Our in-house counsellor program means that women who stay at the shelter have access to professional guidance, for free, in the safe environment of the shelter. Our in-house counsellors visit the transition house for appointments with in-house clients.

We have also opened this program up to the wider community of Revelstoke as we recognise that addressing mental health in general is a preventative measure to abuse. Anyone in the community, of any gender, can access this program and we offer ten free sessions.

Caylan Barber is the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society’s in-house counsellor and also runs her private practice Mountainside Wellness in Revelstoke. To book a free session, email info@mountainsidewellness.ca

We are also pleased to offer the counselling services of two counselling practicum students, Marina Rachinski and Melyssa Hudson. Marina offers art therapy and Melyssa offers counselling.

I’ve always been a listener. Hearing other people, truly hearing and understanding them resonates with me on a soul level. Over the years I took this passion and continuously learned everything I could about how to best support the people who chose to trust me with their stories.

I started by studying Behavioural Neuroscience for 3 years at Laurentian University and volunteered in adolescent psychiatry before moving back to BC.. Then I began to work with Indigenous youth and inter-generational trauma. Eventually my partner and I settled in Revelstoke, where I also discovered this profound passion for everything related to fertility, birth, postpartum and nurturing the developing mind. Here is where I became a mother myself.

After becoming a mother, I completed my diploma of Applied Psychology and counselling through the Kelowna College of Professional Counselling. Currently I am registered through the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association as a student, and am in the process of becoming certified as an RTC and RPC candidate.

My Indigenous background is still deeply routed in the way I live my life: with a holistic balance. I believe in balancing the emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual (whatever that means to you) sides of oneself.

Life has taught me to never underestimate people, and that everyone has unique needs when it comes to healing, because we all have unique identities and ways of functioning.It is one of the reasons I can truly listen without judgment. Everyone has a journey, reasons behind their actions, and their own perspective that is uniquely theirs.

Outside of work, you’ll find me with my head in the books, preferably outside, and taking my little one on adventures. I also volunteer on the Board of Directors for the Indigenous Friendship Society.

Marina is an art therapy student, working through the Women’s Shelter for her practicum placement with women and children who have experienced trauma.

Art therapy addresses the mind, body, and spirit and helps people to heal through pleasure, community, relaxation and reflection. After creating, you are invited to share as much or as little as you want to about your art, your process and your life.

Marina is passionate about helping individuals find their inner resources and process trauma. She is drawn to working with the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter as she sees clients within their sociocultural context, understanding that women and non-binary folks are subject to different pressures and constraints to those influencing men. Survivors of domestic violence live under a patriarchal context. Under this context, socialization patterns tend to result in women giving away their power in relationships, often without being aware of it.

Marina holds a relational, tr. Marina believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship: we are hurt in relationship, and we can heal in relationship too.

Individual, family or group sessions available. Email: movingforward@telus.net to get on the waitlist.