Director:
​Daye Hagel, M.A., C.C.C.

Read about Daye

Donetta "Daye" Hagel is a a Canadian Certified Counsellor (C.C.C.) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, working currently in private practice out of Courtenay, B.C.  She has graduate degrees in Counselling Psychology and in Anthropology, and directs and instructs the Mental Health Wilderness First Aid program. 

A certified Level Three Guide with the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of B.C., since 2004 Daye has amassed over 1,500 field days as a wilderness guide, including with Coastal Current Adventures, Outward Bound Canada, Capilano University, SKILS, Strathcona Park Lodge, and dozens of other organizations.  Daye is a former Salt Spring Island Search & Rescue volunteer, and completed her provincial GSAR Training Certificate in 2013.  She served as the Executive Director of the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of B.C. from 2015-2020, and founded Mental Health Wilderness First Aid in 2018.

​For five years Daye worked primarily with First Nations clients through Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Health in Victoria, and as a full-time clinical counsellor with the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, travelling and serving remote communities.  She has completed San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training and been humbled to work alongside Elders and traditional knowledge keepers from many First Nations in BC as well as the Canadian Arctic.  Daye has completed specific training in narrative therapy, eco-therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, expressive play therapy, restorative justice, and myriad cultural trainings.  

During her free time Daye enjoys quilting and amateur astronomy.  She and her husband are raising their family in Courtenay, B.C. Canada.

clinical counsellor Course supporter:
Sarah Hagar, R.C.C.

Read about Sarah

Sarah is a mother, certified teacher with the BC Ministry of Education and Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. Originally from Ontario, Sarah came West Coast in the early 2000's as a tree planter and later became a teacher where she was honoured to work and live on the Traditional Territories of the Tsilhqot'in and Ahousaht First Nations. After moving to Ucluelet in 2011 and working as a Youth and Education Worker for the Yuułuʔiłʔath First Nation, Sarah decided to pursue a Master's of Education in School Based Counselling and has been working in the field since. Sarah has worked for the Nuu Chah Nulth Tribal Council as a Child and Youth Mental Health Counsellor, for SD70 as a an Elementary Secondary School Counsellor, and currently works under contract for the Coastal Family Resource Coalition and Vancouver Island Children's Health Foundation coordinating a project aimed at supporting school staff, parents and caregivers to improved mental health outcomes for children through understanding attachment and neuroscience best practices for developing brains.
Sarah believes that nature is the best therapist and has training in eco therapy, Wilderness Rites of Passage, Holistic Expressive Play Therapy, Focusing Oriented Psychotherapy, suicide intervention, working with those who have harmed others and been harmed through sexual abuse and assault, and is currently working towards certification in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics. She is passionate about meeting people where they are at and providing trauma informed care.
When not working, Sarah enjoys gardening, making art, yoga, surfing, swimming, hiking and simply being in nature with her three wonderful children and supportive spouse. 

Counsellor cOURSE SUPPORTER:
​Kevin Hawker

Read about Kevin

Kevin Hawker is a mental health counsellor with the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council out of Tofino, BC.  While originally from Barrie, Ontario, Kevin has called Vancouver Island home for the last 4 years. He holds a degree in criminology and is currently studying for a master's degree in social work.  As a former tree-planter and wildland firefighter, he sees the value to understanding mental health in a wilderness setting. When not working in communities on the west coast, Kevin enjoys surfing, climbing and backcountry snowboarding.  "Everyone has different strategies to their own wellness. I hope to help people find out what that may be!"

CLINICAL COUNSELLOR COURSE SUPPORTER: 
​Kennedy Lewis, C.C.C.

Read about Kennedy

Kennedy Lewis is a trauma therapist with a Master's in Counselling from the University Victoria, currently practicing in Vancouver, BC. Alongside her private practice, Kennedy founded and developed Extraordinary Workers to help support workers on the front lines cope with the trauma exposed environments they are employed in. As a former support worker herself, Kennedy was able to see gaps in relevant and substantial care, leading to her unique programming.  Extraordinary Workers has been in operation for 3 years engaging the support worker community all over BC, offering workshops, groups and trainings in a variety of settings.
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Kennedy approaches the topic of resiliency by addressing how the entire workplace functions to mitigate the effects of trauma exposures on staff. Believing that when workers are properly supported to cope with their job demands, they can stay longer in their roles and build the relationships with clients that are often so necessary to healing and stabilization. Kennedy's message to support workers is simple: I see the valuable work you do; I see that you carry communities on your shoulders; you deserve support, solidarity and access to information that can aid your ability to sustain your work and life.

CLINICAL COUNSELLOR COURSE SUPPORTER: 
​Tara souch, m.c., C.C.C., r.c.c.

Read about Tara

Tara is a skilled counselling therapist and is passionate about connecting people with nature as a venue for healing. Her therapeutic practice weaves together narrative therapy, systems theory, ecopsychology and contemporary rites of passage. Tara has worked in clinical, wilderness and treatment program settings.
Her early career began in management roles, including Camp Director with Scouts Canada. After gaining skills in outreach-work for young adults with Whistler Community Services Society and facilitating employee support services for Whistler Blackcomb; Tara decided to pursue psychotherapy in 2009. Tara holds a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle. She is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors.
Her Master’s degree is complimented by her Wilderness Leadership certification from Capilano University, providing her with a solid foundation in wilderness-based therapy.  She has trained with the Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy. She has also trained in contemporary Rites of Passage work with The School of Lost Borders, both as a participant and assistant guide.
Tara has worked as the clinical coordinator for a wilderness-based program serving teens and their families as well as a psychotherapist for adolescent males at a therapeutic boarding school. She has also worked as a relief-care foster parent. Currently, she is the sole proprietor of a private counselling practice on Vancouver Island. She regularly works as a contractor with non-profit organizations including community services, Indigenous communities and bereavement support. She also works as an instructor for Outward Bound Canada, specializing in the Women of Courage programs.
Tara believes that outdoor pursuits provide opportunities to build one’s self-efficacy while fostering a sense of community. She believes that spending time in nature provides a mirror for personal healing and that the more time we spend in nature, the more we will strive to protect our natural world.

Administration & mindfulness coach:
Sean stevens

Read about Sean

Infamous for telling people he loves them (and meaning it!) along with his affinity for nerd culture, Sean J Stevens, is steadfast in his desire to support people in cultivating & growing a mindfulness practice, through meditation.

Holding certifications in Teaching Mindfulness & Meditation, Mental Health Wilderness First Aid, & Religious Studies,  practitioners & beginners alike engage Sean J's services to deepen their connection to themselves, their community, & their own spirituality through contemplative practice.

With infectious joy & compassionate approachability, he guides & encourages people through the process of fostering a daily meditation practice that will positively impact their lives forever.

Sean's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/seanjstevens​

Administration: Rachel Stevens, RHN

Read about Rachel

Rachel is on maternity leave as of September 2022!  All the best Rachel!

​Rachel is a mother to five young children.  The majority of her time is committed to homeschooling, a great passion of hers.  With a background in nutrition, she enjoys creating healthy meals to feed her growing brood.

​Rachel has completed Livingworks's Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and is a regular volunteer with her church community.
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Camping, reading, painting and board games keep Rachel occupied in her spare (ha!) time.

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