every journey begins with one step
We believe we all have “stuff” & can benefit from counselling.
Welcome to Alive Counselling
Counselling in Kelowna, British Columbia & Online Counselling
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.
Barb Egan, Owner & 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.
Counselling Specialties
- Anxiety, Stress, Depression
- Athletes & High Performers, Team Talks
- Postpartum Depression & Motherhood including Moms Groups.
- Christian Counselling
- Couples & Relationships
- Replacing Negative Self-Talk
- Trauma
- Lunch & Learns, Group, or Team Talks
- Groups
- Anxiety
- New Moms, Moms Group, Postpartum

Tamara Smith, RCC
Hi there, my name is Tamara, and I offer online counseling and walk and talk therapy services in Kelowna, BC. I am a strengths-based, person-centered and trauma informed counsellor who provides support to youth, young adults, individuals, parents and seniors who are seeking emotional support in dealing with various life challenges.
Counselling Specialties
- Trauma
- Life Transitions
- Addiction
- Healthcare Professionals
- Athletes
- Anxiety/Stress/Depression
- Walk & Talk Therapy
- Brene Brown work

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
- Women’s Issues
- Depression & Anxiety
- Chronic Illness
- Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Self-esteem & Identity
- Grief & Trauma
Hi, I’m Barb.
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, 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 professional 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 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 🙂
Hi, I’m Tamara,
Hi there, my name is Tamara, and I offer online counseling and walk and talk therapy services in Kelowna, BC. I am a strengths-based, person-centered and trauma informed counsellor who provides support to youth, young adults, individuals, parents and seniors who are seeking emotional support in dealing with various life challenges.
In my role as counsellor for over a decade, in private practice, as well as at a non-profit agency for several years, I have gained experience working with individuals from all walks of life: from the street entrenched homeless population to the upper-class margins of society. I have heard stories of all kinds and have held space for both the horrific and heroic aspects of peoples’ experiences. With this generalist approach I work across a wide variety of issues with specialized training in the areas of anxiety, depression, complex trauma/ptsd, substance use, self-esteem, vulnerability, shame, self-compassion, personal/spiritual growth, and grief and loss.
I believe in the healing power of storytelling and the resiliency of the human spirit. I believe in the strength, courage, and natural gifting in each one of us, and I’ve seen the fruit that comes, when walking alongside individuals who are ready and willing to grow. My great joy in my work is to see clients overcome whatever hardships they face, to once again live purposeful, joy-filled lives, while still honoring their past. Due to my personal life experiences I have a special interest in working with teen girls, leaders (of all kinds), practicing and retired athletes, university students, health care professionals, mothers, entrepreneurs, and individuals struggling with issues related to identity, spirituality or life transitions, but I am happy to welcome a wide range of cases.
I work from an integrative perspective and rely on a variety of clinical techniques, including Internal Family Systems Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Expressive Play Therapy, compassion and mindfulness practices, and EMDR. I am also a Certified Daring Way Facilitator™ and thrive on incorporating Brené Brown’s work on courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy into the work I do with people. I believe the principles found in Brené’s Daring Greatly™ and Rising Strong™ curriculum can literally change the world: recognizing the commonalities in shared struggles and connecting individuals to themselves and to one another.
Hi, I’m Shenaya,
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
- Women’s Issues
- Depression & Anxiety
- Chronic Illness
- Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Self-esteem & Identity
- Grief & Trauma