Welcome! I’m Kristin
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), M.Ed.
About My Work
I’ve been working closely with teens since 2012, across settings where anxiety, school avoidance, and hopelessness were common. My career began as a public school teacher in a BC Youth Custody Centre, followed by seven years as a school counsellor in both a large urban high school and an alternate school before moving into private practice.
Across these settings, I saw both the strengths and the limits of school-based support, and how many teens struggle without consistent access to specialized mental health care. I understand how quickly things can shift from manageable to overwhelming, and how difficult it can feel to find a way forward once things seem too far off track.
Over the years, I’ve supported teens in improving emotional well‑being, rebuilding confidence, and finding a clearer sense of direction in their lives.
My Approach
My approach integrates years of experience supporting teens with complex challenges and combines it with a relational, warm, attentive, and grounded style. I focus on creating a space where young people feel genuinely heard and understood without pressure or judgment.
My work is trauma‑informed and draws from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution‑Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and person‑centred approaches, informed by current research in neuroscience. Sessions focus on understanding how patterns of stress and avoidance develop, and how the brain can learn new, more helpful responses through awareness and practice over time.
I believe that emotional well‑being reflects the bigger picture of daily life. Sleep, nutrition, movement, and supportive connections all affect how we feel and cope. While reflection is important, going over the same worries again and again can make people feel worse. Counselling with me focuses on insight, skill‑building, and practical steps that lead to meaningful change.
Who I Help
I work with teens (15+) and young adults who experience anxiety, depression, school refusal, and uncertainty about direction. This often includes persistent worry, avoidance, low motivation, and a growing sense of hopelessness. These concerns can show up as difficulty attending school, conflicts at home, withdrawing from peers, or feeling stuck and unsure how to move forward.
Professional Background
During my years teaching at the Burnaby Youth Custody Centre, I completed advanced training in trauma‑informed practice and focused my Master’s research on the best ways to support teens who experienced childhood trauma. This work deepened my understanding of how early experiences impact stress responses and daily functioning.
As a school counsellor, I supported youth experiencing anxiety, school refusal, depression, self‑harm, suicidal thoughts, and other complex concerns. These experiences have given me a clear understanding of how stress and avoidance patterns develop, and how realistic, compassionate support can help youth find stability and direction. I’m also familiar with how the school system works in BC and the full range of graduation pathways available for students at any stage.
Credentials
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
M.Ed. Counselling, City University of Seattle (2016)
B.Ed. Education, University of British Columbia (2010)
B.A. Psychology, University of British Columbia (2009)
Beyond Counselling
Outside of counselling, I try to live by the same values that guide my work: curiosity, authenticity, and a grounded sense of calm. I was born and raised in Vancouver, and growing up surrounded by mountains, forest, and ocean shaped my love of nature. I’m naturally more introverted and happiest in simple routines, like time at home with my husband, son, and our two cats, or getting outside whenever we can.
I find balance in the things I enjoy most, including gardening, baking, easy-hiking, camping, snowboarding, and paddle boarding. I’m lucky to live near the beach and love to swim in the ocean whenever it’s warm enough. I’m a big‑time animal lover and, as the name Wild Bird Counselling suggests, I’m really into birds. I also value quiet downtime doing nothing in particular, relaxing at home with my family, or catching up on bad reality TV when my brain needs a break.
Being in nature helps me slow down, clear my mind, and gain perspective. It reminds me to notice what’s around me and stay connected to what feels meaningful. I bring that same sense of curiosity, warmth, and respect for each person’s pace and process into my work.