Person-centred
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. I start with your experience and what matters to you.
Meet Salena
Counselling that feels human.
Hi, I’m Salena.
Professional designation
I’m a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor-Candidate (RTCc) with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT). RTCc is ACCT’s candidate designation for counsellors who have met its education and training requirements and are completing the additional clinical requirements toward full RTC registration.
I’m the counsellor behind CedarStone Health & Wellness. Caring for others has been a common thread throughout both my personal and professional life.
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent approximately 15 years working within the school system as an Educational Assistant, supporting students with diverse needs, including autism, Down syndrome, anxiety, and other neurodivergent experiences. I also worked as a Health Care Assistant in long-term care, supporting individuals and families through dementia, changing independence, grief, loss, and major life transitions.
Those experiences shaped the way I see people and the way I approach counselling. I believe everyone deserves to feel heard, understood, respected, and supported, especially when life feels overwhelming or uncertain.
I would describe myself as empathetic, personable, and animated. I’m expressive and easy to talk to, and I do not believe counselling needs to feel stiff or intimidating. My hope is to create a space where you can show up as yourself, have honest conversations, and feel comfortable being exactly where you are in your journey.
Outside the office
Life outside counselling.
Outside of counselling, I’m a mom, a dog mom, and the proud owner of what can only be described as a heap of cats. Welcome to my zoo!
I love camping, spending time outdoors, cooking and baking, animals, travelling, and my newest hobby: sourdough. When I need some quiet time, you’ll often find me working on a paint-by-number.
Based in Mission, British Columbia · Online counselling across Canada.
My approach to counselling
Person-centred. Collaborative. Practical.
You are the expert on your own life. My work with you should reflect your experiences, needs, strengths, and goals.
CBT & DBT
Depending on what you are navigating, my work with you may draw from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.
Skills for real life
I may use mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, communication, and healthy-boundary skills.
Room to be human
Sometimes the work is serious, sometimes there is room for humour, and sometimes you simply need someone to sit with you in the messy middle.
Experience that shapes the work.
I have a particular passion for working with neurodivergent individuals and the families and care teams who support them, drawing on approximately 15 years of experience within the school system.
My long-term care experience also informs the way I support people navigating dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, loss of independence, changing family dynamics, grief, major health changes, and other significant life transitions.