Executive Director
Jane Lee, MA, CCC
Jane has worked with civilian and military individuals and families for over 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 25+ 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 over 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 25+ 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
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Program Coordinator
Raji Goel, Dip Office Admin 
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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Intake Coordinator
Sandra Teiffel, BA, Dip ED 
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
Pam Rudy, BEd
Coordinator, Separation Resource Services & Mediator
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.
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.
Counsellor, Caught in the Middle Program Coordinator/Facilitator
Hannah Peterson, BA, PGCEi, GrDip in Youth Work , MACP (in progress)
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Postgraduate Certificate of Education, Postgraduate Diploma in Youth Work, Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (IP)
Hannah is committed to understanding and working in partnership with her clients to uncover their preferred futures and paths towards healing and growth. She practices compassionate awareness and brings a strong passion for life and learning into the therapy room. Hannah adopts a holistic perspective of wellbeing and is dedicated to supporting her clients to enhance their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Hannah is committed to understanding and working in partnership with her clients to uncover their preferred futures and paths towards healing and growth. She practices compassionate awareness and brings a strong passion for life and learning into the therapy room. Hannah adopts a holistic perspective of wellbeing and is dedicated to supporting her clients to enhance their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Counsellors/Facilitators
Ava Razavi, MA, RCC
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.
Daisy Song, MA, RCH, RCC
Before registered as a clinical counselor, Daisy has been working as a registered clinical hypnotherapist since 2014. Daisy is experienced in working on issues including phobias, anxieties, depression, PTSD, sleep issues, eating disorders, grief and loss etc. She is also passionate about working with her clients’ inner child to promote self-acceptance and selflove through her non-judgemental and unconditional positive regards attitude, making growth and change possible.
Hanna Kaye Verhagen, BA, DVATI, MA
Hanna has completed her Masters of Counselling program at the University of Calgary and is excited to offer counselling and art therapy services at Victoria Family Services as part of her practicum. Prior to joining our team, Hanna completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Art Therapy. Previously, she worked as an art therapist in Vancouver with a range of clients and takes a client-centered, mindfulness-based approach to her practice. She values the therapeutic qualities of artmaking as well as its capacity to inspire dialogue, exploration, and reflection. With the belief that everyone is the expert of their own life, Hanna’s collaborative, facilitator role helps guide clients to make their own self-discoveries.
Ian Mackintosh, MA, CCC, RCC
Ian Brings a broad spectrum of life and professional experience to his role as a Clinical Counsellor, he works with a wide range of age groups with a focus on children, youth and families. He operates from a strength-based, trauma-informed, dynamic systems approach and he uses a variety of arts-based and somatic experiential tools/techniques to help clients explore creative solutions and new perspectives. His clinical focus is on trauma, anxiety, depression and issues of emotional dis-regulation (such as ADD/ADHD).
His professional journey began over 25 years ago with a career in theatre and the arts. He has a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Victoria, and a BFA in Theatre. He has been working in the supported housing and crisis-housing sector in both Vancouver and Victoria for over a decade. This has given him a pragmatic optimism to provide quality, practical service for clients to dream a better existence for themselves.
His professional journey began over 25 years ago with a career in theatre and the arts. He has a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Victoria, and a BFA in Theatre. He has been working in the supported housing and crisis-housing sector in both Vancouver and Victoria for over a decade. This has given him a pragmatic optimism to provide quality, practical service for clients to dream a better existence for themselves.
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.
Leah Johnson, MA (in progress)
Leah (she/her) is a practicum student completing her Master’s in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. Leah has experience working with children, youth and families in roles such as case management, before and after school care, coaching, and beyond. Her approach to counselling is driven by unconditional positive regard, active listening and empathy. Leah believes that each person who enters therapy has unique experiences, strength and courage. She recognizes that what works for one person may not work for the next, which is why she approaches counselling from a dynamic and collaborative perspective. She believes that each individual is the expert of their own life, and one of her goals is to help individuals access and develop their internal strengths and resources. The ultimate goal of therapy from Leah’s perspective is to provide a safe space for you to tell your story, where you feel heard and supported.
Leah (she/her) is a practicum student completing her Master’s in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. Leah has experience working with children, youth and families in roles such as case management, before and after school care, coaching, and beyond. Her approach to counselling is driven by unconditional positive regard, active listening and empathy. Leah believes that each person who enters therapy has unique experiences, strength and courage. She recognizes that what works for one person may not work for the next, which is why she approaches counselling from a dynamic and collaborative perspective. She believes that each individual is the expert of their own life, and one of her goals is to help individuals access and develop their internal strengths and resources. The ultimate goal of therapy from Leah’s perspective is to provide a safe space for you to tell your story, where you feel heard and supported.
Leah (she/her) is a practicum student completing her Master’s in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. Leah has experience working with children, youth and families in roles such as case management, before and after school care, coaching, and beyond. Her approach to counselling is driven by unconditional positive regard, active listening and empathy. Leah believes that each person who enters therapy has unique experiences, strength and courage. She recognizes that what works for one person may not work for the next, which is why she approaches counselling from a dynamic and collaborative perspective. She believes that each individual is the expert of their own life, and one of her goals is to help individuals access and develop their internal strengths and resources. The ultimate goal of therapy from Leah’s perspective is to provide a safe space for you to tell your story, where you feel heard and supported.
Lexie Harrison, BA, MA (in progress)
Lexie is a Master’s in Counselling Psychology student at the University of Victoria and is excited to complete her final practicum at Family Services of Greater Victoria. She holds an undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria and has been working as a child, youth and family counsellor for 5 years in transitional and second stage housing programs where she gained extensive experience working with children who have witnessed domestic abuse and family separation. Lexie’s approach is client-centred, strength-based, and informed by attachment theory and an understanding of child brain development. She is passionate about working with children and youth in an empowering and collaborative way to heal from trauma, learn about themselves, and, ultimately, thrive.
Matt Treble, MA(in progress)
Matt (he/him) has worked with children and youth for the past 9 years in a variety of roles. He is currently completing his Master of Counselling degree from Athabasca University. One of Matt’s primary beliefs is that the counselling process and therapeutic relationship should be built on empathy, understanding, and a nonjudgmental approach. He likes to work alongside his clients to help them move towards their goals and hopes. Matt loves to learn from his clients and is excited to work in partnership with children, youth, young people, and their families/caregivers.
Shelley Fischbach, BEd, SPED, MA CYC (in progress)
Shelley is a certified Special Educator and is currently working on completing her Masters in Child and Youthcare at the University of Victoria with a clinical counselling focus. She has spent the past fifteen years working with teens and preteens in an educational setting supporting them through transitions both at home and school. She believes that each individual has distinct strengths and challenges and therefore take an eclectic approach by integrating solution-focused, person-centred approaches to her work with children and their families. She works to create a warm, non-judgmental and safe environment from where clients and their families can reach their goals and engage in meaningful and healthy relationships. She is here to support her clients to take steps to reach their success, whatever “success” means for each of them.
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-facilitated the Parenting After Separation course.
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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Tiemer & Co
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