Columbia Valley Counselling 

Centre Society

"Creating Healthy Employees, Families, and Communities"

Staff Members

Sara Clarke is our new C.V.C.C.S. Executive Director and she feels privileged to join our EFAP team and to serve our members and Board of Directors.  Sara is new to the West Kootenays and brings with her fourteen years of clinical and direct community based counseling support to children, youth and adults in both a staff and managerial capacity.  Sara is a strong supporter of the EFAP non-profit organizational structure and has spent her entire career working exclusively for community based non-profit organizations.

Sara is familiar with unique needs of rural Canadian communities having been a therapist in the Muskoka region of Ontario and in the Sea to Sky (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton) region of British Columbia.  Sara has provided out-post support to remote aboriginal communities and having spent her early childhood living on a reserve has an interest in First Nation social issues.

Sara's career has focused on innovative community based therapeutic programming for adults, children and their families.  Sara had the opportunity to be part of a pilot project which developed a Behaviour/Communication approach to the assessment and treatment of challenging behaviours as part of the community living movement and de-institutionalization process.  Sara is experienced in group therapy facilitation including anger management, anxiety reduction/relaxation, self-esteem building and assertiveness training, communication, sexuality and relationships.  Sara has also supervised group homes for individuals with developmental and/or mental health challenges and served as the Infant Development Consultant for the Sea to Sky region for four years.  She has extensive interest, training and experience in child development, children's mental health, parenting and early intervention.

Sara welcomes input/enquires from all members and potential members and looks forward to meeting the Member Organizations and their EFAP Committees and/or EFAP Representatives.

Ms. Nilo  Moller is one of the Coordinator/Counsellors at C.V.C.C.S.  She is an internationally certified employee assistance professional (CEAP) and has more than 20 years in the human services field.  She also has certified training in Trauma Recovery, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Conflict Resolution and Addictions, the latter through the B.C. Government Ministry of Labour & Consumer Services – Alcohol & Drug Program. 

She has performed team building and conflict resolution events for various businesses, industries, municipalities, and labour unions in the Kootenays.  In recent times she has obtained extensive education in cognitive behavioral therapy, including taking training with the eminent psychiatrist and author ("Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy"), Dr. David Burns.  

Nilo also has a previous background in journalism and public relations, and has worked as a group facilitator and educator.

Laura Anderson is also a Coordinator/ Counsellor  at C.V.C.C.S  is a relatively new member of the West Kootenay community having moved to Rossland in 2003 to be closer to her family.   Laura has a Bachelors and Masters degree in social work and is registered with the B.C. Board of Certified Social Workers.  She has over 20 years of counseling experience with individuals, couples and groups. In the fifteen years prior to moving to our area, she was a program specialist and counselor in a hospital based health center in Toronto. She has extensive experience in many counseling areas including relationship difficulties, depression and anxiety, loss and grief work, past and present trauma, stress, self esteem, body image, single parent issues, coping with physical and medical problems, etc.  She has advanced training in Brief Therapy models that focus on client strengths and client's abilities to meet life's challenges with appropriate supports.

In addition to counseling Laura has been an instructor in several social work programs including the University of Toronto, University of Manitoba and Selkirk College in Castlegar.

Laura is very happy about joining the CVCCS  team and feels privileged to be able to meet and work with people who are seeking counseling from our organization. She is excited about her life here and is appreciating the friendly people and beautiful environment.  

The new Administrative Assistant at  the CVCCS office is Frances Rhodes.  She has recently joined the CVCCS Team and 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 a 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.

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