“I’ve always been very interested in psychology.” For Kate, the path to a career in mental health wasn’t linear, but it was always guided by a deep-rooted curiosity about how the mind works. Starting in kinesiology, she soon found herself drawn more to health psychology. After working in a physiotherapy clinic with a traumatic injury program, she saw firsthand the impact of integrated mental health care. “It occurred to me – this could be how I spend my whole day!” With encouragement from the psychologists she worked alongside, she enrolled in a Master of Counselling Psychology program—and hasn’t looked back since.
Kate’s passion lies in working with “late discovered neurodivergent adults,” a population that is often underrepresented in therapeutic settings. This interest was sparked during a practicum with a counsellor supporting kids and families with autism. “What I found really striking is there isn’t much in place to help the parents who discover they have autism or ADHD through their kids being diagnosed”, she says. Her work focuses on helping clients “navigate renegotiating their identity once they know their diagnosis,” and finding practical accommodations to support communication, energy balance, concentration, and emotional regulation. “I emphasize self-compassion and understanding, while keeping things practical and actionable.”
Her approach to therapy is flexible and client centered. “I do reach for multiple modalities and try to pair them to the content of the session and the person’s personality.” Kate’s core tools include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for “noticing patterns of thought and seeing if there is evidence for those thoughts,” dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) for its skills-based focus on mindfulness and communication, and internal family systems (IFS) or parts work, which she describes as “really intuitive for exploring difficult memories or feelings we hold.”
Kate also offers more collaborative services that clients may not expect, such as “being involved in meetings, having case conference calls, or sometimes creating different types of plans together to communicate to others.” Her commitment to advocacy and education shows in her ongoing efforts: “I’m also often thinking of different ways to offer information to people around neurodivergence, whether that is a group session or getting involved with events.”
Reflecting on her own personal and professional growth, Kate has come to value the transformative power of self-compassion. “Being really comfortable with yourself and accepting of where you are at eliminates so much internal friction that it makes other things easier to deal with.”
Originally from Vancouver Island, Kate moved between the Cowichan Valley, the Comox Valley, and Calgary. Now back on the island since 2019, she describes herself as having “a wonderful mix of feeling at home on the island but also getting to be a (sort of) tourist.” Though there are things she misses about big-city life, she admits, “you can’t beat the natural beauty we have here.”
Outside of work, Kate enjoys “creative hobbies like painting and sewing” and is a fan of “video games, especially indie games.” A self-described homebody, she’s also “trying to get out and explore more of the island.”
When asked what she loves most about her role, her answer is clear: “It’s a huge honour to get to be a part of someone’s counselling journey. I love witnessing people recognize and embrace their strengths, especially when that wasn’t easy for them at the start.”
Kate works with adults and couples at our Duncan office on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you feel she is a good fit for you, please reach out to schedule a free consultation or full session.
Written by Cat Zydyk