Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour (SNIWWOC). I define therapy as one of the most selfless acts we can do. We initially come to therapy for ourselves, but when we work on our own healing, it has a ripple effect that sparks healthier relationships, stronger communities, and a better world. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/counselling-intern-program daily 0.75 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/b9d5fffe-b70e-46c0-8ed9-71ab5f7ee5f4/BurnBrightJune2025-13+%281%29.jpg Counselling Intern Program https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/counselling-intern-client-intake daily 0.75 2025-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/e73dcddc-c876-43c8-96c5-7815dad9e619/pexels-mccutcheon-3738057.jpg https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meetalyx daily 0.75 2026-01-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/027265fc-2291-4674-8b96-2eadd6c22de6/BB+Profile+Photo.jpg Meet Alyx - Let's honour and hold space for whatever brings you here. My name is Alyx and my pronouns are they/them. I arrive at this work and my relationship to Lekwungen lands and waterways as a settler of Gaelic Scottish, Irish, and British ancestry and as the descendent of early settlers on Coast Salish territories. I am immensely grateful for the Indigenous caretakers, Elders, and Two-Spirit people who have shaped how I approach my work. I hope that I may honour what has been shared with me and my community through living respectfully on these lands and centring a decolonial lens in my practice. I have always been drawn to community care work that centres liberation and social justice. This has taken down many paths, including working and grassroots organizing in the realms of anti-violence, outdoor education, LGBTQ2S+ youth programming, teaching and facilitation, research, and supporting parents and caregivers of trans children and youth. I believe that individual and group counselling is a part of co-creating worlds that are affirming, caring, and transformative. I am committed to creating a space that is welcoming and honours your agency and the fullness of who you are. I have an MSW from the University of Victoria, where I also teach as a sessional instructor, and am always seeking opportunities to learn and deepen my practice. My counselling approach is relational and collaborative, adapting to meet you where you are at. I am grounded in somatic, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive approaches. I believe nature can nurture support and growth; I offer sessions outdoors, so please let me know if this is something you are interested in! As a queer and trans person, I am deeply committed to the well-being of LGBTQ2S+ community and families. I centre gender-affirming approaches in my practice that create room for exploration, uncertainty, ambivalence, and gender joy. I am passionate about working alongside trans, non-binary, and questioning youth as well as their family members, including parents, grandparents, and siblings. I also enjoy working with queer and trans parents and/or queer folks considering growing their family. When I am not counselling or teaching, you can find me outside adventuring with my family. In the rare moments of calm in the chaos of parenthood, I love listening to podcasts and audiobooks while I garden or make food from scratch. I am always up for a cold water dip! https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meetalex daily 0.75 2026-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/5cb473c6-9ae3-470d-8dce-9ee7995bfc44/Alex+Mayr5+-+Alex+Mayr.jpg Meet Alex - Getting here may have been a big step- let's take the next one together. Hello and welcome! My name is Alex, and I’m so glad you’re here. I use she/her pronouns, though I also feel respected by they/them. I live and work on the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the Malahat, Quw’utsun, and WSÁNEĆ Nations. I hold deep gratitude for the privilege of calling this beautiful land home and strive to practise with cultural humility and ongoing reflection. You’re meeting me now as a counsellor, having completed a Master of Counselling degree through City University in 2025. My professional path has been diverse and winding: I’ve worked as a Registered Massage Therapist since 2012, earned an Advanced Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (2019), and completed a Bachelor of Health Science (2021). These experiences shape how I show up in the counselling space—grounded in body-based wisdom, systems thinking, and a deep respect for each person’s unique story. Outside of my work, I’m a partner to a wonderful nonbinary human, a dog-mum to the best little pup, a lifelong language learner, an amateur gardener, a dancer, and a passionate traveller—especially drawn to the culture and landscapes of Japan. I bring a lived understanding of both privilege and marginalization. As a Canadian-born, non-religious, white person, I hold dominant identities related to race, national origin, and religion. As a gay woman, I also navigate non-dominant experiences of gender and sexuality. My life has included surviving a traumatic brain injury, experiences of houselessness, and work as a sex worker—all of which inform my deep commitment to destigmatizing these experiences and holding space for others navigating similar paths. While I would never assume my experiences mirror your own, I hope it’s helpful to know that I may offer some meaningful points of connection. I will meet you with empathy, curiosity, and care. I work with individuals of all identities, ages, and lived experiences, and I hold a special interest in supporting people navigating concerns around sex, sexuality, identity, gender, LGBTQ2S+ experiences, trauma, chronic pain, current and former sex work, and alternative relationship structures such as polyamory and kink/BDSM. I’m passionate about client-centred care and find deep meaning in supporting people as they build autonomy in their healing journeys. My hope is to co-create a space that feels safe, affirming, and collaborative—one where your goals, values, and voice are honoured every step of the way. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meetkash daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/8f604a66-0201-46f0-9f77-bfb7197b2fa9/20220905_140640.jpg Meet Kash - Your existence is so valid. My name is Kash, and my pronouns are he/him. I was born and raised on Treaty 7 territory and now reside on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. The queer experience is one I have been immersed in my whole life. I believe deeply that we should all have the opportunity and safety to explore who we are, which ultimately led me to want to be a part of the Burn Bright team. After a 15-year career in Construction Management, I left the industry to pursue using my skills in a more meaningful way. I have a knack for data, systems, business operations, finances, research, and spreadsheets, and I use these skills to support the daily needs of our Clinical Director, Mady Harber, and the Burn Bright team. While I spend the majority of my work life supporting Burn Bright remotely, you may see me bopping around the office from time to time. Please feel free to say hi! It is my privilege to help support our clinic and counselling team to make Burn Bright a welcoming, safe space for you to come to. In my free time, you can find me on a walk near the ocean (stopping to pet animals, of course), skateboarding and listening to good tunes, travelling to new places, or hanging out with my wonderful cats. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/dialecticalbehaviortherapy daily 0.75 2025-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/22224281-269c-46db-9fd0-6b08dd66ebdb/Kash+edit+with+price.png https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/dbt-client-intake daily 0.75 2025-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/3dcaace8-7a72-4616-b46a-e35d4ac24cc1/flag+image.jpg https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/clinic-photos daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/6eb8a20b-a93e-438b-96b2-63bcce3597e7/BurnBrightOffice-42.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/d134aeca-05b9-4b66-9bbe-167a9de6a8a9/BurnBrightOffice-74.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/4a04f617-c572-4ce5-abed-3a405746644c/BurnBrightOffice-12.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/e3ae0acc-04b7-4f2b-9eb9-6d851c03f996/BurnBrightOffice-02.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/9054f5d2-7165-4b14-a6b8-be3dc7e05338/BurnBrightOffice-01.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/81272518-827f-47a1-9687-9a48b449b2fa/BurnBrightOffice-48.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/4f9a7630-25cf-466f-bb3a-ddcfeddd64b9/BurnBrightOffice-16.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/17f3453c-cf89-42f4-9004-0b5219e510a6/BurnBrightOffice-32.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/31b2af8f-31c0-4f0a-ac9a-9d705a3ccba0/BurnBrightOffice-61.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/a8722e69-f464-478d-8685-0b3a02eb5a90/BurnBrightOffice-63.jpg Photos Of Our Clinic https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/our-clinic-info daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/f5a4cfb3-df43-4764-af64-41f44f5c6cea/office+photo+1.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/7d8372ae-388b-4d3b-a9ef-49bec08e0cf5/Office+Building+Photos.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/89bed6b0-b1e6-427d-98f4-777411f3aaf3/office+photo+2.png https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/apply-to-be-a-counselling-intern daily 0.75 2026-01-05 https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/affordable-binder-program daily 0.75 2025-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/ddf7616c-8e2d-423c-b9fe-4496ac4c80b6/BurnBrightOffice-46.jpg https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/hormone-surgical-recommendations daily 0.75 2025-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/2f015fa4-61a5-4a4e-b5f7-c139a67b66ab/BurnBrightOffice-45.jpg https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meet-shay daily 0.75 2025-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/c4670250-f2a8-4177-b73f-9f97dc47d215/PXL_20240610_052020199+-+Shay+Manerikar.jpg Meet Shay - There is space for all of you here. My name is Shay Manerikar and my pronouns are they/them/theirs. I am a biracial, trans, and non-binary settler born in Canada. I'm descended from Indian immigrants and white settlers, and grew up in Treaty 7 territory in Alberta (Mohkinstis). I have been living in Lekwungen territory for two years, and feel a deep connection to these lands. As a settler, I am always deepening my understanding of how to decolonize my counselling practice and fulfill my responsibilities to the land and its original stewards. I am a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. I have over 4 years experience working with both teenage and adult survivors of sexual violence and educating other professionals about how to support survivors in the work they do. I strive to work from an anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and strength-based lens that explores and affirms the impacts of politics, community, identity, environment, and relationships on mental health. My approach incorporates narrative therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, self-compassion, the neurobiology of trauma, and somatic (body-based) interventions. I believe that healing happens through authentic relationships where you feel truly seen, heard, and accepted. I bring my full self into the counselling room - I'm a nerdy human who loves to laugh, leans into the awkward, stumbles over my words, and acknowledges what I don't know. I have lived experience navigating chronic depression, accessing gender-affirming care, and finding my place in a world where I often felt I did not "fit." I am honoured to walk with my clients through the messiness of healing and being human, together. We can laugh, cry, sit together in silence, celebrate your wins, rage against systems and people who have hurt you, ask questions, and explore hard truths. I invite you to show up exactly as you are and know that there is space for all of you here. When I'm not counselling, you can find me drinking copious amounts of tea, reading all the books, lounging by the ocean or in the forest, obsessing over my two kitties, crafting, and spending quality time with friends. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meet-chelsea daily 0.75 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/0977f715-ac56-4bcd-a002-4a1fdc866791/chels+in+swing.JPG Meet Chelsea - You’re here for a reason; let’s explore that with curiosity. My name is Chelsea/Chels, and my pronouns are they/them. I am queer and non-binary, and in an ongoing process of finding language that fits my experience. I am a settler of mixed European descent and grew up on the unceded traditional territory of the Quw’utsun’ people, also known as the Cowichan tribes. I now live on unceded Lək̓ʷəŋən territory. The process of personal and professional decolonization continues to enrich my life and increase my gratitude to the stewards of this land, their relationship to it, and the beauty of the land itself. Before pursuing my Master's in Counselling, I was a manager in the service industry for 15 years. This work, much like life, sometimes asks us to compartmentalize our struggles or parts of our authentic selves in order to be in certain spaces. It has instilled in me the importance of cultivating boundaries that can hold my authenticity while engaging what the space I’m in is asking for. This informs my approach in the counselling room: holding a space for your authentic self and navigating how to hold on to it alongside the complexities of life, circumstances, relationships and wounds. I believe that each person knows themselves best and see our work together as supporting your connecting to yourself. I also believe that healing work is sometimes about finding and other times about intentionally forming, who we are and how to move forward. I have a passion for working with people navigating the complexities of religion and religious communities. This could include religious doubt, clergy abuse, harm done within religion, deconstruction and post-religious growth and meaning making. The intersection of these with being a part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is an area of personal experience for me. This gives me a deep appreciation for how layered and scary this arena can be. When I’m not studying or working, I enjoy deepening my connections to self (through coffee and meditation in the morning) and my community (usually through sharing food and conversation and/or adventure). When I have other pockets of time, I like taking on a building project of some kind. The process of creating slows me down and connects my mind and body. It also helps me hold both beauty and imperfection together. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meet-magda daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/f4bc5b25-4bf8-48f2-b1ef-562b1780e16e/PXL_20230717_081607078+-+Magda+T.jpg Meet Magda - I’m grateful you’re here. My name is Magda and I use they/them pronouns. I am a settler of English and Norwegian descent who grew up on the unceded traditional territory of the K'ómoks First Nation. Over the past decade I have been fortunate enough to live on both coasts on the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaw people (Halifax, NS) as well as currently on the traditional territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən people (Victoria, BC). I am a queer person with a passion for community, mental health and nature. I have been working with youth in a mental health and outdoors program for the past four years and through this work I have come to see nature as an amazing resource for mental health. If you’re interested in exploring counselling outdoors, let me know! I offer virtual, in person (in office) and in person (outdoor) sessions. As someone who started their counselling journey later in life, I understand what it’s like to face emotional, financial and physical barriers to accessing care. I’m grateful that you are here, I understand how hard it can be, and I am honoured to support you on your path. My approach to counselling is strength-based, collaborative, compassionate and focused on your healing as you define it. I’m very passionate about supporting 2SLGBTQ+ people and have been working in community support roles for fifteen years, which has helped me to understand the importance of connection, validation and being heard. There are so many possibilities in counselling and if you’d like to explore that together, I’d be honoured to get to know your world. When I’m not at school or Burn Bright, I do my best to prioritize quality time with loved ones, travelling around this wild world, listening to the sounds of waves, eating delicious food, cheering on drag performers and dreaming of going to a Chappell Roan concert with my wife. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meet-jay daily 0.75 2025-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/3c3d2e47-5a50-4cc9-8665-3ca178cecdeb/IMG_1394+-+JJ.jpeg Meet Jay - Together, we’ll uncover and embrace your authentic self. My name is Jay Jacobs, and my pronouns are he/him/his. I am an uninvited settler currently living, working, and playing on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. This includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations), the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Îyârhe Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. I am deeply grateful to the Indigenous peoples who have cared for and stewarded this land for generations. Their knowledge, culture, and presence continue to be integral to the wellness of all who live here. I am a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counselling. I have experience working in crisis environments, non-profit organizations, and private practice, supporting individuals through a wide range of mental health challenges. I specialize in individual, couples, and family counselling, using evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Person-Centred Therapy. My approach is integrative and client-focused, tailored to meet the unique needs of each person I work with. As a trans man, I am deeply committed to supporting the LGBTQ2S+ community and their families. I centre gender-affirming care that embraces exploration, uncertainty, and the many experiences of gender—including the joy that comes with it. I work with anyone navigating these journeys, alongside their loved ones, providing a space that is compassionate, affirming, and supportive. I strive to create a safe, inclusive space where clients feel truly seen and heard. My lived experience as a trans man informs my work, allowing me to offer care that is both empathetic and affirming, grounded in a deep understanding of the unique experiences of queer and trans individuals. Outside of counselling, I prioritize self-care through activities like playing hockey, walking my puppy, and hiking in the mountains—practices that help me stay connected and grounded. https://www.burnbrightcounselling.ca/meet-holly daily 0.75 2026-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a25363629c2026526d99f/14f30d97-2adb-4c42-8c21-3160bab1473e/Screenshot+2026-02-21+105222.png Meet Holly - All of you is welcome here. Together, we’ll explore what matters most to you. My name is Holly Williams, and I use she/they pronouns. I am cisgender and pansexual, with Scandinavian, British, and Irish ancestry. I was born in Australia, raised in Canada, and now make my home in Victoria – Lekwungen (Xwsepsum, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ) territory. As a white settler, I am committed to lifelong learning, anti-racism, and living with humility, reciprocity, and respect for all beings. I am a Registered Social Worker with a Masters of Social Work from the University of Calgary. Over the past decade, I’ve worked across mental health and substance use services—from non-profits to health authorities, recovery centres to crisis settings. Most recently, I’ve supported people navigating their first experiences of psychosis. I’ve walked alongside people navigating complex mental, physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and systemic challenges. This work has taught me a deep respect for the wisdom of survival and the non-linear nature of healing. I am continually humbled by my clients’ courage and the trust they place in me. You are the expert of yourself, and you carry abundant wisdom. Alongside this, my own lived experiences –with depression, substance use, queerness, body and sexuality reclamation, relationships, and religious and identity deconstruction – may offer a place where you feel uniquely seen and understood. My therapeutic approach weaves together narrative therapy, somatic (body-centred) practices, parts work, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). My practice is inclusive, culturally attuned, strength-based, and client-led—guided by your values, goals, and lived experience. I bring my full self into the room and invite you to bring your full, messy, beautiful, weird self as well. In our sessions, we slow things down, notice patterns, process grief and anger, ask hard questions, strengthen coping skills, reconnect with what feels meaningful, and build deeper self-trust. We also make space for connection, pleasure, and joy. Some sessions may be thick or heavy; others may feel light, clarifying, or even playful. You set the pace, and we work with what’s present. Outside of work, you’ll likely find me hiking or basking in nature, dancing with abandon, lifting heavy things in my “iron playground”, listening to audiobooks, laughing with friends, or curled up with my partner. A good counselling experience is all about finding the right fit. If something here resonates, I invite you to reach out for a brief, free consultation.