Westshore Location

Kate Cluley

Clinical Director, Doctoral Resident, MEd, PsyD (in progress)

Kate Cluley completed her Master’s degree at the University of Calgary in School and Applied Child Psychology. She previously received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Ryerson University. Kate has previous work experience in both private practice and school settings (PK – Grade 12) as part of a multidisciplinary team. Kate works under the supervision of Dr. Jillian Roberts.

Kate brings a warm, calming, and compassionate demeanour when working with children and adolescents. Her strong areas of interest include strength-based approaches to learning, working with children and adolescents that experience anxiety and fostering self-confidence in students’ academic and social-emotional abilities.

Dr. Jillian Roberts

Registered Psychologist (Supervision)

Dr. Roberts supervises our Westshore doctoral resident, Kate Cluley. In this role, Dr. Roberts provides experienced guidance, knowledge and expertise ensuring all doctoral resident services are of the same high quality and excellence standard Dr. Roberts herself has provided for over 20 years.

Considered a go-to child psychology expert for journalists, Dr. Roberts is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, Global News and the CBC. She is the author of two best-selling and award-winning series of children’s books. “Just Enough” explains topics like birth and diversity to children ages 3-6, while “The World Around Us” introduces kids ages 5-8 to issues like poverty and online safety. She is also the author of “Kids, Sex & Screens: Raising Strong, Resilient Children in the Sexualized Digital Age”, a book for parents seeking to help their preteens navigate our hypersexualized world.

In addition to being a highly sought after registered psychologist, tenured professor and author, Dr. Roberts is also a wife and a mom to three children.

Stephanie Azari

Psychometrist, BA, MA (in progress)

Stephanie obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Ottawa and is currently working toward a Master’s degree in Counselling at City University. For the past decade, she has worked with children and youth in a variety of multidisciplinary settings including hospitals, schools, and non-profit organizations. She brings over 5 years of experience administering comprehensive neuropsychological assessments and is dedicated to providing a safe, accessible and welcoming space for all families. Stephanie is passionate about helping kids embrace their unique selves and working towards making learning environments more inclusive for all.

Keeley Sponton

Counselling Manager/Therapeutic Behavior Interventionist

Shae-Lynn Mellors

Counselling Intern, BACYC, MACP (in progress)

Tara Poole

Counselling Intern, BEd, MA, PhD (in progress)

Tara holds a Bachelor of Education degree and a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology degree from the University of Victoria. She is completing her doctoral studies in Educational Psychology at the University of Victoria. Tara is currently pursuing a counselling internship to further develop her skills and gain practical experience in the field of counselling.

Tara has developed a keen interest in helping people overcome their mental health challenges. During her academic years, she took several courses that equipped her with a strong foundation in counselling theories, techniques, and ethics. Her passion for counselling and desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives led her to pursue a career in clinical counselling.

Tara is an Inclusive Learning Teacher in the Greater Victoria School District, where she works with students from diverse backgrounds who have mental health, behavioural, social, and academic difficulties. She has worked with individuals with a variety of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, conduct disorder, and poor interpersonal skills. Through an integrated approach to wellness, she has helped them to build social and emotional skills, resiliency, choice, autonomy, and improve their quality of life.

As an intern, Tara is excited to apply her theoretical knowledge and practical experience to work with clients under the supervision of experienced professionals. She takes an integrated approach to therapy, drawing on person-centered, solution-focused, mindfulness and acceptance-based, and behavioural modalities that emphasize strength, agency, growth, connection, and resiliency. She believes that through a positive therapeutic relationship, clients can discover their inherent capacity for growth, healing, positive change, and agency.

Tara’s ultimate goal is to become a licensed professional counsellor and help individuals navigate the complexities of life while achieving their goals and finding a sense of fulfillment. She believes that this internship will be an essential step towards achieving her professional aspirations, and she is eager to embark on this journey of personal and professional growth.

Ages or Specific groups of clients: children, youth, and adults

Group, family, couples, or individuals: all

Specializations: ADHD, autism, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, disorganized attachment, self-regulation skills, learning disabilities, substance use

Claudia Donald

Senior Counselling Intern, MACP

Claudia is a calm, compassionate, and hard-working individual who is passionate about mental health. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria and has completed her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. Claudia has been working with youth for the past 15 years as a support worker, out of school care leader, summer camp leader, and preschool teacher. Over the past 7 years, she has been working as a high school teacher teaching French immersion, Spanish, and Psychology as well as coaching the school’s girls volleyball team. Her experience has led her to advocate for those who cannot or do not have access to affordable mental health care. In addition to working with youth, Claudia’s areas of interest are anxiety, (step) parenting, separation/divorce, motherhood, relationships, and life transitions. Her approach brings together elements of Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), and Person-Centered Therapy. She meets her clients where they are in their journey and strives to tailor the sessions to her client’s needs.

In her spare time you can find her playing volleyball, taking hikes with her dog, painting, or indulging in some Netflix-watching with her family. She is also fluent in English, French, and Spanish.

Mayuko Helwer

Counselling Intern, MACP (in progress)

Mayu is currently completing her Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. Her background includes 12 years of a psychiatric nursing/case management career, and has worked with individuals with moderate and severe mental health challenges in the hospital and community setting.

Becoming a parent inspired her special interest in supporting children, youths, and families with anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and ADHD. She provides her clients opportunities to explore solutions to their presenting issues and live a meaningful life.

Her therapeutic approach is integrative and ultimately tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals. She incorporates evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Creating a warm, collaborative, and non-judgemental safe space in therapy, Mayu empowers her clients to build insight, skills and positive growth.

Laura Lourdu

Counsellor, MA, RCC

Laura has a bachelors in social work and has her masters in counselling psychology through Yorkville University. With several years of experience in employment counselling, education, mental health and addiction, Laura brings in an eclectic skill set. Using healing modalities such as Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Laura helps people improve their relationship with themselves and with others.