Leanne Fessler RCC

My "Why"

It can be challenging to prepare for building a family, or life with children - especially when we don't know what this will bring! One thing we can count on though, is that we can better handle whatever comes our way with more support.

Knowing how hard it is to find support and reliable information when you are low on time and energy, I started collecting other professionals who also want to make this a little easier. Out of these efforts, our little (growing) working groups were born and we are hopeful we can fill some gaps with caring community nets.

I am very passionate about helping people find their "people." We all need people who will support us to show up in the best way possible for ourselves and others in our lives. We also need people who can offer compassion when we struggle to do this. In my years of work providing counselling, if there's one theme I have seen over and over, it is the basic human need for connection and belonging. Right from birth (even before), this is present! It is the one gift I would wish for us all and the reason I hope to help create community for both community members and professionals.

What Informs this Work

Informing this desire to create easily-access community supports is my training and experience providing counselling support to individuals and families since 2006, regarding concerns such as; perinatal mental health, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship stress, work/academic stress, major life transitions and more. 

I've worked with adults, children, teens in community and educational settings such as: Chimo Community Services, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, the Vancouver School District, UBC Counselling Services, as well as my own/others' private practices.  Child and family therapy has made up a great deal of my career,