Child, Youth, & Family Counselling Specialists
Meaningful change towards health, healing, and happiness.
Our Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
- Expressive Play and Art Therapy
- Child-Centered Therapy
- Psychoeducational Approaches
- ADHD Coping Strategies
- Executive Functioning Support
- Attachment-Based Parenting
- Relationship-Focused Counselling
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- …and more
Do you have questions? We’ll help you find answers.
“I’m feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck. Could counselling help me feel better?”
“My child is having big emotions and I’m not sure how to support them — can you help?”
“Our family has been going through a lot of changes. Is it normal to feel disconnected or unsure?”
“My teen seems withdrawn and isn’t opening up. Should I be concerned?”
“I want to parent differently than I was raised — can I get support with that?”
“Something just doesn’t feel right, but I don’t know where to start — is therapy for me?”
“We’re not in crisis, but we want support — is now a good time to start counselling?”
It’s important to find a therapist that’s a good fit for you.
Meet Our Team
Meet Marnie Bates
Hello. I’m Marnie Bates, a former teacher, now Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with over twenty years of experience and a deep passion for supporting children, youth, adults, and families. I am a graduate of the University of British Columbia, holding a Master’s Degree in Education and Counselling Psychology, a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and a Diploma of Education. I’ve earned the Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) accreditation, which allows me to guide and mentor counselling interns and associate clinicians as they grow in their practice. I am deeply committed to promoting wellness and supporting the mental health of everyone who enters my practice. Establishing a safe and trusting relationship is paramount to the work I do with all my clients.
I’m fortunate to work alongside an incredible team of clinicians—many of whom are also experienced teachers—who bring warmth, insight, and a deep commitment to supporting clients of all ages and backgrounds. Together, we offer in-person, phone, and virtual counselling sessions, allowing clients to choose the format that feels most comfortable and accessible. My team has experience working with both neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals. We tailor our approach to meet each client’s unique needs. When working with children, every member of my team incorporates art or play into sessions to ensure they are engaging, meaningful, and fun.
Meet Brooke Henderson
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Art Therapist, RTC
Hello. I’m a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Registered Therapeutic Counsellor, and Art Therapist. I’m dedicated to creating a warm, supportive environment where clients feel safe to explore their emotions and experiences. I often blend traditional talk therapy with creative, expressive approaches to help clients uncover new insights, build resilience, and develop healthy coping strategies. I have extensive experience supporting children and teens with emotional regulation, self-esteem, friendship skills, and boundary setting.
Meet Nikki King
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Hello. I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Education in Counselling from City University. Before becoming a counsellor, I worked for over 15 years as a classroom and resource teacher, which gave me a deep understanding of how children and youth learn, grow, and navigate challenges. I bring a calm, compassionate presence to my work and strive to create a safe, supportive space for children, teens, and families. My approach is collaborative and strengths-based, helping clients feel seen, respected, and empowered as they move toward healing and growth.
Meet Allegra Metcalfe (she/her)
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Hello. I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor with over a decade of experience in the public school system as an educator. This background has shaped my understanding of the unique emotional and developmental needs of children, youth, and families. My work with children begins with building trust—often through play, gentle conversation, and helping them feel truly seen and heard. I draw on approaches including play therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), somatic practices, and internal family systems. As a mother and someone who has navigated my own path toward nervous system healing, I bring both professional knowledge and deep empathy to the work.
Meet Margarita Banting
Clinical Counsellor
Hello. I’m a City University M.Ed. Counselling candidate (2026), coach and educator of 15 years, supporting children and youth in navigating life, building confidence, and making choices that reflect who they are becoming. I bring a collaborative, supportive, and playful environment to our sessions. I help people of all ages develop the emotional and cognitive tools to become self-directed and resilient in their everyday lives. My experience includes working with neurodivergent people from diverse cultural backgrounds, with the goal of helping anyone I work with recognize and act on their own capacity for growth and self-understanding.
Meet Taylore Jones
Master’s of Counselling Intern, City University
Hello. I’m a Master of Counselling Intern at City University and an experienced elementary school teacher. I’m passionate about building meaningful, trusting relationships with children to support their emotional growth and well-being. My counselling approach is client-centered, relational, and strengths-based. I work closely with families to create consistent, supportive environments where children feel safe, heard, and empowered. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia.
Meet Adam L’Heureux
Master’s of Counselling Intern, City University
Hello. I’m a creative and compassionate counsellor-intern with a passion for helping people connect with their true selves and move toward more meaningful, purpose-driven lives. Grounded in a Humanistic approach, I believe each person has an innate capacity for growth and healing. My practice blends traditional talk therapy with imaginative, holistic tools such as visioning, journaling, and mindfulness. I’m especially drawn to supporting those navigating life transitions or striving to build more balanced, healthy, and fulfilling lives. Together, we can create a safe and grounded space where you feel supported, seen, and truly valued.
Meet Laura Robertson (she/her)
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Hello, my name is Laura Robertson. I bring nearly twenty years of experience as an elementary school teacher, with a focus on supporting students with behavioural and learning challenges.I’m passionate about helping clients recognize their unique strengths and gifts. My approach is relational, strengths-based, and play-oriented, and I draw on neuroscience and attachment theory in my work with children, youth, and families. I strive to create a warm, supportive space where growth, resilience, and connection can flourish.
Our team is currently welcoming in person clients at three convenient locations – the North Shore, East Vancouver, and the Sunshine Coast.
What clients are saying
“Thank you so much for the love and dedication Marnie. Your help is invaluable.”
“Marnie has been able to reach our child and help reconnect her to us. Our time with her has been invaluable.”
“Marnie has been wonderful. She quickly developed a rapport with our kiddo and taught her emotional language that she could easily use to relate how she was feeling. Marnie helped our daughter develop strategies for dealing with her most difficult emotions and was able to turn her whole outlook around over just a summer. She has been able to overcome behavioural difficulties that had been hampering her for years.”
“We are truly thankful. Our child is so much happier and very reasonable with disappointments, it’s so wonderful and relieving for us. Her whole path has completely changed and it’s glorious.”
“Marnie was such a help to our family, when my preteen daughter, with ASD was feeling overwhelmed by anxiety. Marnie quickly developed a positive rapport with my daughter, which allowed her to freely express herself without feeling judged. Because of Marnie’s experience working in the school setting as a counselor, she has great insight to the challenges youth often face at school. Each week, she provided a variety of art mediums for my daughter to explore that tapped into her specific passions and interests. At the end session, my daughter left feeling more positive, often equipped with new strategies or ways of looking at a difficult situation. I feel Marnie truly took the time to understand my daughter’s unique needs and challenges, while connecting with our family in a caring, respectful way. I would highly recommend her counselling services. “
“Working with Marnie and her team has been a truly transformative experience for our whole family. What started as support for one of our children quickly became a space where we all felt seen, heard, and supported. Her team helped us understand our needs in a deeper way, and also gave us practical tools to communicate more effectively, manage emotions, and reconnect as a family. We never felt judged—only guided with warmth and compassion.“
Come join Brooke’s ongoing Art Therapy Group for kids aged 7–10!
This group helps children build friendship skills, healthy communication, and self-advocacy in a supportive, creative environment. Sometimes it’s easier to express ourselves through art than with words—and this group offers a fun, low-pressure space to do just that.
Come join Marnie’s Parent Support Group for Caregivers of Neurodiverse Children & Youth
This monthly support group is designed for parents and caregivers of neurodiverse children and youth. This group offers a warm, compassionate space to connect with others who truly understand the unique joys and challenges of raising neurodivergent kids.Together, we explore topics such as navigating school, IEPs, managing stress and burnout, building routines, supporting sibling relationships, and finding ways to celebrate growth along the way. As both a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a parent of a neurodiverse child myself, I bring a blend of professional insight and lived experience to the group. Whether you’re looking for practical tools, emotional support, or simply a sense of community, you are welcome here.
Supervision for Registered Clinical Counsellors with Marnie
As an Accredited Clinical Supervisor (ACS), I offer supervision to Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) in both individual and group formats. My approach is supportive, collaborative, and focused on helping clinicians grow their skills while ensuring the best outcomes for their clients. In addition to one-on-one supervision, I facilitate a monthly group supervision session where RCCs come together in a fun, engaging, and collegial environment to share, learn, and support one another. If you’re looking for a Clinical Supervisor, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d be happy to discuss what format might best suit your needs.
If you have any questions about our services or approach, please feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to connect with you and help match you with the clinician on my team who best fits your needs. New clients can get in touch by emailing batesmarnie@gmail.com, calling or texting 778-866-8434, or by leaving a message through the website.
Warmly,
Marnie Bates
Registered Clinical Counsellor – Approved Clinical Supervisor
Licence 14005 – BCACC