A mental health counselling centre with a team of therapists that offers affordable In Person Counselling in Kelowna, BC & Online Counselling in British Columbia
What makes you come alive?
We believe we all have “stuff” & can benefit from counselling.
Alive Counselling is a mental health clinic in Kelowna, BC.
We provide affordable In Person Counselling in Kelowna, and Online Counselling in BC. We offer therapy for adults, couples, teens, university students, children, and families.
We have a great team of therapists to find the right fit for you!
The right fit is such an important aspect of counselling. We offer flexible times (days, evenings, & weekends) for appointments and areas of counselling to meet you where you are.
We also offer online counselling and in person counselling in Kelowna, BC for children, teens, university students, adults, couples, & families.
Click the button below to meet our team of therapists, see their availabilities, and book in a consultation or appointment. Or continue reading down the homepage or About the Team page 🙂
Lauren is a former high school teacher, elite university athlete, and National Championship university coach.
She works with teens, university-aged students, and adults, and offers In Person Counselling, Walk and Talk Therapy, and Online Counselling.
Counselling Specialties
Shenaya is a mama and previously worked in hospital settings supporting families and patients walking through chronic pain/illness and cancer.
Counselling Specialties
Natasha has a MSW and is a RCC. She has experience working with children and groups, trauma therapy, and using nature in her practice. Natasha offers In Person counselling and Online Counselling for individuals, couples, families, children, teens, and adults.
Counselling Specialties
Laura is a mama and former elementary school teacher. She is currently on mat leave and offering online counselling, and returns to in person counselling in November. She works with children, families, teens, and adults.
Counselling Specialties
Sara offers individual counselling for adults, both in-person and online. With anxiety and depression as focus areas of her training and practice, she uses CBT, ACT Therapy and Mindful Self-Compassion to help clients pursue meaningful change. She holds a special passion for supporting post-secondary students, and new or expectant mothers.
Counselling Specialties
Joan is a former registered nurse and is a mother to three adult children. She offers in person counselling Kelowna and Vernon, and online counselling.
Counselling Specialties:
Rachel is a former Occupational Therapist, yoga teacher, and hockey mom to three university-aged children. She offers online counselling and in person counselling Kelowna to teens, university students, adults, and couples.
Counselling Specialties
Barb will be away on maternity leave starting September 1st. But please reach out if you would like help finding the right fit as we have a GREAT team of therapists at Alive Counselling!
In the meantime, you can check out these great resources from Barb with Switch Research’s Therapy Talks Podcast and Youtube, Youtube Live, Online Courses on Silencing Your Inner Critic, Online Self-Compassion course, and Self-Talk Journals (Hardcover and Digital downloads).
Counselling Specialties
At Alive Counselling, we are trained and utilize CBT approaches, but most importantly, we believe all counselling is personalized to you, so we bring in a variety of approaches from CBT, Narrative therapy, Attachment therapy, Solution-Focused, Trauma-informed, Somatic, and more.
As former elite athletes and university coaches, Barb and Lauren specialize in supporting athlete’s mental health and mental performance
If you have an ICBC claim, you are eligible for starting with 12 covered counselling sessions (check your unique claim & coverage for confirmation of details). Then, we direct bill ICBC for you!
We all love working with university students! Barb is a clinical supervisor with Third Space Charity and UBCO. We all have worked with university students and provide counselling for various university students, UBCO students and Okanagan College students as their insurances (Pacific Blue Cross and Greenshield) cover counselling with RCCs.
Barb offers coaching, mentoring, and supervision for therapists and graduate students. For graduate student internships, Barb is a clinical supervisor with Third Space Charity.
Barb hosts Therapy Talks Podcast, Youtube, and Youtube Live by Switch Research where she has on guest therapists to discuss different mental health issues and tips, and teaches on various subjects related to your mental health
You can click the buttons above on the areas of counselling.
Or, book a complimentary consultation or book a counselling appointment with any of our team below.
Harness your inner voice to combat anxiety, improve your physical and mental health, and deepen your relationships with others. This 3-part series is a science-backed guide to gain an understanding of and control over the critical voice in your head.
Over the course of 13 weeks you’ll learn how to utilize powerful tools and techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to transform the way you interpret the world.
I’m so excited to announce my latest project, Self-Talk Journals to help you 1) Identify 2) Challenge and 3) Replace your Negative Self-Talk!
Discount code: Barb20
Counselling in Kelowna, British Columbia & Online Counselling
What makes you come alive?
That’s where we non-judgmentally meet you where you are to come alongside of you and get “unstuck.”
We help you understand where your “stuff” comes from (because we all have it), to get to the root of the issue so that it does not pop up like weeds in other areas of your life, robbing you of your joy and being fully present in your work, performance, sport, enjoyment, relationships, and overall well-being.
We educate, equip, and empower you with practical & personalized strategies and help stop the negative thinking patterns. And yes, little changes can make big changes.
And most importantly, we are for you. We validate and provide a safe space for you to explore things that are weighing on you, so that you can get above them versus being under them to truly come more alive in your life.
We are a team of like-minded therapists in Kelowna, British Columbia providing Online Counselling and Walk &. Talk Therapy. We each have different sub-specialties. The right fit with your counsellor and schedule is such an important part of counselling, so we are happy to help you find that.
Shenaya Matvieshen, RCC
Shenaya is passionate about creating space where people feel seen, accepted, and safe to explore the depths of their experiences. She approaches counselling from a holistic view, recognizing that the mind, body, and spirit all play an important role in wellbeing.
Counselling Specialties
Laura Belland, RCC
Laura works in CBT, self-compassion therapy and solution-focused therapy. She believes we can often be our own worst enemies and harshest critics, and hopes to help grow you to get past any negative thinking to become your most alive and thriving self; through CBT, compassionate self-care, and mindfulness amongst other strategies.
Counselling Specialties
Lauren Mills, RCC
As a former teacher, Lauren brings over 6 years of experience helping youth and adolescents navigate life’s unique challenges. Lauren is passionate about counselling for teens and adults in Kelowna, BC for anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, athletes, and a variety of “issues.” By walking besides clients in their mental health journey, Lauren incorporates a holistic mind and body approach to healing and well-being. As an elite-level coach and athlete, Lauren works from a strength-based and solution-focused approach tailored to individual clients’ needs. Bringing all these life skills together as a counsellor, Lauren works hard to help clients’ voices feel heard and supported in their pursuit of mental health journeys.
Counselling Specialties
Natasha Martini, MSW, RCC
I’m Natasha, and I am here to accompany you on your mental wellness journey so that you can live your most fulfilling and authentic life. I am here to provide a safe, comfortable, and confidential space for you to share your story and to explore your mental health goals. I am here to help you see your inner strengths and resiliency, and to help you feel like yourself again. I offer in-person, online, walk-and-talk, relationship, family, and group therapy services within Kelowna, BC. I operate from a bio-ecological, trauma-informed, anti-colonial, and strengths-based framework, and my practice employs elements of nature-based therapy, narrative therapy, and cognitive based therapy. For the young, and young at heart, I offer play-based and art-based therapy practices, and I am also happy to provide nature-based services outside so that you can enjoy some fresh air and sunshine as you engage in healing. I serve children, youth, adults, families, and couples, and I would be honoured to walk the path to mental wellness with you and your loved ones.
See Availability or Book in: Here
Counselling Specialties
Rachel Jones-McKinley, RCC
Hi There,
My name is Rachel. I am a mama, partner, daughter, sister, friend and counsellor. I am a lover of people and their stories, and believe in resilience, even when it seems impossible.
Sometimes life presents us with challenges that we didn’t ask for. This can feel unfair, and navigating our struggles can feel overwhelming. It is not lost on me the strength that it takes to seek help, and I find myself humbled by my client’s bravery. My own life experience, academics, as well as my background working in neurosciences, has shown me that although knowledge is essential, the power of human connection forms a strong foundation for change. I have experience working with many needs, from a variety of frameworks. However, above all else, I believe in the importance of providing my client’s with a safe therapeutic environment in which to share.
I work from a variety of frameworks including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Somatic Integration, Exposure and Response Prevention and Emotion Focused Therapy. Most importantly, I work from a Person-Centered approach…one that fits you.
I believe you know yourself better than anyone; sometimes you just need support discovering and accessing your true self.
Counselling Options:
-Therapy for Teens, University-aged students, Couples, and Adults
-In person counselling in Kelowna, British Columbia
Counselling Specialties
I like helping teens and adults understand and work through many trials including:
Joan vonNiessen, CCC
Hi, I’m Joan 🙂 I am a prairie girl that grew up in Manitoba, met my Kelowna-bred husband tree-planting in Northern Ontario, got married, moved to BC and had three children. Living in Vancouver we knew we could never afford to buy a house, so we moved to the Okanagan 24 years ago and haven’t looked back. We love it here and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
I was a former Registered Nurse for over thirty years. In my spare time I love to paddleboard, hike, bike, and hang out with my family. I love listening to mystery podcasts.
My areas of expertise are anxiety and trauma, EMDR Therapy, and LENS Neurofeedback. As well, I have experience working with depression, sleep disorders, ADHD, head injury, PTSD, relationship challenges, life transitions and peak performance.
My nursing background, in combination with my counselling training, gives me a unique, holistic view of health physical, mental and emotional challenges. I like to meet clients where they are at and begin to set goals that they are desiring to reach. I see myself as walking together with you on your journey of health and healing, exploring collaboratively, what barriers there might be to moving forward and finding solutions tailored to your individual personality and experiences. Beginning counselling can feel daunting but there can also be moments of laughter, learning and clarity. I encourage you to call today to see if working with me might be a good fit.
Counselling Specialties:
Barb Egan, Owner, Clinic Director, & RCC
Hi, I’m Barb. I believe we all have “stuff” and can benefit from counselling. We aim to personalize counselling to you and offer practical strategies to help you come more alive in your life. Barb loves educating, equipping, and empowering you to make lasting changes through individual therapy, groups, and as a clinical supervisor with Third Space and UBCO.
See Availability or Book in: Here
Add yourself to the Cancellation List Here to potentially get in sooner
Counselling Specialties
We believe nobody is perfect, & everybody is welcome.
Hi, I’m Barb. I work with a variety of individuals from athletes and university students to professionals, couples and parents.
As an online counsellor and a counsellor in Kelowna, British Columbia offering in-person therapy, I specialize in helping you overcome anxiety, stress, and depression among others “issues” holding you back. We all have “stuff” in our lives that we would like to change. We work through understanding where our “stuff” comes from so it does not continue to resurface and re-trigger, as well as learn practical coping strategies to overcome it.
As a former elite hockey player & coach, I also specialize in supporting an athlete’s and team’s mental training for optimized performance in your sport and in your life.
From a former elite athlete and professional coach, to a wife and mother, and now a registered clinical counsellor, I understand the importance of mental health in the game of life. Although my background is in hockey, these skills are transferable to other arenas of life to help you discover and reach your full potential.
I’d be honoured to work with you to overcome whatever obstacles you are facing to help you truly come alive. Showing up can be the hardest part. And you’ve already done that; you’re here.
If you’d like, you can read a little more about my story here 🙂
Shenaya is passionate about creating space where people feel seen, accepted, and safe to explore the depths of their experiences. She approaches counselling from a holistic view, recognizing that the mind, body, and spirit all play an important role in wellbeing. She incorporates evidence-based techniques in order to cultivate meaningful change for her clients. Shenaya believes that deepening our understanding of emotion in a safe relationship can be extremely healing and considers it an honor to walk with people in their journey.
Shenaya is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She has additional training in emotion focused therapy which focuses on developing self-awareness, creating meaning, and processing emotions. She has experience working with adults, couples, and groups in a variety of settings.
Her Counselling Specialties include
Hi! My name is Laura Belland, I am so excited to be joining Alive Counselling. I became interested in counselling back when I struggled with my own mental health and saw a counsellor myself. When I was a teen, I remember being so worried about going to school that I would feel (and sometimes get) physically sick, shaky and be caught in a negative loop of what if’s – especially concerning social situations. Later, during a couple of high-stress situations, I remember my heart racing, tunnel vision, a cold sweat, and wondering if I was about to have a heart attack or faint. It was terrifying. I had no vocabulary for these experiences at the time – but now I can see that I was dealing with symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks.
Now that I’ve learned so much about mental health, I find it so encouraging to see the shift in people becoming more aware of mental health issues. An aspiration of mine is to see a change where addressing and taking care of our mental health is just as much a part of being healthy as regular exercise and eating to nourish our bodies. Problems are never too small to be recognized and worked with – waiting until hitting a rock bottom is not a good time! My greatest hope and goal with my clients is to get them past just a place where they are surviving, and instead of getting them to a place where they are thriving.
Her Counselling Specialties include
I am a mama, partner, daughter, sister, friend and counsellor. I am a lover of people and their stories, and believe in resilience, even when it seems impossible.
Sometimes life presents us with challenges that we didn’t ask for. This can feel unfair, and navigating our struggles can feel overwhelming. It is not lost on me the strength that it takes to seek help, and I find myself humbled by my client’s bravery. My own life experience, academics, as well as my background working in neurosciences, has shown me that although knowledge is essential, the power of human connection forms a strong foundation for change. I have experience working with many needs, from a variety of frameworks. However, above all else, I believe in the importance of providing my client’s with a safe therapeutic environment in which to share.
I work from a variety of frameworks including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Somatic Integration, Exposure and Response Prevention and Emotion Focused Therapy. Most importantly, I work from a Person-Centered approach…one that fits you.
I believe you know yourself better than anyone; sometimes you just need support discovering and accessing your true self.
Her Counselling Specialties include
Counselling Specialties
I like helping teens and adults understand and work through many trials including:
I am a registered clinical counsellor (RCC) and I am here to accompany you on your mental wellness journey so that you can live your most fulfilling and authentic life. I am here to provide a safe, comfortable, and confidential space for you to share your story and to explore your mental health goals. I am here to help you see your inner strengths and resiliency, and to help you feel like yourself again.
I am located in Kelowna (Syilx territory) and I offer
I offer individual therapy, relationship therapy, and family therapy services. I operate from a bio-ecological, trauma-informed, anti-colonial, and strengths-based framework, and my practice employs elements of nature-based therapy, narrative therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based therapy.
For the young, and young at heart, I offer play-based and art-based therapy practices, and I am also happy to provide nature-based services outside so that you can enjoy some fresh air and sunshine as you engage in healing.
I serve children, youth, adults, families, and couples, and I would be honoured to walk the path to mental wellness with you and your loved ones.
Areas of Expertise:
As a former teacher, Lauren brings over 6 years of experience helping youth and adolescents navigate life’s unique challenges. Lauren is passionate about counselling for teens and adults in Kelowna, BC for anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, athletes, and a variety of “issues.” By walking besides clients in their mental health journey, Lauren incorporates a holistic mind and body approach to healing and well-being. As an elite-level coach and athlete, Lauren works from a strength-based and solution-focused approach tailored to individual clients’ needs. Bringing all these life skills together as a counsellor, Lauren works hard to help clients’ voices feel heard and supported in their pursuit of mental health journeys.
Areas of Expertise:
J
I just wanted to say thank you. I had my interview after our group and using a lot of your grounding strategies, I was able to keep my anxiety from spiralling, which meant I was also able to answer questions with a clear head and with confidence. I will be happy to share this small victory at our next meeting to encourage others and share my appreciation!
Client J
I like how interactive our sessions are with exercises, materials to look at for a visual, and homework to complete and debrief together. The flexible hours allow me to take some power back over my schedule so that I am not as spread thin, but more fulfilled!
Client A
I am able to engage and connect in a very authentic way in our Online sessions. I actually feel like I can be more open and vulnerable, leading to more self-awareness and growth.
Client T
I love this option for my schedule with my sport. It can be difficult to balance school, work, practice, training, games, travel, and a social life. I am able to have my sessions in the evenings. I can also check in before big game weekends so that I feel confident and in the right headspace to perform.
Client C
At first I was skeptical of Online Counselling. However, I love the flexibility for my family and schedule. I’ve created a spot in my home, with my tea, and look forward to this time that I may not otherwise be able to fit in. It has made such a difference in my life and for my family’s life!
Client K
Highly recommend Barb! Very easy to speak with and effective at helping you understand how you can take action to to bring about positive life changes and to move past areas in life where you may feel a little ‘stuck’ “
Client M
The work I have done with Barb has changed my life. With her help I learned that I was not only worthy but, capable of helping myself. Walking with her has been one of the most meaningful experiences I have ever had.” – Client M.
Kate Kowalchuk
NCAA and CIS Goaltender
After meeting Barb she changed my life, helping me to reach deeper and find out how to be the person and player I wanted to be even with my set backs with post-concussion & outside obstacles. I am forever grateful for the ongoing support and help I was lucky enough to receive from my coach and mentor Barb Egan.
Jocelyne & Monique Lamoureaux
Team USA, Olympic Gold & Silver Medalists
Whether it’s on ice and or off ice training the mental component of the game is bigger than the physical at times. I believe in sport and in life there are always obstacles, extrinsic and intrinsic. The biggest and most important mental skill I think a person can have is the ability to rebound from mistakes, criticisms and doubt with the confidence that you have the ability to get the job done and to improve yourself every step of the way.
Stephanie Schaupmeyer
Captain, UBC Thunderbirds
In my 5 years with the UBC Thunderbirds, the discourse surrounding mental health as a high performance athlete has changed so much. I have learned that being mentally tough on the ice is inextricably linked with being mentally well in the other areas of your life. I learned that this idea of a strong, mentally unbreakable athlete just isn’t possible. We all need support at times, and it’s ok to ask for it. When I started actively working on my mental wellbeing just like I actively worked on my hockey skills is when I began to really feel mentally tough in other areas of my life.
