Staff
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Staff Members

 

Barb Shields is our new Executive Director.

Barb Shields M.C., R.C.C.  is a registered clinical counselor with a master’s degree in the area of counseling psychology.  Barb has over 20 years of experience in the counseling field in both the non-profit sector and private practice. Her areas of specialty are trauma, personal growth, and health and wellness. In a leadership role at CVCCS, she will oversee the counseling practice with the goal of providing a quality service to all our clients and the organizations that fund us.  To this end she welcomes feedback, comments, and inquires that will assist us in meeting the needs of our members and making a positive contribution to our communities. 

 

                        

 Gloria Manning-Smee holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work Degree, and a Master of Education degree in Counselling.  She has been in the social work field since 1980.  Her experiences include child protection Social Worker with the Ministry; a Foster Parent of youth deemed to be at high risk; a Residential Caregiver of mentally & physically challenged adults; Abuse Prevention Services Coordinator; Child Care Work; Individual and Family Counselling, and Family Support Work.  Gloria has a special interest in gender and sexual orientation issues, Stress Management and Critical Incident Stress.  Gloria draws on Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Constructivist Theory, Feminist Theory and Logotherapy.  She is the mother of four children and four grandchildren, and loves living in the beautiful Kootenays.  Gloria is looking forward to working with the dynamic team at Columbia Valley Counselling Centre.

 

                       

                       

Tracey Christianson, MC, CCC (Certified Canadian Counsellor) is one of our new counsellors, holds a Master of Counselling Degree in Applied Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Tracey has over 10 years of counselling experience working with a broad spectrum of presenting problems including mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, complicated grief and substance use, along with experience in career, employment and educational planning and a specialization in working with survivors of acquired brain injury. Tracey also has a special interest in the psychosocial aspects of health, illness and rehabilitation.

 

Tracey’s theoretical orientation is based on Cognitive Behavioural therapy and her counselling philosophy is grounded in a working alliance, client-centered and hope focused perspective. She is comfortable using a variety of psychological interventions with individuals or couples and is a skilled group leader of psycho educational and process based groups. She practices from a multi-cultural perspective and has supported individuals from various ethnic and spiritual backgrounds as well as those individuals belonging to a range of non-dominate populations. Tracey is thrilled to have this opportunity to work at CVCCS and to support residents in the Kootenay Boundary.

 

 

 

Laura Barkwell, MSW, RCC  (Registered with the BC  Association of clinical counsellors).  Laura has worked in the field of Human Services for thirty years in a range of positions including Child and Youth Work, Inpatient/Outpatient Hospital Social Work, Mental Health for Children and Families, Women’s Physical and Mental Health Issues, Family Violence, Problem Gambling Counseling, Child and Family Counseling for children with Behavioral/Developmental/Emotional Learning Issues, and Attachment and Adoption Issues. 

 Laura enjoys ongoing professional development and to this end has attended numerous courses and conferences related to Play Therapy, Family Conflict, Parenting, Attachment and Bonding, Adoption, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Family Communication and Healthy Emotional Development , Separation and Divorce Issues, Loss and Grief, Miscarriage and Stillbirth Trauma and Healing, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)  Advanced Trainings for working with Dissociation and Ego States, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Medical , and Abuse Trauma.  

Laura has a wholistic approach to counseling which encompasses body, mind, and spirit.  Laura’s key professional values are to show respect and compassion to all persons seeking support and to provide counseling so as to have the person develop, affirm, and honor their strengths and build their emotional wellbeing.  Life is a journey with joys and challenges, and Laura offers to work alongside with empathy and encouragement. 

 

 

 

 

The Administrative Assistant at  Columbia Valley Counselling Centre  is Frances Rhodes.  She is  looking forward to  working with our worksites.  She has a 6 year background in Human Resources, including having been employed the last 2 years as an HR Manager for a major retail outlet.  She is pleased to have this opportunity to work with this organization which has helped so many individuals and their families over the years and she will be happy to assist you with any queries about our service.