
Melinda Freitas
Book NowMy passion for counseling grew from personal experiences with grief, loss, and trauma, and completing university later in life has fueled my drive to fully enable and empower others. I graduated in 2005 with a BA Hons in Psychology from the University of Ottawa and hold a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, obtained in 2009. I enjoy continuously building on my education and skills through various learning opportunities. As a member of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors, I organize and host a clinician peer-support group and regularly engage in yoga, meditation, and cycling for self-care.
My clinical experience, coupled with over thirty years of work experience, has provided me with a solid foundation to work with clients and offer supervision to clinical learners. I’ve supported people in a wide array of settings and programs. This includes hospitals where I provided support to pediatric patients and their families, safe-house/second-stage and third-stage transition homes supporting survivors of domestic violence, and university counseling centers where I offered counselling support to both undergrad and graduate populations, along with supervisory oversight of the counseling centers.
Additionally, my experience extends to Indigenous health organizations, including time spent in the North facilitating and learning in collaboration with Health Canada. I have been a course instructor for clinical counseling to adult learners, facilitated grief/loss support groups in non-profit environments, worked with police to provide victim services support to victims of trauma and assault, and supported families impacted by suicide or sudden death. I have provided complex support to groups through critical incident and stress management programs and delivered psychological first aid through BC’s disaster psychosocial program. Furthermore, I have supervised large networks of clinicians (staff and contractors) in an EFAP program.
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Latest blog posts

Coaching vs. Counselling: what's the difference?
Coach Emma Goult talks to Ray about the difference between counselling and coaching: how do you know which one's right for you?

5 Tips for managing ADHD symptoms in daily life
In this video, we'll be sharing 5 practical tips for managing ADHD symptoms in your daily life. Whether you've recently been diagnosed with ADHD or have been living with it for years, these tips can help you improve your focus, organization, and productivity. At Phare Counselling, we specialize in helping clients with ADHD through therapy and counseling sessions. If you're interested in learning more about our services, visit our website or book a session today.

ADHD life hack: creating a daily routine
Are you struggling to manage your ADHD symptoms? In this video series, we'll share practical tips and tricks to help you stay focused, organized, and on track. From creating a daily routine to managing distractions, these ADHD life hacks will help you take control of your life and thrive.
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