Board Members, Officers and Staff
PReSIDENT
JASEN MCQUARRIE, SASKATOON, SK
“Let difficulty transform you. And it will. In my experience, we just need help in learning how not to run away.”— Pema Chödrön
I grew up on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, spending time in Powell River, Nanaimo, Vancouver and mostly Victoria. I am now located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for the past 3 years. I am a father of a teenaged girl and stepfather to a preteen boy. We have a bunny rabbit named ‘Taco’.
I have now found my passion in Transpersonal Counselling and bring my life experience, my training, and my love for people, to my practice as a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor. I work with couples and have a passion for romantic and intimate partnerships that not only work, but also deeply add to the quality of each partner's life. Relationships can provide us with our deepest pain, and our most profound learning. I also work with adults 16 and over and am passionate about people discovering who they really are and living a life that is fulfilling, connected to their own personal values, while helping them transform any painful and limiting beliefs that may be blocking their path to a mature and flourishing life.
vice president
SATU PeSONEN, summerland, bc
I am a first-generation Finnish Canadian, born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I came to BC to go to school at UBC in the 1990s and decided to stay. I have lived in many parts of the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan. I now live in Mackenzie in Northern BC. I am privileged to live and work on the traditional territories of the McLeod Lake Indian Band, Kwadacha Nation, and Tsay Keh Dene First Nations. I am grateful to get to enjoy the beauty around me.
On a more personal note, I get to be mom to a 10-month-old puppy named Lucy, who has quickly become another love of my life alongside her pet brother, a senior cat of almost 18 years named Oscar, who reminds both Lucy and I daily that he is the boss. I enjoy hiking, camping, long drives exploring the back roads of BC, dog walks, gardening, doing renovations, and sitting on the deck watching the sunrise with a cup of coffee.
On the professional side, I have been a counsellor in private practice for over 18 years and joined ACCT in 2014, registering as a Master Therapeutic Counsellor and a Registered Counselling Supervisor shortly thereafter. I have an integrative relational transpersonal approach to counselling using numerous modalities. I am trauma-focused, working with both shock trauma using Somatic Experiencing (SEP), and developmental trauma using NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM). I also use a process-oriented competency-based approach to supervision through individual, dyadic and group formats.
I value self-awareness and accountability and as such I am working at becoming more aware of my blind spots and biases born from privilege, learning about anti-racist practice and applying that learning in all areas of my practice and life. I am grateful for the adventure of life, and am specifically grateful to spend my days counselling and supervising. This profession has changed me in profound ways, challenging me to be all I can be every day.
Treasurer
Riti Batra, port coquitlam, bc
Riti Batra is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor with over five years of experience in helping individuals and couples navigate emotional challenges, healing, and personal growth. She is a Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician and integrates trauma-informed care into her practice, providing support to those recovering from complex relationships. With a deep commitment to relationship wellness, Riti utilizes the Gottman Method for Couples Counselling, helping partners rebuild connection, trust, and communication. As a Certified Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher, she incorporates mindfulness techniques into her therapy, guiding clients toward emotional resilience, self-awareness, and inner peace. Riti specializes in Therapeutic Art, using creative expression as a powerful tool for healing trauma, processing emotions, and enhancing self-discovery. Her holistic approach combines traditional therapy with mindfulness, art, and somatic awareness to provide a deeply personalized healing experience.
Beyond her counselling practice, Riti is an author and educator, offering courses, journals, and workshops that empower individuals to integrate mindfulness into their daily lives. She is the founder of Savera Counselling and now a co owner of Tricities Counselling and wellness Inc a space dedicated to personal transformation and healing for the whole family.
DIRECTOR
ALLISON CORDNER, north vancouver, bc
I hold designations as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), Master Therapeutic Counsellor (MTC), Registered Counselling Supervisor (RCS), and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). I am also a Level 2 AEDP therapist. In addition, I have completed the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Program, which has deepened my awareness of systemic inequities and my commitment to fostering culturally safe, inclusive practices. These trainings, combined with years of practice, have shaped my sensitivity to the importance of safety, relationship, and repair—not just in the therapy room but also within organizations and communities.
My journey began in Clearmind International’s Practitioner Training Program, where I gained not only foundational skills but also the privilege of assisting extensively within the program. I also bring an extensive background in the visual and performing arts, which continues to inform my professional life by fostering creativity, diplomacy, and the ability to connect with diverse groups. I have a natural skill for de-escalation and bridging differences, helping restore harmony and understanding when tensions arise. These abilities, paired with my love for public speaking and generating creative ideas, would allow me to serve the ACCT Board as a positive, collaborative, and solution-oriented presence.
As someone born and raised in Quebec and now settled in North Vancouver with my two teenagers (and beloved cats), I bring a lived awareness of both cultural division and the urgent need to resist exclusionary or oppressive systems. I believe Canada’s counselling landscape needs a thoughtful balance—a hybrid model that values both academic training and competency-based experiential learning. This vision aligns with ACCT’s commitment to inclusivity and excellence in psychotherapy, and I would be honored to contribute to advancing it at the board level.
director
Faisal naHRI, vancouver, bc
Faisal Nahri is the founder of Counselling Cultures, a practice dedicated to affordable, culturally responsive counselling for diverse communities, especially first- and second-generation Canadians. With over 15 years of experience across teaching, counselling and consulting, Faisal takes a highly interdisciplinary approach to clinical work, program design and business systems development. He is a certified bookkeeper and director of Small Business Care, where he creates custom bookkeeping solutions that integrate seamlessly with clients’ everyday workflows.
Faisal has taught at the University of British Columbia for over nine years and has supported nonprofits in redesigning counselling programs to improve accessibility and meet operational and reporting expectations of granting agencies. His work reflects a commitment to balance, clarity, and cultural integration, values he carries into all aspects of service design.
director
BIANCA WELLWOOD, vancouver, bc
"In a war of ego, the loser always wins" - Buddha
director
XUE SHERRY DU
Xue “Sherry” Du, RTC (#2848), is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor based in Burnaby, BC, specializing in grief support, trauma-informed care, and holistic wellness. She works at Heron Hospice facilitating grief groups, providing individual counselling, and developing volunteer training programs. As co-owner of Comfy Couch Counselling & Wellness Centre, she integrates therapy with modalities such as sound healing and hypnotherapy.
Sherry’s leadership experience extends beyond counselling. She has served as Equipment Manager for Burnaby Minor Hockey Association since 2022 and spent over a decade in corporate leadership, managing strategic planning, governance processes, and team development. Fluent in English and Mandarin, she brings a cross-cultural perspective, strong governance and communication skills, and a commitment to fostering collaboration within the counselling profession. Sherry is dedicated to advancing ACCT’s mission by supporting members, strengthening community connections, and advocating for the profession.
I am committed to strengthening the counselling profession through collaboration, advocacy, and innovation. In my roles as a hospice counsellor, private practice owner, and community volunteer, I have seen the impact that a supportive professional association can have on its members and the people they serve.
My leadership experience spans both non-profit and corporate sectors, allowing me to bring strategic thinking, operational expertise, and community engagement skills to the ACCT Board. I want to contribute to shaping policies, programs, and resources that empower counsellors to thrive, while ensuring that our profession continues to grow with integrity and inclusivity.
PAST PRESIDENT
CHRISTA HUNTLEY, SURReY, BC
“To know and love ourselves and other well / Is the most difficult and meaningful / Work we’ll ever d0.” – Sleeping at Last
Christa Huntley, RTC, (she/her) is originally from Guelph, Ontario but has spent most of her life in BC. She lives in Surrey, BC on the traditional territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt and Tsawwassen First Nations. Christa is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and social media manager with a passion for supporting people to know and love themselves more deeply. Christa was drawn to a counselling career when she saw the shifts that counselling was making in her life and relationships. Drawing on her own experience with body image, self-worth, and mental health struggles, Christa creates a safe space to be seen and heard. Christa completed her counsellor training at Clearmind International Institute in 2021. Throughout her various careers, Christa has been committed to personal growth, excellence, and heart-centred leadership. She has over 10 years of experience working in corporate environments in a leadership capacity.
executive director
Byron miki, kelowna, BC
"The roots of a lasting relationship are mindfulness, deep listening, loving speech and a strong community to support you." Thich Nhat Hanh
Prior to accepting the position of ACCT Executive Director, I was an active member of the ACCT coop. I am a Master Therapeutic Counsellor (MTC) with 18 years of experience working primarily out of Kelowna, BC. Since joining ACCT in 2019 I have enjoyed excellent support from the coop, attending workshops, an AGM, and contributing to the ACCT Mentorship program. Though my work as a therapeutic counsellor is my passion, I also enjoy working with larger groups as an entrepreneur. I have started and sold a few businesses over the past thirty years. As well, I have ten years of volunteer experience as an active board member for non-profit societies.
I have a home in Kelowna, BC which is the traditional unceded territory of the Okanagan/Syilx People. I do most of my work from this location. My wife and I also spend much time in Toronto with our family and relatives. I am a cis male, Asian POC who uses the pronouns he/him. I have two children who are in their early twenties. I like hiking and most outdoor activities.
administrator
LEAH HILLe, Vancouver, BC
"As you start to walk on the way, the way appears." -Mevlana Rumi
Leah has a background in client care, administration and design. She has a long history of offering behind-the-scenes support in educational organizations that support holistic living. Leah feels that supporting ACCT is a great opportunity to give back to an enriching, community-minded organization for Canadians. She is excited to contribute her quick-thinking attitudes and technical skills to ACCT, as she feels the merit of working within an association which shares her values and ethics.
Leah is an active indigenous counsellor who maintains a private practice in Vancouver, BC. She works with clients attending to grief, health conditions with a humanist lens. Leah is well-versed in many somatic practices and counselling modalities including embodied art therapy. She has a passion for attending to the somatic responses of emotions in the body, and utilizes two decades of training in energy healing in her counselling approach.
When Leah is not working, she likes to swim and frequent the oceanside for sunsets.
administrator
miki querner, Vancouver, BC
"One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." -Henry Miller
Based in Vancouver, she is currently developing my private practice while working with Aboriginal youth-in-care. Miki has a background in Nutritional Therapy and have been teaching yoga and meditation since 2014. She finds joy in being close to the ocean, art, design and film, good food and travelling.
Before becoming a counsellor, she worked as a senior branding professional in the UK and Europe. Miki has always been happiest cultivating relationships and simplifying complex programs and ideas. She believes a balance of vision and cultural understanding creates the platform to deliver outstanding, rewarding work. Miki is excited to serve and support the ACCT community, with the goal of contributing to the benefit of both its members and the public.
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
miCHèLE DAWN, LEdUC COUNTY, AB
"You are the medicine." -unknown
Meet Michèle, a seasoned Registered Therapeutic Counsellor, ICF ACC coach, and dedicated somatic EMDR practitioner. Her journey into counselling was driven by a deep-seated passion for helping others navigate life's complexities. With over a decade of entrepreneurial experience and a knack for creativity, Michèle embarked on her counselling practice in 2019, intertwining her diverse skill set with her innate desire to uplift individuals.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Michèle's journey has been one of exploration and growth. Having lived in bustling metropolises like Toronto and Vancouver, she eventually found solace in the serene countryside, where she built a tiny home alongside her faithful companion, Magick the dog. Rooted in the ancestral lands of the Peoples of Treaty 6 and Region 4 of the Métis Nation of Alberta, Michèle finds inspiration in the rich tapestry of cultures surrounding her.
Driven by a genuine love for humanity, Michèle's commitment extends beyond her counselling practice. As an active member in the ACCT admin role, she strives to serve and support individuals across various walks of life. Her diverse interests, ranging from furniture flips to camping escapades and culinary explorations of vegan recipes, reflect her boundless curiosity and zest for life.
In her spare time, you'll find Michèle immersed in the pages of a captivating book or basking in the tranquility of nature during camping excursions. Fuelled by a profound sense of purpose, Michèle's journey as a counsellor is not just a profession but a calling—a testament to her unwavering dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
