Executive Director
Jane (Taylor) Lee, MA, CCC
Jane has worked with civilian and military individuals and families for 22 years, assisting them with challenges ranging from separation and divorce, communication, intimacy, parenting, anger management and domestic violence, to coping with and managing symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Jane has researched, designed and facilitated couples workshops addressing anger management and violence prevention, parenting, intimacy, depression, grief, and loss. As a child specialist for 22 years and an experienced divorce coach, she understands the complexities of relationships and the stressors that can end them. It is through this unique combination of experience and dedication that Jane helps individuals, couples and their families to manage traumatic and stressful events and create opportunities for transformative healing. Jane coordinated Caught in the Middle at the agency from 2001 until 2003 and then served on our Board of Directors for six years. She has facilitated parent groups and has been on the team of co-facilitators for the Parenting After Separation workshops since 2002. Jane earned a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Adler University in Chicago, Illinois, and provides clinical supervision to Master’s students and mental health professionals. Jane celebrates ethnic, cultural, and spiritual diversity in her work. As well, Jane has over 15 years experience working with EAP providers and strongly believes these services are of paramount importance to individuals and families navigating the emotions and challenges of complex family and work dynamics. In May 2018 Jane took over the position of Executive Director. Jane is looking forward to expanding existing programs and services and support to our clients and the broader community.
Jane has worked with civilian and military individuals and families for 22 years, assisting them with challenges ranging from separation and divorce, communication, intimacy, parenting, anger management and domestic violence, to coping with and managing symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Jane has researched, designed and facilitated couples workshops addressing anger management and violence prevention, parenting, intimacy, depression, grief, and loss. As a child specialist for 22 years and an experienced divorce coach, she understands the complexities of relationships and the stressors that can end them. It is through this unique combination of experience and dedication that Jane helps individuals, couples and their families to manage traumatic and stressful events and create opportunities for transformative healing. Jane coordinated Caught in the Middle at the agency from 2001 until 2003 and then served on our Board of Directors for six years. She has facilitated parent groups and has been on the team of co-facilitators for the Parenting After Separation workshops since 2002. Jane earned a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Adler University in Chicago, Illinois, and provides clinical supervision to Master’s students and mental health professionals. Jane celebrates ethnic, cultural, and spiritual diversity in her work. As well, Jane has over 15 years experience working with EAP providers and strongly believes these services are of paramount importance to individuals and families navigating the emotions and challenges of complex family and work dynamics. In May 2018 Jane took over the position of Executive Director. Jane is looking forward to expanding existing programs and services and support to our clients and the broader community.
First Response Services
Raji Goel, Dip Office Admin Programs Coordinator
Prior to starting with FSGV, Raji volunteered for several agencies, contributing both his computer skills and his general office skills. He first joined the agency in 1994 as a volunteer. His computer expertise and endless creativity is seen everywhere in our office, as well as on agency brochures, funding proposals, brochures, and handouts. In 1996, he pursued his Diploma in Office Administration. He graduated in the spring of 1997 and was hired in the fall as the agency's first paid secretary/receptionist. His role in the agency has grown over the years and he is now responsible for numerous tasks, including providing the public with general information and referrals, supervising volunteers in office reception, creating handouts, assisting the executive director with proposals and reports, and assisting with the agency’s bookkeeping.
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Sandra Teiffel, BA, Dip ED Intake Coordinator
Sandra is a retired school counsellor/teacher with over 30 years experience at both the junior high and middle school levels. Apart from working with students, parents and staff on a wide variety of issues she networked with community agencies she sat on the board of a local therapy agency. During her career she has worked with both First Nations and Indo-Canadian communities, and was involved with one of the first Anti-racism workshops in the BC school system. Over the years she has attended many workshops on social issues, one of which lead to the establishment of a Peer Counselling Program. Sandra began as a volunteer with our agency in September 2006.
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Separation Resource Services
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Pam Rudy, BEd
Coordinator, Separation Resource Services & Mediator Pam has 33 years of experience in assisting family members affected by separation and divorce. She has worked with families throughout our agency’s history from when we began as Divorce Lifeline, to Separation and Divorce Resource Centre, to BC Families in Transition, to our current name as Family Services of Greater Victoria (FSGV). Throughout her employment at FSGV, Pam has attended professional development courses to update her knowledge of family law and to stay current of dispute resolution options available to assist families in settling family law issues. While providing legal support services, Pam has had numerous opportunities to observe and become familiar with proceedings in both Provincial and Supreme Court. Pam’s educational background includes a B.Ed from University of Victoria and a Certificate in Volunteer Management from Camosun College. In February 2019, she graduated from the Justice Institute of BC with a Certificate in Family Mediation. |
Legal Supervisor
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Crystal Buchan, BA, LLB
Crystal has an exclusively family practice, and has always focused on resolving disputes out of court. She began her professional practice in 1992. She was one of the original twelve members who established the Victoria Family Law Group and has served on the group’s Executive for a number of years. She is currently the group’s Co-chair. A Family Law Mediator since 1997, she has an active mediation practice and has completed Advanced Civil Mediation Training. She actively practices yoga, reads widely, and cooks for her vegetarian family. |
Counsellors/Facilitators
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John Ricker, MA, RCC
John joined Family Services of Greater Victoria as an intern in September 2007, initially working with adults and couples, later working with children and youth, as well as providing program coordination. He completed his Master's degree in Counselling at Bastyr University in Seattle, focusing on systemic approaches to family therapy. Concurrently, he fulfilled a practicum at Citizen's Counselling Centre in Victoria, and pursued further studies in somatic experiencing and integrated body psychotherapy. He has taught yoga and meditation for many years, and has also lived and worked in diverse parts of the world, including New Zealand, Peru, and both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. |
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Luciana Daghum, MA, CCC
Luciana has maintained and deepened her passion for working with children and assisting families since she began counselling in 2000. Luciana strives to facilitate personal growth and healing in a non-directive way, in a manner that is empathetic, warm, and accepting. She sees children as an essential component of a healthy family dynamic and strives to help them through their problems, anxieties, fears, and uncertainties by way of play, art, and sandplay therapy techniques. Luciana is committed to affirming the potential and inner strength that her clients possess to help them make positive changes in their lives. She has worked at Family Services of Greater Victoria from 2011 to 2013 as a child and family counsellor. She returned in 2016 to coordinate the Caught in the Middle program, work as a child counsellor, and support children and families navigating through family changes. |
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Vahini Govender, MC:AT, BA (Psych.), DVATI, RCC
Vahini is a registered clinical counsellor and art therapist (B.A. in Psychology and Masters of Counselling – Specialization in Art Therapy). She has worked in the social sector for over 15 years, providing helping services for various populations and agencies. Outside of her role as counsellor/art therapist/Caught in the Middle Coordinator with FSGV, Vahini works in her private practice, Bright Insight Therapy, and is a private contractor in the Greater Victoria area (specializing in groups). Vahini aligns with art, narrative, and existential therapy, and has a deep understanding of trauma and mental health. She believes that successful counselling includes a strong therapeutic alliance and authentic counsellor acceptance of multiple realities. Vahini is a published academic writer, and is skilled in developing therapeutic programming. Her arts-based research is used as a teaching tool at the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. |
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Yuko Kawasumi, MA, RCC
Yuko initially joined Family Services of Greater Victoria as a first response volunteer in the summer of 2013. She started her practicum at FSGV in September 2015. She completed her Master's degree in Counselling at the Victoria campus of the City University of Seattle in 2016. Yuko has worked with adults, children, and youth as a counsellor. Currently, she is a facilitator for the Caught in a Middle program. Yuko also co-facilitates the Parenting After Separation course. |
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Barbara Green, MA
Barbara has worked in human services for over 30 years, both in Canada and in Europe. She graduated from the University of Victoria with a BA in Human and Social Development and from Royal Roads University with an MA in Leadership and Training. She is also a certified Addictions Counsellor. For most of her professional life she has served as a counsellor and group facilitator, and her clients have included children in care, youth at risk, inmates in maximum security institutions, families in crisis, and individuals. Her first love is working with parents on topics including step-parenting, conflict management, and personal development. Barbara has been an enthusiastic facilitator at Family Services of Greater Victoria for the past 10 years as a facilitator for the Caught in the Middle and Parenting with a New Partner programs. |
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David McCoy, MA, RN
David retired from health care administration in 2013 having worked in a variety of health care areas. He joined the agency as a volunteer in May, 2014 and currently works as a legal advocate providing clients with information about legal rights, responsibilities and options as well as attending family court and assisting with court preparation. Over his career David has led or contributed to local, regional and provincial committees focused on improving health systems and care. A Registered Nurse, David has an undergraduate degree in Health Sciences and an MA in Leadership from Royal Roads University and has presented at both provincial and national health care venues. |
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Lionel Zelniker, MA, MSW
Lionel graduated from McGill University in 1970 with a Master of Social Work degree, specializing in group-work practice. Since then he has served in a wide variety of family-service organizations, both in Canada and abroad. His major responsibilities have included individual and family therapy, group therapy, management, and supervision of professional social-work and child-care staff. In the last 16 years he has worked in private practice, specializing in group therapy and providing various types of counselling, as well as training professional staff at various agencies in group-work methods and supervising graduate-level practicum students. He has served as a contractor with Family Services of Greater Victoria for 11 years, facilitating Parenting After Separation, Evolutions, and Caught in the Middle, as well as training new facilitators. Lionel currently co-facilitates the Parenting After Separation program. |
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Deanna Leippi, MA (in progress)
Bio Coming Soon |
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Charlene Hicky, ECE, BA, MA (in progress)
Charlene is a First Nations woman originating from the Cree community of Saddle Lake in Edmonton Alberta. I spent the majority of my life being raised in a small town in Quebec; I moved to Victoria seven years ago to pursue my dream job of becoming a clinical counsellor. Charlene has had the honour to work alongside a variety of individuals in a helping role since starting her bachelor’s degree in 2012. She has experience working with all ages of individuals – children, youth, adolescents and the elderly. She honours diversity and is very mindful of one’s cultural upbringing and beliefs; She is always trying to find ways to honour my clients' values, religious and spiritual practices and world views. Since beginning her professional helping role, she has worked with issues related to: Addictions, Interpersonal relationships, Anxiety and stress, Familial issues, Identity Culture Self-esteem, and Spirituality |
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Julia Dillon, MA (in Progress)
Julia has been working with children and youth for over ten years. She is passionate about bringing storytelling, emotional literacy, and creativity into practice, and believes in honouring the strengths, experiences, and expressions of children. From 2016-17, Julia participated in the Esquimalt Neighbourhood House Volunteer Counsellor training program and has been counselling adults at ENH regularly since. She has also worked with people with diverse abilities individually and in group settings. At present, she is an MA Candidate in Child and Youth Care at UVIC, where her thesis study focuses on experiences of shame and guilt during childhood. She is co-facilitating the Caught in the Middle program at FSGV. |
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Ava Razavi, MA, RCC, CCC (on leave until further notice)
Ava joined us as an intern in 2010, working with children and families as well as facilitating the Caught in the Middle program while completing her Masters degree in Counselling Psychology at the University of Victoria. The multicultural approach to counselling was the focus of her Master of Arts thesis where she examined the relationship between ethnomusicology and modern-day counselling. She also completed a practicum at Bridges for Women Society where she worked on empowering women who have been impacted by trauma and abuse. Upon completion of her degree, Ava joined Family Services of Greater Victoria as a member of the staff. She is passionate about upgrading her counselling skills with the most up-to-date tools and techniques and is currently concentrating on expressive art and play techniques when working with children. |
Behind The Scenes
Melvin Klassen, BSc
Since 1990, Melvin has been volunteering his time to assist in upgrading our computer and systems and ensure they are in good working order.
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Rewers & Tiemer
Since 2017,
Rena Tiemer, CPA, CGA, BBA and Sheena Bellingham, PCP, bookkeeper have been doing the bookkeeping for our agency https://www.rewerstiemer.com/ |
