Kristy Higgins, B.Sc. –Psych, R.P.C., M.P.C.P., MBTI qualified Kristy Higgins is a Registered Professional Counsellor and Master Practitioner in Counselling Psychology, and the National Director and National Vice-President of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association.

She has been working in the counselling profession since 1998. Much of her experience has been gained in the northern, rural regions of B.C. Her experience covers a wide range of services in a variety of domains of the counselling profession, which includes working with women, children and families in the area of domestic violence, individuals both male and female in career transition setting up training plans, administering training dollars, working with employers to set up successful employment outcomes, working with youth and their families in the schools and community setting up substance abuse / misuse prevention programs, and working in government and private practice providing counselling services to families, couples, individuals and groups.

Kristy attended the University of Northern British Columbia completing her Psychology Degree in 1999 and has completed many certificates and training in a variety of counselling domains throughout her career. The most recent training initiative was becoming qualified with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. She continues to work in private practice and be actively involved in the association. 

Dr. Faizal was born in Fiji Islands and immigrated to Canada at the age of seven with his parents and younger brother. As a child growing up in Vancouver, he experienced everything – the good, the bad, and the ugly – all of which contributed to his development as an individual and a professional. 

Early on in his career, he realized that there was a need for counsellors who could help those of diverse cultures. To satisfy this need, he considered all the various avenues accessible to him through which he could help people. 

Today, Faizal is a Registered Professional Counsellor, Master Practitioner in Counselling Practice and Clinical Sexologist (since 1997), providing “multicultural sex and relationship therapy.” He is also on the faculty of Capilano University, writes a monthly advice column (Dear Faizal, published in the Canadian Immigrant magazine), hosts a radio advice column (Love Across Cultures, on Link, CBC Radio Canada International), is a media-consultant on multicultural relationship issues, and is the author of Dating the Ethnic Man: Strategies for Success. 

In his role as the CPCA National Communications Director, Faizal plans on working with other members to create social awareness of the power behind the competency-based model of therapy.

Dr. Libby Stowers is originally from California and now resides in Kelowna, BC. She says of herself, "I completed my Ph.D in Professional Psychology from USIU in San Diego in 1980. While living in California and Washington I was licensed to practice psychology by the Board of Medical Examiners. In the 1980s, my husband and I owned and operated multi-team mental health clinics in Washington. Since then I have traveled extensively and established private offices in San Diego, La Paz, Mexico, Cranbrook, and Kelowna, BC. Currently I am the owner/administrator of the Kelowna College of Professional Counselling.

I represent the CPCA as a National Director and continue to enjoy being a part of the initiative of establishing competency-based criteria, which will serve as a model for the licensing of professional counsellors in BC and throughout Canada.

With 20 years of corporate international sales and marketing backing him, Tom brings with him strong business and interpersonal skills to his counselling career. Tom has been a contributing member of the CPCA for over 3 years, of which, two have been as an active board member for the BC Chapter and one as the President of the BC Chapter.
Managing both multimillion dollar accounts and several staff members in his previous career, this experience better positioned Tom to embark on his pure passion, a career as a professional counsellor. In addition to facilitating marriage groups for 10 years, on  completion of his eduction Tom, started his non-profit society, "Solutions to Life Counselling."
Tom considers the CPCA to be one of the elite among counselling associations as it holds fast to the standards of accountability, ethics, competency and transparency.

D. Lynn Rock has worked as a Professional Counsellor and workshop presenter in a variety of areas including Stress Management and Life Balance, Retirement and Lifestyle Planning, Career Management and Job Loss, Psychogeriatrics and Bereavement.

Lynn has a talent for assisting others in seeing and realizing new possibilities for themselves. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Counselling Psychology and Gerontology from the University of Oregon and she is a 1:1 Trainer with the Institute of HeartMath.

Lynn has been a member of the CPCA since 2003 and recently accepted the position of Director of the Alberta Chapter. She also became a member of the Canadian College of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists (CCPCP) this year. As a trained Advocate with Bow Valley Victim Services, she actively volunteers in her community.

Susan Derry, B.Ed., M.S.Psy., has been in private practice for the past 6 years. Susan is a R.P.C with the C.P.C.A and a  Certified Meridian Therapist. In addition to individual and marriage counselling, she facilitates personal growth seminars and is the co-author of Intimate Sex: Manual for Lovemaking and several internet courses.

Mia is a Registered Professional Counsellor and works in both a school setting as a guidance counselor, as well as in private practice. She also presents workshops on a variety of mental health topics including life balance, stress management, and self-care.

She has been in working as a professional counsellor since 2008, with her focus on using play and art in the therapeutic setting. Her experience includes working with children, adolescents, and parents in the areas of attachment, blended families, foster families, separation/divorce, grief and loss, trauma, and depression. She also specializes in working with children and adolescents who present with FASD/ARND.

Mia achieved her Masters of Counseling Psychology in 2008 from Yorkville University and is working towards play therapy certification. She continues to train in the areas of attachment, trauma, and family systems using the modalities of Sandtray, Play Therapy, Theraplay, and talk therapy.

Mia has let her name stand as the National Director-elect for Manitoba, and looks forward to taking part in establishing the CPCA’s presence in Manitoba.

Alice Hunnersen has been in Private Practice since 1998. She is graduate of CTI and has been a member of the CPCA since 1998, as well as the Ontario Director for two years. Alice also represents the CPCA as a member of The Ontario Coalition of Mental Health Professionals.

Alice has gained a wealth of knowledge, humour and compassion from her own personal experiences, including raising 5 children all of whom were teenagers at the same time. Who today are all successful adults today with families of their own...

Alice’s approach is empathy driven and client centered. She believes that because no two clients are alike no two counseling experiences can be the same. Therefore Alice brings an eclectic approach tailored to the individual client. This ensures that the client retains their uniqueness and has the best opportunity to work through their issues and problems reaching their fullest potential.

Alice enjoys Public Speaking and brings a motivational and inspirational message of hope to her audiences.

Alice practices in Mississauga Ontario, 905-569-8537.

Elaine Surette is a Registered Professional Counsellor in a successful private practice in Yarmouth Nova Scotia. She has five years of experience in the field Individual, Grief Anxiety/Depression, Stress Reduction with a specialty in Family and Marriage Therapy.   She began ongoing study in 1994 with Nova Scotia Community College in the Human Services Program.  She earned her psychology degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2002 and is enrolled in the Masters of Education – Psychology Degree (incomplete).  She achieved her Counselling certificate from the Counsellor Training Institute (CTI) Halifax in 2003.  She successfully completed  the Canadian Professional Counselling Competency Exam.

Upon completion of her CTI program she was employed as Coordinator of the Yarmouth Employee Assistance Service Program. She consulted regularly with management from a variety of fields to help create solutions to personal/work impacting problems. She provided counseling services to over two hundred employees for a variety of problems and continues to provide such services.  She has been a counselor in private practice since 2003 and in 2005 achieved her certification as a Master Hypnotherapist at the Hypnotherapy Training Institute in California and held certification with the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners. In 2008 Elaine received certification in Pain Management and Past Life Regression at the Ontario Hypnosis Center and is registered with the National Guild of Hypnosis.  Prior to this Elaine worked in the field of Hospitality Management.

She owned and operated a successful restaurant, General Manager for a major hotel chain (Comfort Inn). In addition to her counseling Elaine is an active member of her community. She was instrumental in the creation of a Critical Incident Response Team for the communities of Clare, Argyle and Yarmouth. During the past two years Elaine has taught Helping Applications and substituted at the Nova Scotia Community College Human Services Program.  She has a passion for teaching, training and helping others to overcome psychological and social barriers.  She understands the importance of Education and each year enrolls in continuing education programs through Dalhousie School of Social Work and other workshops to enhance her skills. Her past accomplishments have included Chairman of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, Chairman of the Small Business Development, Coordinator for Self Help Group for sexual abused women, Director of Parents Place, Volunteer for Mental Health Community based program. Elaine describes herself as genuine and committed to her clients. Her goal is to help those who struggle with doing their best.

Margo is a Registered Professional Counsellor and Master Practitioner of Counselling Psychology, graduating from the Counsellor Training Institute,Halifax Campus in 2005.Her training allowed her to combine her fascination with the complexity of the human mind with her desire to be a helper to others. She started her private practise, New Dawn Counselling and Psychotherapy in 2006 and joined the Board of Directors of CPCA -Atlantic Chapter as Secretary/Treasurer that same year.She was appointed President of the Atlantic Chapter in 2008.

She facilitated a grief support group for parents who have lost a child and is now volunteering with The Hospice Society of Greater Halifax.

She has  a special interest in working with women who have a history of abuse and volunteers with the Halifax Regional Police Victim Services On-scene Mobile Response Unit offering support and resources to both male and female victims of domestic violence,sexual assault, and other crimes and trauma.

Margo is an integrative counselling therapist which means that she draws from more than one psychotherapeutic school of thought.She continues to increase her knowlege base by attending many workshops, training sessions and seminars that are relevant and of value to her clients.