About Us| Prince George | Northern Counselling & EMDR

About Us

About Our Private Practice

Northern Counselling and EMDR Inc. is a private practice committed to caring and providing the highest quality of professional confidential therapeutic competence.

Dr. Frantisek Anderko is passionate about strengthening relationships and providing a caring and compassionate place to support the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of his clients and counsellors who joined his private practice. His private practice offers confidential counselling services to youth, adults, couples, and families regarding a variety of mental health issues and relational struggles.

Providing you with the best counsellors for the best care

Frantisek Anderko, PhD., MPCC

Dr. Frantisek Anderko, Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (MPCC), has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Self-esteem
Depression
Anger management
Conflict resolution
Stress management
Workplace harassment
Anxiety/panic attacks
Substance abuse & addiction
Critical incident stress debriefing
Physical/sexual abuse
Grief/bereavement
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
First Nations issues
Parenting

Co-dependency
Marital/relationship counselling
Family violence
Family of origin issues/dysfunction
Family therapy
Child/youth issues
Child abuse trauma
Communication
Seniors issues
Spiritual concerns
Transitions/change
Other

Frantisek is a philosopher, counsellor and psychotherapist. He immigrated to Canada from Ireland in 2010 and currently lives in Prince George, British Columbia with his wife and two children.

In 1995 Frantisek finished his Bachelor’s degree in Theology at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Two years after he completed his Master’s degree in Philosophy at Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, Italy where he also completed his PhD in Philosophy in 2007.

Frantisek always wanted to pursue a career in Counselling and Psychotherapy, which changed into vocation rather than just a day to day job. He obtained his Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy in 2010 from Institute of Integrated Counselling and Psychotherapy in Dublin, Ireland.

From 2010 to 2013 Frantisek worked as a Child and Youth Mental Health Counsellor at Mackenzie Counselling Services in Mackenzie, BC and joined Northern Health as a Mental Health and Addiction Clinician in Vanderhoof in 2014 and Prince George in 2016. After realizing what else could be done for people with mental health issues in the community, Frantisek opened his own private practice in April 2017.

In 2011 Frantisek became a member of Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA member #3123) and is currently practicing counselling as a Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling. He is passionate about EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and OEI (Observed Experiential Integration), which he uses on daily basis on top of other therapeutic approaches.

Frantisek provides counselling in English, Italian and Slovak language.

Tanya Klassen, MEd. Counselling, RCC

Tanya Klassen, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Parenting and child/youth related issues - attachment
Generational trauma
Self-esteem
Coping skills
Communication
Other

Depression
Anxiety
Grief and loss
Stress management
Life transitions
Relationship concerns
Family dynamics

Tanya Klassen lives with her family in Prince George. She is married and has 2 step-sons and one birth son.

Tanya is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (registration # 15317) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). She holds a bachelor's degree in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria and a Master of Education Counselling from The University of Northern British Columbia. Tanya is fully trained in EMDR in addition to other therapeutic approaches.

She has worked with children, families and youth for the past 20 years. Raised in a small local town, Tanya understands the unique needs of northern communities and their residents. As a wife, mother and professional, Tanya recognizes the complexities of work-life balance, stress and the need for healthy, happy relationships.

Tanya takes a strength based approach to counselling and believes that people have the skills within themselves to find the solutions they need for the challenges they are facing. She believes that empathy, curiosity and a desire to understand will guide clients in the process of recognizing patterns of behaviour and finding healthier ways of responding to life’s circumstances.

Senga Frisken, MSc. Psychodynamic Counselling, CCC

Senga Frisken, Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Depression
Anxiety
Grief and loss
Early Childhood and Infant Trauma
Abuse
Neglect
Parenting and child/youth related issues - attachment
Self-harm
Trauma Attachment
Other

Senga was born and raised in Prince George and moved to the US to work once she finished high school. From there she lived and worked in various countries, including Hong Kong, Russia, Brazil and the UK, returning to Canada in 2016.

Senga has a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from the University of East London, UK and a Masters of Science degree in Psychodynamic Counselling with Children and Adolescents from Birkbeck College, University of London, UK. She is a Canadian Certified Counsellor (Member #10001435) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association in Ottawa. She was a Counselling Psychotherapist in the UK for 3 years, and has been a Mental Health Therapist in Canada since 2016. Senga has been trained in EMDR, DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and OEI (Observed Experiential Integration) Level 1.

Senga has experience working with groups, parents, young adults, adolescents and children, covering a range of issues including but not limited to depression and anxiety, suicidality, self-harm, trauma, attachment, relationships, grief and loss, and working through the effects of abuse and neglect. Senga has a special interest in early childhood and infant trauma, attachment issues and dealing with somatic symptoms and other issues that might be ‘hiding in plain sight'.

Cheryl Gouchie, BSW, RSW

Cheryl Gouchie, Registered Social Worker, has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Depression
Anxiety/Panic Attacks
Stress Management
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Communication
Goal Setting
Life Transitions
Developmental Phase Navigation
Child/Youth Issues

Coping Skills
Relationship Concerns
Parenting Concerns
Conflict Resolution
Self Harm
Grief and Loss
Government/Support System Navigation
Other

Cheryl was born and raised in the Prince George area. Growing up in the small town of Hixon, along with raising two children in Prince George, helped Cheryl come to understand the issues and barriers facing young people and their families in the North, with respect to service availability and environmental stressors. Having lived in various cities throughout the province Cheryl is proud to call Prince George her home.

Cheryl has a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Northern British Columbia and has worked as a Mental Health Therapist in Prince George for the past 5 years, with over a decade of experience working with young people in group home and school settings. She is a Registered Social Worker (Member #14524) with the British Columbia College of Social Workers. In the past 5 years Cheryl has been trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Brief Solution Focused Therapy. Cheryl was certified as an Emotion Focused Family Therapy Caregiver Workshop Facilitator in 2019, and for the past two years has been educating parents on how to improve their relationships and emotion coach their loved ones who struggle with mental health and/or behavioral issues. Cheryl uses Smart Recovery principles and tools in therapy to support people with recovery from addictions.

Cheryl has experience working with groups, parents, young adults, adolescents, and children, encompassing a range of concerns such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, conflict resolution, substance abuse and other addictions, along with parenting, and loss and grief. In addition, her familiarity with the health care, education, and social support government systems allows her to support clients with system navigation. Her therapeutic approach is trauma-informed and client-centered. Cheryl’s passion for working with adolescents, young adults, and parents is fueled by her belief that people have within them the solutions to their problems, and they can improve their lives, when provided with information, empathy, and a reassuring environment that promotes self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Suzanne LeBlanc, PhD., M.Ed., M.B.A, M.A., RCC, CCC

Dr. Suzanne LeBlanc, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) & Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Depression
Anxiety
Stress Management
Mindfulness
Communication
Goal Setting
Life Transitions/Change

Coping Skills
Work/life Balance
Employment and Career Related Challenges
Body Image/Weight Challenges
Grief and Loss
Other

Suzanne has two grown children and has lived in Prince George for more than 25 years. She loves being outdoors in nature, running, hiking, skiing, paddle boarding, or biking.

Suzanne has a BA, MA, and PhD in Sociology from the University of Toronto. She also has an MBA and a Master’s degree in Education specializing in Counselling from the University of Northern British Columbia. Suzanne is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC, registration #17128) as well as a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA, registration #1887). She is also a Certified Professional in Human Resources and prior to transitioning into counselling, she spent 20 years in labour relations and human resources positions. As a counsellor, she has training in a wide range of therapeutic approaches including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), narrative therapy, trauma-informed, and mindfulness-based approaches.

Her approach to therapy is to create a safe and validating space where she works collaboratively with clients to help them better understand themselves, identify and achieve therapeutic goals that will improve their quality of life and help them live the types of life they want to live.

Robyn Beauregard, M.A. Counselling Psychology, CCC

Robyn Beauregard, Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Depression
Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Grief and Loss
Trauma
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Stress Management
Relaxation and Mindfulness

Relationships & Communication
Self-esteem and Self-acceptance
Coping Skills
Recovering from Abuse & Neglect
Suicidal Ideation and Self-harm
Chronic Health Conditions including diabetes (JDRF certified counsellor)
Other

Robyn works with youth and adults, and is passionate about providing person-centered therapy from a strengths-based, trauma-informed, collaborative perspective. She incorporates Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, mindfulness, somatic interventions, arts and creativity, and OEI (Observed Experiential Integration) (certified Level 1 and 2).

Robyn grew up in Prince George. She achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Arts from the University of Victoria, her British Columbia Teaching Certificate through Simon Fraser University, and her Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She is a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (# 10008856).

Robyn has worked in education for over twenty years. She loves learning, traveling, cooking, baking, painting, gardening, yoga, and spending time with her friends and family. She lives with her husband and two children in Prince George.

Jenny Pouffe, MSW Clinical Counselling, RSW

Jenny Plouffe, Registered Social Worker in Clinical Counselling, has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Parent - Child / Youth Attachment
Parenting Challenges
Relationship Concerns (couples/families)
Anxiety
Life Transitions

Stress/Anger Management
Depression
Grief and Loss
Balance/Wellness
Conflict Resolution
Trauma
Other

Jenny Plouffe has lived in Prince George all her life. She enjoys this community with her partner as well as their adult son. Jenny obtained her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Northern BC and a Master of Social Work with the University of Calgary, specialization in Clinical Practice. She is a Registered Social Worker (registration #10837) with the BC College of Social Workers and a member of the BC Association of Social Work.

Jenny has had a wealth of experience supporting adults, children, youth, and families for over 25 years using eclectic counseling approaches and methods. Some of these methods include: Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Emotion Focused Family Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (incl. Trauma), Motivational Interviewing, and Reality Therapy. She is also trained in play therapy, family mediation, and is a Circle of Security and Triple P Parenting Certified Facilitator, in addition to being certified in the early childhood attachment interventions of Modified Interaction Guidance and Wait, Watch & Wonder.

She believes that relationships are the fundamental bases of who we are. However, they are fluid because as we grow, so should our relationships. This is true for intimate relationships as well as care-giving ones, since we shift how we relate to our aging toddler, teenager, or parents very differently. Jenny’s intention is to support people in recognizing their strengthens which, can in turn support their own personal growth and healing; along with fostering stronger, healthier relationships.

Kerry Donovan, M.A. Counselling Psychology, RCC

Kerry Donovan, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Relationship Concerns (couples/families)
Family Dynamics
Parenting Challenges
Depression
Anxiety/Panic Attacks
Stress Management
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Communication
Men's Issues

Goal Setting
Life Transitions
Grief and Loss
Balance/Wellness
Conflict Resolution
Trauma
Self-esteem
Coping skills
Other

Kerry has served in the people helping vocation since 1989. His early experience included working cross-culturally with the Lakota Sioux in southern Manitoba and later with youth at-risk as a frontline worker in various settings in the south and central Okanagan. In 1998 he entered a Master's program and became more educated in clinical counselling. He became familiar and appreciative of post-modern counselling approaches and acquired skill in the narrative (story based) model of therapy. He graduated in 2001 and returned to the central Okanagan where he continued to do frontline youth work and became a foster/mentor parent. In 2005 he moved to Athens, Greece and there completed a Master's degree in Clinical Counselling Psychology while gaining experience working with international students.

Kerry returned to Canada in 2009 and worked as the Family Services Counsellor at Mackenzie Counselling Services in Mackenzie, BC until June 2018 (with a one-year sabbatical in between).

Kerry integrates many approaches in his work with individuals and couples including, narrative, family systems (family of origin), core beliefs, and emotional intelligence (EQ) and The Gottman method. Kerry has also facilitated therapeutic personal growth groups with themes including healthy boundaries, self-awareness, healthy relationships and lifespan/developmental stage tasks and men's issues.

Barb Lloyd, MEd. Counselling, CCC

Barb Lloyd, Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Somatic/Movement therapies
Trauma & Generational trauma
Coping skills
Child/youth issues
Parenting
Anxiety
Stress management

Spiritual/Religious concerns
Depression
Balance/Wellness
Relationship stressors
Marriage stressors
Conflict resolution
Other

Barb has lived most of her life in Prince George. She has years of experience working with children and youth, including those with developmental disabilities, designations and/or learning difficulties. She has worked both in the school system as a teacher, Specialized Education Assistant, and an Academic Support Worker. Additionally, she has worked as an Aerial Yoga Instructor, Rehabilitation Assistant and as a Behaviour Interventionist. Barb is bilingual and speaks both English and French.

Barb counsels using an integrative trauma-informed holistic lens: mind-body-spirit. She works within many modalities, while working collaboratively with her clients to personalize each session for their individual needs. Some of the different therapeutic approaches include Somatic/Movement forms of therapy, Strengths-Based, Solution-Focused, Person-Centered, and a variety of psychotherapy style approaches, while integrating “parts” within these approaches. She can be no-nonsense and straight to the point, or gentle, warm and more nurturing, depending on what the client wants and needs.

Barb is a member of Canadian Counsellor and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA #11245988). She received her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and her Master of Education in Counselling through UNBC. She is EMDR and OEI practitioner.

Scott Taylor, M.A. Counselling Psychology, RCC

Scott Taylor, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Anxiety 
Panic 
Depression 
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 
Mindfulness 
Stress Management
Interpersonal Dynamics

Trauma 
Self Harm
Self-esteem 
Goal setting 
Communication 
Managing Emotions 
Other

Scott Taylor has lived in the north for most of his life and has called Prince George home for the last decade.

Scott is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (registration # 21904) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). He holds a Master of Counselling Psychology degree from Yorkville University in Fredericton NB. He has practiced at a master's level clinical capacity since 2010 and has worked in the mental health field since 2004.

His approach is collaborative, empathetic, and strength-based, drawing on a range of therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Exposure Therapy, EMDR, and trauma-informed care. He works with clients to identify and challenge negative thought and behaviour patterns, develop coping skills, and cultivate self-compassion and resilience.

Scott’s goal is to provide a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. He understands that seeking help can be a difficult step, and he will do his best to make sure that every client feels heard, validated, and supported throughout their journey toward healing and growth.

Fay Leman, M.A. Spiritual Formation, RPC-S
Practicum Counsellor providing Affordable Counselling

Fay Leman, Student Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC-S), has the experience to offer specialized services in:

Grief and Loss due to divorce, job loss, moving, etc.
Death, dying and the Bereaved
Spiritual Companionship/Directions
Life Transition Challenge

Relationship Concerns
Self Esteem
Goal Setting
Mild Depression
Mild Anxiety

Compassionate and empathetic to the pain, isolation and loneliness faced in life’s transitions, Fay offers support and spiritual care to adults, parents, and families experiencing unresolved and disenfranchised grief, anxiety, depression, familial estrangements, job loss, etc. She also helps parents talk to their children about difficult subjects, including illness, death, and divorce. She uses an integrative approach to supporting clients using a wholistic, humanistic, and existential model of cognitive therapy.

Fay completed her Masters in Spiritual Formation from Carey Theological College in 2015, completed her Certification as a Professional Christian Life Coach in 2018 and became an Edu- Therapy Specialist in 2022. Fay began her work in grief support after becoming certified as a Grief Recovery Specialist in 2013 with Advanced standing in 2021.

Fay is working towards becoming a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) through the Kelowna College of Professional Counselling and is registered in the Canadian Professional Counsellors’ Association (Student Member #4335), Spiritual Care Association (Member #8279) and the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (Member #42840).

Fay is currently being supervised by Frantisek Anderko, PhD. She is offering low cost adult sessions online while under supervision and completing her studies towards registration as a Registered Professional Counsellor.

counsellor

1717 3rd Avenue, Unit 201, Prince George, V2L 3G7, BC

Phone: 250-596-8954 / Cell (Text): 250-640-2286 / Fax: 250-596-8956

Email: northerncounselling.emdr@gmail.com