Who We Are
Meet The Team
VICCIR Counsellors, Interpreters, & Volunteers
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VICCIR has more than 20 counsellors, all of whom are experienced Master's level members of their professional associations. They are from diverse backgrounds, speak several languages, and are specially trained and supervised to meet the specific needs of VICCIR clientele.
We also have a team of trained and supervised clinical interpreters, many of whom have lived experience of the issues facing our clients.
In addition, we have a growing number of volunteers who assist our clients with a wide range of issues and facilitate the smooth running of the organization.
Board of Directors
Ben Ingham, Chair
Len Wechsler, Treasurer
Adrienne Carter
Robin Pike
Zainab Ibrahim
Lynne Chobota
John Campos
Sarah Hall
VICCIR Counsellors, Interpreters, & Volunteers
​
VICCIR has more than 20 counsellors, all of whom are experienced Master's level members of their professional associations. They are from diverse backgrounds, speak several languages, and are specially trained and supervised to meet the specific needs of VICCIR clientele.
We also have a team of trained and supervised clinical interpreters, many of whom have lived experience of the issues facing our clients.
In addition, we have a growing number of volunteers who assist our clients with a wide range of issues and facilitate the smooth running of the organization.
 Dr. Giti Shams Staff Clinician (Temp) |  Dr. Susanna Ruebsaat, PhD, MA, T.Ed, DVATI, BFA, BCATR, RCC, RCC-ACS |  Rewa Grewal MA, RCC, Counsellor |
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 Dr. Soraya Centeno Practicum Students Supervisor |  Paola Soto Flores MSW, RCC, Counsellor |  Vahini Govender MC:AT, DVATI, RCC Counsellor and Art Therapist |
 Panida Pongpanich RCC, Counsellor |  Xi Yao Associate Member STIBC Mandarin interpreter |  Michael Isaac Tigrinya interpreter |
 Victoria Grando Ukrainian/Russian Interpreter |  Ward Murray MA, CCC, Counsellor |  Gehad Khadr RCC Counsellor |
 Yiana Belcher RCC, Counsellor |  Spohzmay Oriya Dari, Pashto, Farsi Interpreter |  Besmillah Sultani Farsi/Dari Interpreter |
 Ingrid Haagmans MSc, MA, RCC, Counsellor |  Miriam Beechey, Spanish Interpreter |  Christine Alevizakis, MA, RCC, Counsellor |
 Lee McLeod RCC Counsellor |  Samuel Oweis Arabic interpreter |  Anastasiia Khromova, RCC Counsellor |
 Manasi Shaha Hindi and Punjabi interpreter |  Kaveh Sarmast Persian and Serbo-Croatian interpreter |  Nelio Buongermino Portuguese interpreter |
 Jasmin Gerwien Supervisor and Trainer for Interpreters |  Barb Imlach MA, RCC Counsellor |  Latifa Elalaoui Arabic interpreter |
 Jean Ellis BEd, MEd, SEP, CAIET Counsellor |  Jasroop Chauhan Hindi and Punjabi Interpreter |  Sonya Boya MSc, RCC Clinical Supervisor |
 Iana Zavaloka Russian Interpreter |  Macayla Yan MA, RCC Counsellor |  Doina Florina MA, RCC Counsellor |
 Kim Chi Nguyen Vietnamese interpreter |  Jaswant Guzder MD Consultant Psychiatrist and Trainer |  Alannah McPhail DVATI Art Therapist |
 Dulcie Cardinal, MA Counsellor |  Alison Miller PhD Clinical Supervisor and originator of Parenting Workshops |
OUR MISSION
VICCIR is driven by a commitment to empowerment and inclusion. We support the healing and integration of immigrant and refugee individuals,
families and communities through mental health services that are trauma-informed, culturally safe and accessible.
We work to:
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Restore resilience by helping individuals and families affected by trauma, torture, displacement, and migration reclaim their strength, dignity, and hope.
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Provide compassionate care through a trained and diverse team of counsellors, interpreters, and Health and Cultural Ambassadors who understand and reflect the communities we serve.
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Ignite change by serving as a hub for learning and capacity building, expanding mental health awareness, reinforcing community resources, and delivering transformative training to practicum students, professionals, and the public.
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Promote collaboration and advocacy to make mental health services more welcoming, inclusive, and responsive to each person’s unique background and needs.
We believe every individual deserves the opportunity to lead their life with dignity and well-being.
OUR VALUES
Inclusiveness: we serve immigrants and refugees of all ages from all countries in the world who reside on Vancouver Island. Although clients are encouraged to financially contribute towards their treatment, no client is refused treatment and all clients are provided care regardless of their financial circumstances with the most traumatized clients given priority counselling.
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Confidentiality is essential to building the necessary trusting relationships between the counsellors and the clients, so information can be freely shared knowing that it will be held in the strictest confidence.
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Respect for the personal, religious and cultural diversity of our clients is accomplished by ensuring the appropriate counsellors and interpreters are assigned to meet the ethnic and language needs of our clients.
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Service Quality is of utmost importance to ensure the best possible results for our clients through the use of professional counsellors and trained interpreters who receive ongoing trauma treatment training and guidance provided by the Director of Services and a professional interpreter including regular debriefing with counsellors and interpreters after counselling sessions.
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Welcoming people through our interactions and training of individuals and agencies involved with immigrants and refugees, we help facilitate the positive integration of immigrants and refugees into Canadian society, which is the ultimate outcome of our services.
At VICCIR we value inclusiveness, confidentiality, respect, a high quality of service, and extending a welcome to all.