Registered Clinical Counsellor

OK Clinical Therapy Group
Two locations:
Unit 5 – Century 21 building
2009 Columbia Avenue
Castlegar V1N 2W9
and
Unit 106 – 518 Lake St.
Nelson, BC, V1L 4C6

T: 250-718-9291
E: info@okclinical.com
W: okclinical.com

Fees: $825 first child, $700 per additional child

The lives of children are affected by the changes that are made within the family unit and by decisions that are made for them. Hear the Child reports support children to provide their voices about some of the very important factors in their lives, including, but not limited to: where they live, who they live with and how much time they spend with each parent. The parent-child relationship is very important to the healthy development of children and is unique to each parent and child. Although children are not able to make decisions, their opinions are recorded and used to inform their parents, lawyers and the judge in part of the decision-making process.

When I am asked to conduct a Hear the Child interview, I take the time to understand issues and concerns before I meet with the child(ren). Special attention is spent on creating questions that will lead to a full exploration of the issues/concerns from all angles, using a respectful and supportive approach with the child(ren). The child(ren)’s responses will be recorded verbatim and the transcribed document will be provided to the parents, lawyers and presiding judge.

In addition to my 20 years as a Registered Clinical Counsellor with BCACC (British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors), I have been trained and have experience in the Hear the Child process; interviewing children; counselling children/youth; and in supporting families through challenging situations. I offer compassion, empathy, and respect to each family member with a goal of assisting children to have their voices heard by the adults who are working hard to make the best decisions for their children.

Registered Clinical Counsellor

OK Clinical Therapy Group
Two locations:
#200 – 2760 Trethewey St.
Abbotsford, BC V2T 3R1
and
206 – 1634 Harvey Ave.
Kelowna, BC V1Y 6G2

T: 250-718-9291
E: info@okclinical.com
W: okclinical.com

Fees: $825 first child, $700 per additional child

Nicole Ripley is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BCACC (British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors). Nicole’s work with children began in 2008, and she has since gained extensive experience in clinical settings, specializing in minors aged 5+. Her work has spanned a variety of environments, including schools, hospitals, youth centres, private practice, and international contexts such as Nepal, Northern Australia, and India. Her international engagements have provided her with a comprehensive cross-cultural perspective and a deepened understanding of the unique challenges faced by children in various parts of the world.

Nicole has a profound understanding of the inherent presence of conflict and grief in the context of separation and divorce. Parents acknowledge that such conflicts can have a significant impact on their children’s well-being. Nicole’s understanding of these difficulties, combined with her special ability to establish strong connections with children, enables her to conduct effective and detailed reports for families. In addition, as a divorced woman and mother of two young boys, Nicole utilizes her experiences to provide others with invaluable interview skills. Her direct experience with the difficulties and complexities of divorce and co-parenting gives her a profound sense of empathy and understanding for the families she serves.

Nicole has provided Hear the Child Reports since 2017, offering unwavering dedication to children’s well-being and helping them navigate their family dynamics.

Child Interviewer & Parenting Coordinator

9054 Glover Rd
Fort Langley, BC

T: 778-837-9639
F: (604) 513-9429
E: nbm@nancymatechuk.com
W: www.nancymatechuk.com

Fees: Variable; dependent on number of children

Nancy has over 20 years of experience as a counsellor and mediator with specialized training in working with families, children, and teens. Nancy has a family practice in Fort Langley, BC.

Nancy has a broad range of experience in parenting and separation. She is skilled in the use of various collaborative interventions, including mediation, arbitration and parenting coordination.

Nancy has significant experience interviewing and working with children and teens. Nancy specializes in therapy for children, adolescents, and families dealing with separation and divorce.

Nancy has specialized training and experience counselling individuals with concurrent disorders including substance use, mood, anxiety disorders, childhood and adolescent stress, trauma, and maladaptive behaviours.
Nancy’s specialized training in mediation includes parent-teen mediation and parenting after separation mediation.

Nancy is a trained neutral child interviewer with BC Hear The Child Society, a member of the BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society, registered with British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (RCC), Certified with Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), a member of Family Mediation Canada (FMC), and a member of BC Play Therapy Association.

Registered Clinical Counsellor

Eagle Mountain Counselling and Consulting
101-346 Lawrence Ave
Kelowna BC V1Y 6L4

E: eaglemountaincounselling@gmail.com
W: www.eaglemountaincounselling.com

Fees: $150 hourly, set rates for Hear the Child Reports

 

Jocelyn Carlson, Registered Clinical Counsellor, completed her BA honours in Psychology at the University of Victoria and her Masters degree in Counselling Psychology at the University of British Columbia.

Jocelyn has extensive experience working with children, youth, and families in a community-based mental health setting as well as in her private practice Eagle Mountain Counselling and Consulting. Jocelyn is a Child Interviewer and believes in the importance of giving children a voice so their views can be considered in the decisions that impact their lives, without making them feel responsible for the outcome of these decisions. Jocelyn creates a safe, child-focused space during her interviews, establishing rapport with children and adolescents which allows them to share their needs and perspectives. Incorporating children’s views in their own words can result in parenting plans that aim to maximize children’s feelings of security, family connections and development.

Jocelyn has training in Child and Adolescent Development, Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EEFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, ACT, and Solution Focused Therapy. Jocelyn has also facilitated groups for youth and their caregivers.

Lawyer, Mediator, Arbitrator, PC

Riverdale Mediation Ltd.
393 University Ave, Suite 2000
Toronto, Ont. M5G 1E6

T: 416-593-0210
E: hilary@riverdalemediation.com
W: www.riverdalemediation.com

Fees: flat rate

After litigating in the family and civil courts for 14 years, Hilary started Riverdale Mediation to focus on helping families resolve separation issues out of court. She is a creative and child-centred professional.

Since 2001, when she started Riverdale, her energy has been dedicated to providing mediation, arbitration and parenting coordination services that meet the needs of each unique family. She works with a team of colleagues with a commitment to excellence and client service.

The Hear the Child process is integral to a successful, child-inclusive process because it is empowering and accessible.

Hilary has designed a structured, affordable model of parenting coordination that includes two professionals assigned to each matter and a focus on hearing the child’s voice. She has also mediated many hundreds of cases, and works often as a mediator-arbitrator. She believes that paying attention to the power balance in each relationship is a key element in the success of the services she and her Riverdale colleagues provide.

Hilary’s commitment has been recognized by Awards of Excellence from the Ontario Bar Association and the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario.

Clinical Counsellor

Currents Clinical Counselling
Salmon Arm:
301 – 371 Hudson Ave. NE,
Salmon Arm, BC V1E 3B8
Kamloops:
404 – 235 1st Ave.,
Kamloops, BC V2C 3J4
Merritt:
204 – 1951 Garcia St.,
Merritt, BC V1K 1R6

T: 250-819-1902
E: shannon@currentscounselling.ca
W: www.currentscounselling.ca

Fees: $1,600 for one child | $2,200 for two children

Shannon Ritchie is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor (RCC-ACS) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. She is the Clinical Director and owner of Currents Clinical Counselling, which provides services across Salmon Arm, Kamloops, and Merritt.

Shannon has extensive experience working with children, youth, and families, including supporting those navigating separation, divorce, and high-conflict parenting situations. She provides Hear the Child reports, clinical assessments, and supervision for other mental health professionals.

Her practice is centered on supporting healthy family relationships and ensuring that each child’s voice is heard with dignity and care. Shannon draws from diverse therapeutic modalities, trauma-informed approaches, and child-centered practices to help families and the courts make decisions that prioritize children’s best interests.

Certified Trauma Therapist

LD Counselling & Consulting, Inc.
22718 Lougheed Highway
Maple Ridge, BC V2X 2V6

T: 672-880-0747
F: 236-437-2117
E: lorna@ldcounselling.com

Fees: $1,000 per child, $140 per hour for subsequent report preparation time.

Hello! My name is Lorna Demedeiros, and I am a Registered Social Worker practicing in Maple Ridge at Innova Therapy. I am registered to help clients living in British Columbia and Alberta. I am a certified trauma therapist, having completed the Complex Trauma and Child Abuse graduate program through the Justice Institute of British Columbia. I provide individual counselling to children and their families, in addition to Hear the Child reports.

With respect to Attachment Theory and Complex Developmental Trauma, children gather all of their social information from their relationships with caregivers, and this relationship has a direct impact on their brain development. When a family goes through a separation or a divorce, it is pivotally important to include the child’s perspective, as feeling heard and validated can buffer them from the attachment disruptions they experience when their parents separate. It is my honour to advocate for children to be heard and walk with families through this painful and complicated process. Thank you for considering me to work with your children.