About Blossom Tree Counselling Ltd.
Blossom Tree Counselling Ltd. is a team of counselors committed to showing up as fellow humans who care about other humans. Much more than counsellors, we're fellow humans here to help you through a difficult time.
Through compassionate counselling, we help families go from feeling stressed with taking care of everyone else to getting their life back from constant emotional struggles.
It is our belief that everyone deserves to live a good, full life.
We work everyday to help you know how to cope with all the things that suck in life. From seeing your kids struggle with constant worry to feeling guilty you don't enjoy life, we’re the counselors that can help you to a place where you're not feeling negative all the time and instead are hopeful about the future.
Committed To Helping - Our Story
We Are Driven To Help Families Grow Healthier Relationships
Family relationships at all levels can be challenging, whether it's from our early childhood, or our present family and even navigating the changes of older parents.
At Blossom Tree Counselling we take a trauma informed and family systems perspective while also focusing on your relationships through an attachment lens. We help parents heal from all the impossible things that they may have faced as a kid. You can have a better life. And we're here to help you get there.
Founded by in 2017, we are now a thriving practice with a team of multiple counselors. With each of us bringing our unique life experiences and interests, we serve a diverse range of clients.
Our core values are essential to who we are and how we help
Here are the values that guide us:
Be kind, help others.
We are honored to be able to help others and make a difference. We are here to help.
Always collaborate.
Our counselors collaborate with you because healing happens in different ways for different people. Respecting your individuality is what makes therapy work. We genuinely care for every client.
Help in all areas needed.
For most families - families are difficult, kids add a layer of exhaustion, and challenges can arise across multiple areas of life all at once. We support all of who you are.
Care and connect.
Empathy is the starting point for creating community and building authentic relationships. We are dedicated to helping humans connect and stay connected.
Diversity is a strength.
We welcome clients of all ages, cultures, sexualities, thinking styles, learning styles. In addition, our team strives to create a safe place for all people in acknowledgement that the world is not safe for many oppressed and marginalized identities. Diversity and inclusion are our strengths.
Emma Ferris
Counselling
Hello, I’m Emma, a Clinical Counsellor at Blossom Tree Counselling with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and a Master of Counselling Psychology. I specialize in working with children, youth, and families, and I am the facilitator of our Friendship Groups. I also offer individual counselling for adults, with both in-person and online options available.
My approach is client-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed, creating a safe and supportive space for growth and healing. Whether you’re navigating life’s challenges as an individual or seeking support for your family, I’m here to help you on your journey.
Erin Todsen
RCC
Counselling
Erin is available for individual child, youth and family counselling. Erin practices from a Family Systems perspective, where each member of the family influences and is influenced by each other. Erin’s background includes a diploma in Early Childhood education, before she completed her Bachelors Degree in Child and Youth Care where she focused on family relationships.
A client-centred approach informs her practice and she has twenty five years experience in the field of supporting families.
Erin specializes in parent support and play-based therapies and is most interested in the unique needs of her clients.
Erin is also Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) certified to help clients of all ages process trauma and heal from attachment and relational fractures. Sandtray EMDR certified, Erin is equipped to support with repair and healing in expressive ways.
Erin’s own family dynamics have shaped her practice, as personally being a mother to her own children as well as experiencing being part of intact, blended and single parenting homes. You can anticipate Erin being honest and direct with you, while maintaining a positive connection. She can relate to the challenges families experience and it’s nice to know you can confide and consult with someone on issues that can usually be difficult to talk about. Family life is joyous and stressful and Erin is invested in helping you through your struggle.
Justine Birchell
Counselling
Hi, I’m Justine! I’m the current practicum student at Blossom Tree. I am currently completing my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, and have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Human Services Certificate.
I take a person-first, relational perspective to my work: I know that no matter what work we do together, the connection between us is what’s most important.
My history of working with children and youth spans over a decade; with four of those years being focused on mental health. I have previously worked with individuals who struggled with anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, family conflict, and more. I have also worked with individuals with on the autism spectrum.
I’m thrilled to offer individual sessions for adults, as well as couples therapy sessions! I have my Gottman-method couples therapy Level 2, and am in the process of obtaining the full certification.
Sessions are $60, however, I also offer sliding scale options where rates are based on what you can afford.
No matter what you’re going through, I’m here to help!
Kristen Buckland
M.A. RCC
Counselling
Kristen has 20 years of experience working with neurodivergent individuals as well as at-risk children and families. She has facilitated numerous social-emotional groups and worked one-on-one with children and youth, addressing their social-emotional needs while serving as a school-based child and youth support worker for the school district. Kristen is warm, empathetic, easy to connect to, and meets people where they are at. She works from a person-centred, strength-based perspective and uses a trauma-informed lens within her practice.
Kristen completed her Master’s of Counselling Psychology with Yorkville University and completed her practicum at Blossom Tree Counselling. Her previous education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Youth Care, an Educational Assistant and Community Support Worker diploma, and many behaviour intervention courses.
She is a mother of two who credits her experience as a mother as the greatest (and most challenging) learning of all. Kristen believes that everyone is doing the best they can with the tools they have been given. She is excited to work with children, youth and families and is currently accepting new clients.
Megan Vandersluys
M.Ed RCC
Counselling
Welcome! I’m Megan, and I created Blossom Tree Counselling in 2017, with the intention to create a supportive place for children, teens and parents who are having a hard time with anxiety, mood, challenging behaviours and family transitions. Over the past several years I have also had many kiddos come my way presenting with concerns that result from their neurodiversity, whether they are 2E, have learning challenges, present with ADHD, or are highly sensitive. Some children and youth present with sensory processing concerns, along with other issues that come up with being differently wired. I practice Synergetic Play Therapy, an approach that focuses on helping to children to increase their interoceptive awareness (noticing what’s happening in their body), while improving their emotional awareness and their ability to self regulate.
As a step parent, I also love helping blended families process the challenges that arise from all the differing dynamics that are part of being in a blended family.
In addition to play therapy and working with step families, I support parents in healing their own losses from their childhood. As a Peaceful Parenting Educator, I truly believe that the hardest part of parenting is undoing the hardwiring we experienced during our own childhood. Understanding what triggers our reactivity with our own kids, where that came from, how it plays out in our relationships in our family, how to tame those triggers and break the cycle of authoritarian and shame based parenting. It is hard work making those changes but I truly believe it’s never too late to repair those relationships. Being certified in EMDR, I help clients process those past childhood memories that hold those negative, triggering reactions, so that we can heal those triggers and parent from a more empathetic and respectful place.
Natalie Goodall
M.A. in Counselling Psychology
Counselling
Hello, I’m Natalie, a dedicated clinical counsellor with a rich background in counselling, psychology, and early childhood development. My academic journey spanned a decade, during which I immersed myself in the study of these disciplines, gaining a comprehensive understanding of human behavior and mental health dynamics.
Having worked as a mental health support provider in rural communities on Vancouver Island, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the diverse needs and challenges faced by individuals in such settings. These experiences have instilled in me a commitment to fostering inclusive, warm, and accepting environments within my practice.
My therapeutic approach is grounded in trauma-informed and culturally sensitive principles. I firmly believe in the therapeutic power of cultural integration and strive to honor and validate the diverse cultural backgrounds of my clients.
Empowering young women is my passion, especially considering how challenging the teen years can be. For the past seven years, I’ve dedicated myself to helping them develop confidence and self-esteem, recognizing the unique struggles they face during this pivotal time in their lives. Through teaching self-defense across British Columbia, I empower women with strength-based techniques, fostering a sense of agency and empowerment as they navigate the complexities of adolescence.
In my counselling practice, I integrate attachment theory and emotion-focused approaches to provide holistic and personalized care to my clients. I recognize the importance of understanding relational dynamics and emotions in facilitating growth and healing.
With a compassionate and client-centered approach, I’m committed to supporting individuals on their journey towards mental wellness and personal growth.