Dr. Shelly Dean (Bonnah), Ph.D., RCC, AAMFT

Shelly’s experience and area of concentration includes working for victims of all ages who have experienced violence or other traumatic events, as well as for those who have chosen to use violence to harm others. Shelly also works on behalf of children, to do ‘Views of the Child Reports’ when they are required in Family Law disputes. Shelly is available to work for other professionals as a clinical supervisor, or consulting in the area of Organizational Development or Program Evaluation.

Shelly was raised in Northern BC and then Kamloops, and has been parenting her own children and foster children for more than 25 years. Shelly’s experience includes over 20 years of direct counselling experience with children, youth, couples and families, consulting with a wide range of organizations, teaching in Universities, clinical supervision and organizational development in the social service sector. Shelly has also worked with the Centre for Response-Based Practice and her colleagues Allan Wade, Linda Coates & Cathy Richardson for approximately 10 years. Opening an interior office is an exciting opportunity to offer direct services in this area to individuals, families, and other professionals. Shelly has been actively involved in the ongoing development of working with children and youth from a Response-Based perspective, and understanding how young people respond to, and resist experiences of violence and trauma. Shelly is a licensed Family Therapist, an author, and a graduate of the Doctoral Program at the TAOS Institute.

Robb Dolson, M.Ed., RCC, CCC

Robb’s area of concentration includes working with youth (and their caregivers) who are misusing substances in a way that always considers the context of their lives, and he works with young people from whatever place they are most comfortable starting from—without judgement or pressure. His work includes individual and/or family sessions. Alternative location sessions can be prearranged. Robb is also a Couple’s and Family counsellor.

Robb was born and raised in Kamloops, BC, and together with his wife is raising two young daughters and a son. Robb has worked in this community as a teacher and a counsellor, and is highly respected for his energy and his ability to connect with young people. He has extensive experience working with children and youth, and a clear and direct approach to working with families and couples. Robb has been a teacher in the Kamloops/Thompson School District for 12 years and has taught both in Europe and locally. His experience includes working with youth and adults who have experienced multiple barriers and face situations of extreme oppression and risk.

Dignity is the cornerstone of Robb’s counseling practice, and the understanding that we all do everything we can to preserve dignity when faced with oppression, violence or adversity. Robb views the challenges that people face in the context of their lives, rather than looking at an explanation that only includes the individual. Robb is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), studying for his Masters Degree both at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops and internationally at Heidelberg University in Germany. He is a student in the Response-Based Practice Certificate program. Robb has a flexible schedule and is available for sessions afternoons, evenings, early mornings, weekends and holidays.

Kalie McIntosh, M.C., RCC

Kalie is currently on maternity leave and will be returning to see new and returning clients in 2024.

Kalie’s experience and area of concentration has been working for youth and young adults. Kalie’s background has enhanced her ability to connect with young people in their unique ways, and to work with their timing. Her experiences include working with youth and adults who have experienced a wide range of adversity, substance misuse along with other addictions, and traumatic events. At the core of Kalie’s work is the understanding that a person’s dignity must always be upheld, and she focuses on finding the different ways in which people work hard to maintain their dignity every day.

Kalie is originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario and moved to British Columbia in 2008. She and her partner moved to Kamloops in 2015 to be closer to family. Kalie has a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and an undergraduate degree from Simon Fraser University. Kalie is also a registered clinical counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. Kalie practices from a Response-Based Approach, and also incorporates other complimentary theories of practice.

Cathy Richardson, M.C., Ph.D., CCC, RCC

Catherine Richardson/Kinewesquao, Ph.D. is a Métis therapist and a co-founder of the Centre for Response-Based Practice (www.responsebasedpractice.com). She has Cree, Dene and Gwichin ancestry and is the current Director of First Peoples Studies at Concordia University in Montreal/Tiotá: ke. She provides clinical supervision to counsellors including practitioners working with women and family members connected to the issue of MMIWG. Catherine is a Quebec researcher on the Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative with Vulnerable Populations and with the FRIDAA project (Femmes, Recherche, Intervention, Development, Approaches, Autochtone). She does response-based practice and systemic family therapy community trainings for violence prevention/recovery intervention workers. Catherine has been working in Indigenous communities for over 25 years. She is the mother of three children and has published five books, the most recent entitled “Speaking the Wisdom of Our Time” and “Structural Violence Against Youth in Canada: Speaking Out and Pushing Back.” Catherine is interested in promoting healing, recovery and well-being in a spirit of dignity and social justice.

Catherine is joining our Interior team to provide online counselling for individuals, supervision for professionals, and training for organizations. To book an appointment, please email here directly.

Darren Jones, M.A., RCC

Darren’s focus of specialization is individual, couples, family and youth counselling, and he offers flexibility in scheduling. He comes from an integrative approach when assisting clients and believes in honouring the dignity of all people and the inherent value of an individual’s story as it unfolds. Darren specializes in faith-based violence and religious oppression that can happen to individuals through organizations and family systems.

He has more than 25 years of experience within Christian faith tradition as a Pastor with a focus on mentoring at-risk-youth and developing programs for personal empowerment. Additionally, he specializes in the area of supporting spiritual leaders, the interactions with their family, and he is available for consultation and leadership development in church settings.

Darren was born and raised in England and moved to Canada to pursue a career in Pastoral ministry, where he Pastored in Saskatchewan before moving to Kamloops. He is married and has two adult children and a labradoodle, and has lived in Kamloops for 23 years.

Darren works through a Response-Based lens, which is supported through an integrative approach to therapy, utilizing family system, Feminist Theory and Narrative models. Darren presently finishing his Master’s degree at Providence University College and Seminary and has completed the certificate in Family Therapy through the Centre for Response-Based Practice.

Pete Grinberg, M.A.C.P., RCC

Pete’s area of concentration includes relationship counselling for issues of conflict, violence, betrayal and negative addictive behaviors. Pete has a strong commitment to help individuals who are experiencing emotional pain or feeling overwhelmed. He recognizes the pre-existing abilities of individuals, the unique ways that they have navigated their circumstances and their potential, often in ways that they have not yet recognized themselves. This often restores a sense of equilibrium and helps create a stronger supportive social network. Pete is working primarily online and able to take new virtual clients.

At the heart of Pete’s work is the belief in the resiliency of the human spirit and the possibility of a better life regardless of the present circumstances. First and foremost, Pete understands the importance of upholding every person’s dignity and personal choice. Pete has worked in a corrections facility for more than 15 years and provided education programming in supportive/transitional housing and treatment center settings for more than five years. These experiences have given him insight into working with adults and children who have been impacted adversely by the incarceration of a family member or the use of substances. Pete also works with family members who use all forms of violence. Pete and his wife foster children and still manage to connect regularly with their six grown children.  Pete was born and raised in Toronto, and moved to Kamloops in 1994. He has a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology from Gonzaga University and an honors undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo.  Pete is also a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. In his practice, Pete uses the principles of the Response-Based Approach along with an emphasis on the power of the therapeutic relationship between the counsellor and the individual.