The Student Counselling and Career Centre is staffed by professional counsellors whose primary goal is to facilitate the personal, social, academic, and vocational development of university students. To fulfil this role, the Student Counselling and Career Centre provides the following programs and services:
PERSONAL COUNSELLING - Counsellors are available to provide supportive and problem-solving assistance for emotional difficulties, interpersonal problems, or stressful life situations.
GROUP DEVELOPMENT - Group programs that provide support, develop skills, and aid in self-improvement in specialized areas are announced and offered throughout the year. Educational and informational programs are also part of the Student Counselling and Career Centre activities. There is a nominal registration fee for some group programs.
CAREER COUNSELLING - Career planning and counselling are available on an individual and group basis. Testing and assessment of interests, abilities, and personality are available as well. There is a nominal charge for testing services.
REFERRAL AND CONSULTATION - In addition to providing direct service to students, counsellors are available to provide referral information and consultation service to other members of the university community.
TRAINING - The Student Counselling and Career Centre provides placements and supervision of students who are pursuing counselling as a profession. Therefore, during the regular academic session, students assist our professional staff in the provision of direct service to students.
Students are encouraged to call the Student Counselling and Career Centre or drop by the main office to inquire about programs and services. Students who have not seen a counsellor before may come during our drop-in times to see a counsellor for a short introductory interview. Students will then be directed to individual or group counselling, career services, or referred elsewhere.
ALL STUDENT COUNSELLING AND CAREER CENTRE CONTACTS ARE STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Sandra Anderson and Brittany Johannesson: The front office receptionists are the first helpful contact for any of our services. Nellie Bodnar is the Administrative Assistant of the Student Counselling and Career Centre and is the person to contact regarding general information about the Service.
Jessica Azhadi has an Honours B.A. in Psychology from York University and is currently a practicum student in her second year of the M.Ed. program with a specialization in Guidance and Counselling. She aims to provide a safe space for students to address and explore their personal and educational challenges.
Courtney Byron (BA, BSW in progress) is a placement student finishing her Bachelors in Social Work. She comes to counselling from a strengths based and resilience perspective. Her interests are in gender issues, relationship dynamics, and self esteem issues.
C. Meera Chohan (Ph.D., C. Psych.) has a background in Counselling Psychology. She works from an interpersonal and developmental perspective to provide a safe space for students to engage in self-exploration toward growth; change; and development. Clincial interests include: relationship issues; depression; anxiety; and identity development. She provides Diversity Supervision to Doctoral Interns.
Linda Churchill "It takes guts to go for counselling", states Linda Churchill (MMFT). "I respect the courage it takes reach out for help." Linda is a Marriage and Family Therapist committed to fostering a safe, compassionate, and hopeful space for exploring personal and relational concerns. Linda is client-centered with an attachment/developmental lens and integrates a variety of counseling approaches to support students in their quest for healthier, happier lives.
Paige DeCorby (M.Ed. Practicum Student) has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Manitoba and is currently completing her second year of the M.Ed. program with a specialization in Guidance and Counselling. Paige strives to provide assistance to students through the development of a supportive, therapeutic relationship.
Matthew Decter (Ph.D.) has a background in clinical psychology and neuropsychology and works from a humanistic (person-centered) perspective, emphasizing each individual student's inherent capacity for growth and positive change. Matthew works collaboratively with students in an atmosphere of support, caring and trust, integrating emotion-focused, psychodynamic, mindfulness-based and meta-cognitive approaches, to help students achieve their academic and personal goals.
Gavriela Geller (Ph.D.) (On Leave until March 2012) has a background in clinical psychology. She integrates a variety of counselling approaches within a client-centred, humanistic framework to help individuals and groups. Interests include: anxiety, assertiveness, cultural transition, depression, managing stress, relationships, self-exploration and self-esteem.
Kimberly Kiley (M.A., Ph.D. Candidate) has a background in clinical psychology. She believes every person is unique and tailors the counselling process to meet each individual's specific needs. She draws from a variety of therapeutic approaches, including humanistic, cognitive-behavioural, and psychodynamic. Her interests include anxiety, depression, self-care, and self-exploration.
Adam Lotfi (M.A., Psy.D. Candidate) has a background in clinical psychology and works within a Client-Centered framework. Believing that each person has within them immense resources for personal growth, he strives to create the conditions for a meaningful relationship where people can feel free to experiment with new and flexible ways of thinking and moving in the world. Adam believes that individuals come into therapy with expertise on their own lives and experiences, and therapy should be a collaborative process. Primary interests include self-exploration, relationships, groups, career issues, and supervision.
Lori Mac (Ph,D., C.Psych. Counselling Psychologist) (Ph.D., C.Psych., Counselling Psychologist) has a background in counselling psychology. She views individuals as the experts of their own experiences, and integrates a variety of counselling approaches from within a humanistic perspective to aid in addressing challenges. In working with individuals, Lori places an emphasis on uniqueness, meaning, personal choice, balance, using strengths as resources, and empowerment. Her primary interests include relationships, self-exploration, and cultural transition. Lori is the coordinator and a supervisor for the Master's level counselling practicum at SCCC. She is also the Assistant Director of the pre-doctoral internship in professional psychology and is one of the supervisors for the internship.
David Ness is the Acting Director of the SCCC and has been on staff since 1991. His training background is clinical psychology and in addition to his administrative duties, he provides counselling and therapy to students using an integrative approach that emphasizes cognitive, developmental, client-centered and insight oriented approaches. David uses these approaches to work with students presenting with anxiety, career, relationship, trauma recovery, family conflict and other difficulties. He also enjoys facilitating groups and workshops both at the SCCC and in the University of Manitoba community.
Timothy A.G. Osachuk (Ph.D., C.Psych.) is the director of the department's pre-doctoral internship in professional psychology and a clinical psychologist. In addition to supervising interns, his interests include individual and group psychotherapy, career counseling, assessment and consultation. From Ericksonian, client-centred and developmental philosophies, he works together with students to tailor and integrate a variety of approaches to be of assistance in overcoming their difficulties. Therapy approaches utilized include Behavioural, Cognitive-Behavioural, Client-Centred, Ericksonian/Hypnotherapeutic, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative, Solution-Focussed and Systemic. He has special interests in men's issues and utilizing clinical hypnosis from the philosophy of Milton Erickson.
Marlene Pomrenke (M.S.W.,Ph.D.) uses a strength-based, resilience framework in her work with students. She has extensive experience in the area of separation and divorce, communication and conflict resolution. She uses a narrative approach to collaborate with students, empowering them in their counselling process.
Lisa Seymour (M.S.W.) approaches her work from a feminist perspective. Lisa values each person as the expert about her/his life experience. She views herself as a collaborator, guide, facilitator, and ally in the counselling process. She uses a variety of creative methods to assist and support individuals and groups as they transform personal and academic challenges into opportunities to empower and affirm themselves while connecting meaningfully with others. Her interests include gender issues, surviving trauma, self-esteem and communication.
Anjelisa Skinner (M.Ed.) has a background in counselling psychology. Within a client-centered, humanistic framework she is committed to creating a safe, validating and collaborative counselling relationship. Building on a client-centered approach, Anjelisa integrates a variety of approaches including emotion-focused and cognitive behaviour therapies to support clients in connecting with the here and now of their emotional and cognitive experiences. Throughout the therapeutic experience, she is mindful of her client's strengths to help them understand their resiliency and help improve their sense of hope.
Donald Stewart (Ph.D., C. Psych.) is currently the Director of the Psychological Service Centre, where he coordinates clinical training activities for graduate students in Clinical Psychology. He also serves as Psychology Professional Practice Leader for the SCCC, where he is involved in supervision and training of psychology interns.
Dianne Westwood (M.A., Ph.D. Candidate) is a psychology intern working towards her Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology at The University of British Columbia. Dianne works mainly from a humanistic perspective to create a safe, relational space for individuals to explore their strengths, goals, and personal issues. Her specific interests include self understanding, self acceptance and appreciation, and emotional processes.
Margaret Tobin (M.S.W.) Senior Scholar