Vanessa is a Mastered trained Clinical Social Worker. Founder and Clinical Director of Lupine Clinical Counselling.

Clients may have various stressors, mood concerns, grief/loss, life transitions and inter-personal relationship struggles that they are seeking support for.

Vanessa also specializes in counselling individuals and their families during their journey with fertility, perinatal mental health and birth trauma.

Vanessa has worked with individuals and families in various mental health and family counselling programs for over 18 years. Her experience and passion for her specialization in her practice is drawn from 10 years working in a perinatal mental health programs as well as her own family’s journey through fertility, pregnancy and postpartum.

One’s fertility and perinatal experience can be marked with stress, anger, grief/loss, fears, anxiety, depression and difficulty in interpersonal relationships. Vanessa draws on trust and confidentiality in her practice while she supports you through self-awareness, reflection, reframing and discovering new tools to assist with your relationships, communication (often with support system and professionals), self-care, and growth during your journey.

At times it will be suggested to engage a partner or other support person in your counselling as we are most often not alone during the times of our fertility or perinatal experiences. The health of our relationships and support networks are vital to our health and coping during these often-difficult times. Vanessa can also assist with connecting you with complementary health-care practitioners, support groups, reading material and financial aid as appropriate.

It is her hope that with this support you will feel more grounded, have increased skills to manage stressors and have a plan how to move into your next life phase thriving.

Vanessa’s theoretical orientation is towards a client-centred, psycho-educational, strength-based approach and her therapeutic approaches are trauma and attachment informed and draw from training in: Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mind-Based Techniques, The Gottman Method and Family Systems Theory in her work supporting clients.

Vanessa is a Registered Social Worker with the BC College of Social Work therefore many employee benefit plans will reimburse for her services or they may be claimed on your annual income tax returns as a medical expense.

Sessions offered in-person or on-line (within the West Kootenays). Please email to inquire about booking an Initial Session.

Vanessa is a Mastered trained Clinical Social Worker. Founder and Clinical Director of Lupine Cli... Read More

Joanna is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) who is Masters trained and is accepting new clients both in person and on-line through Lupine Clinical Counselling

She is currently completing a certificate in Perinatal Mental Health through CPMHT and is passionate in supporting individuals and their families during the Perinatal period of their life including reproductive health, prenatal/postpartum depression and anxiety, birth trauma, relationship challenges, parent-child relationships, and life transitions.

Joanna has trained in a variety of evidence-based therapy approaches including Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and numerous trainings practicing therapy from a trauma informed lens.

Joanna’s approach to counselling is rooted in empathy, compassion, acceptance, insight and empowerment. Through a holistic and client-centered approach Joanna will work with you to develop therapy focus and goals, to help build inner strength, create new self awareness, cultivate positive self-regard, and explore various thoughts and behaviours that may be limiting to one’s overall health and wellbeing. Joanna believes in the value of exploring all pieces of one’s story and collaboratively finding effective coping strategies and inner resilience to move through any of life’s challenges.

Joanna graduated in 2023 with a Master of Counselling having completed a 400 hour counselling internship with Elspiri Counselling and co-facilitated a Post-Partum Group with Vanessa Dowell. In addition to her therapy training Joanna has over 15 years working in the social services sector with adults, youth, children and families; most recently 10 years working at Nelson Community Services. Joanna was also previously a DONA certified doula and practiced as a Doula in the Kootenays.

Joanna raises her two young children alongside her partner on their homestead outside of Nelson. Joanna enjoys spending time with friends and family, gardening, swimming, reading and getting outdoors as much as possible.

Joanna is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) who is Masters trained and is accepting new clie... Read More