Validity Counsellors
All of our counsellors have completed or are near completing a Master's degree in counselling or related field such as psychology, social work, or education.
We have a diverse group of counsellors with a variety of expertise, so you can choose the counsellor who is right for you.
Your counsellor will work with you to tailor a treatment plan unique to you, using evidence-based methods to help you learn, heal and grow.
Specializes in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).
*Limited availability.
Jenny is founder and owner of Validity Counselling. Prior to creating Validity, Jenny worked for 12 years as a counsellor at Walmsley Counselling Services.
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Jenny received her Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Calgary. She has completed comprehensive and advanced training in DBT. Jenny maintains a small caseload, focusing on individuals who have difficulty regulating their emotions, thoughts, behaviour, and relationships.
Jenny focuses on the way that emotions, thoughts, and behaviours interact together to form either effective or ineffective methods of coping.
Professional Association Membership: Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) - Registration #17849.
Jenny DeReis
Owner and MC Psych, RCC
Teresa DeReis
Co-Owner and
MC Psych (Candidate)
Specializes in working with children and teens.
Teresa has a BSc. in Psychology from UNBC and is currently completing a Master of Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University.
Teresa works with children and youth and has completed specialized training through the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI) on play therapy, DBT skills for children and youth, anxiety in children and youth, and self-injury in youth. She has also taken specialized training on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) therapy.
Teresa uses a child-centered approach and play therapy with younger children. With older children and teens, she uses a person-centered approach and incorporates a variety of CBT, DBT, and/or art therapy techniques to suit each client's needs.
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Teresa provides a safe, supportive, and accepting counselling space where children and teens can build confidence, learn to understand and regulate their emotions, develop healthy thought and behaviour patterns, and heal from trauma.
LOKI
Therapy Dog
(In-Training)
Works with children and teens.
Loki is a 2-year-old Border Collie who is currently working on completing Therapy Dog Training through Caring K9 Institute.
Loki works with his mum, Validity Counsellor, Teresa DeReis (see bio above). Although Loki is just starting his therapy-dog training, he is a natural. He loves people and is a very sensitive, intuitive, and gentle boy.
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Loki helps young clients feel safe and connected within the counselling space, develop trust, relieve stress, and build confidence.
Loki has limited availability and is only in the office when scheduled with clients.
Barb Buch
MSc. Health Ed.
Specializes in holistic and resource/strength-based approaches.
Barb has a Master of Science degree in Health Education and has worked for several years in the areas of mental health, health promotion, psychoeducation, family support, addiction/recovery, and individual counselling.
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Barb utilizes a solution-focused, neuroscience-based approach to address a variety of issues including anxiety, shame, depression, stress, relationships, addictions and recovery, body image, and physical challenges/illness.
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Barb’s approach is holistic (body-mind-spirit), personalized, collaborative, and trauma-informed, drawing from a variety of modalities based on clients' wishes, needs, and abilities. Her modalities include CBT, DBT, narrative therapy, positive psychology, mindfulness, eco-therapy, and somatic-based techniques
Barb provides a non-judgmental space to enable client awareness and re-connection of body, mind, and spirit. She believes we all carry inner wisdom and resources within us, which can be brought to awareness and activated through the counselling process.
Emily Clark
MA Counselling Psych
Works with youth and adults.
Emily has a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She has a special interest in diversity and brings an understanding how multiple factors (e.g., biological, psychological, social, and cultural) play a role in health and wellness.
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Emily’s work is grounded in a client-centered approach, which focuses on providing a safe and non-judgmental environment and working collaboratively with clients to identify and achieve their goals. She believes that each person holds the tools within themselves for growth, healing, and change and that the aim of counselling is to help clients access these innate abilities.
Emily draws on skills from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Emotion Focussed Therapy (EFT) and Solution Focussed Therapy (SFT) to identify and utilize each client’s unique strengths.
Specializes in trauma and culturally-informed practices.
Laurel has a Master’s in Indigenous Studies and has worked in the social services field for over 20 years. Her work is strength-based, person-centred, and holistic. She has worked with children, youth, families and communities, working from a trauma and intercultural informed practice.
She has worked with youth and adults who have been sexually exploited and who have experienced gang violence. She is skilled at working through the many layers of psychological, physical, sexual, and spiritual abuses.
Laurel believes building trust and holding safe space for individuals is paramount to healing. She focuses on expressional therapies such as play, art, crafts, writing, movement, and mindfulness practices.
Laurel Collins
MA in Indigenous Studies
Ishnoor Ghuman
MA Psych, RCC
Specializes in youth anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Ishnoor has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology from Punjabi University in India.
He has been counselling children and youth since 2019, helping them manage complex needs across a variety of issues, including depression, anxiety, and addictions. He also has experience working with children and youth on the Autism spectrum.
He uses a variety of treatment strategies to foster positive change and healthy development. With children, he uses Play Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy, and with youth, he uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).
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Ishnoor helps clients find their strengths, build confidence, and develop helpful and healthy thoughts and behaviours. He is fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi.
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Professional Association Membership: Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) - Registration #20006.
Ida Alleman
MSc, RCC
Specializes in teen, family, Indigenous, and women’s issues.
*Limited availability.
Ida is a dedicated and experienced counsellor who has worked with children, youth, couples, and families in Prince George since 1994. She is an Adlerian Therapist with vast experience working with individual and family issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief/loss, learning disabilities, medication management, and domestic violence.
Ida excels in conflict resolution, group process, and child advocacy. She has worked extensively with Indigenous persons on and off reserve and is approved to see Indigenous persons through First Nations Health Authority.
Professional Association Membership: Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) - Registration #2869.
Savita Jaswal
RSW
Special interest in a holistic approach to health problems and grief/loss.
*Phone and video sessions only.
Savita earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Simon Fraser University, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from UNBC.
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Savita specializes in grief and loss and has a special interest in supporting individuals and families experiencing serious illnesses. Her practice is built on a person-centred philosophy, while also drawing from methods such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), attachment theory, harm reduction, solution-focused and trauma-informed practice.
Savita believes individuals have the strength and abilities to live happy and healthy life. Her role is to provide a safe, empathetic, and authentic space to support individuals in achieving their goals.
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Professional Association Membership: Registered Social Worker with the BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW) - Registration #15124
Specializes in working with children and teens.
Sean has been counselling children and youth for over a decade. He obtained his Psychology Degree from UNBC and his Masters in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University.
Sean has extensive training and experience in working with Autism and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. He uses play therapy, Rogerian counselling, and developmental psychology to help children find their way through the challenges of growing up.
Sean finds that with the proper support, children can discover themselves and find their own unique path to a healthy childhood.
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Professional Association Membership: Registered Clinical Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) - Registration #10006118.
Sean Hogan
MA Psych, CCC
Melissa D'Agostino
MEd - Counselling Psych (Candidate)
Specializes in neurodivergence, trauma, attachment, and body-based approaches.
Melissa has a Bachelor's degree in psychology, with a minor in education, from the University of Victoria, and she is currently completing a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology at UNBC.
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Melissa has completed advanced training in body-based approaches, including Level II training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. She utilizes a body-based approach with a blend of trauma-informed, emotion-focused, and strengths-based techniques.
Melissa specializes in trauma and attachment injuries that reside within the body, which often manifest as bodily symptoms. Melissa also has extensive experience with neurodiversity supports, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, and dyslexia.
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Melissa views the counselling room as a space for exploration, curiosity, and shared vulnerability--a place where healing, repair, and transformation can unfold in safety and connection and where new possibilities can emerge.
Office Staff
Kirsten Muxlow
Co-Owner and
Office Manager
When you call our office, the friendly voice on the other end of the line is Kirsten. She can answer any questions you may have, help you find the right counsellor for your needs, and get you booked quickly and confidentially.
Kirsten has a caring and non-judgmental personality and a passion for helping others. She has several years of experience working with troubled youth, people with disabilities, and those dealing with trauma and other mental health issues.
Kirsten brings her compassionate nature to everything she does, and she excels at helping others in her role at Validity.