Meet our Founders
(Fatima) Natascha Lawrence, M.A., R.C.C., BCRPT
I use she/her/hers pronouns.
My father is of biracial Chinese ancestry, and my mother is of mixed ancestry from Macau. As a BIPOC clinician, I recognize the duality of colonial history in my family and being a person of colour. I am a first-generation Canadian settler and a child of immigrants.
I am an ADHDer, Queer, have Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), and have a mobility disability.
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor, BC Registered Play Therapist, Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor, and EMDR practitioner. Over the last 15 years, through FASD Counselling, I have specialized in working with neurodivergent, particularly those with FASD, children, youth, and adults.
My teachers have included Eurocentric theories of somatics, interpersonal neurobiology, trauma-informed, attachment, EMDR, expressive arts, and Synergetic Play Therapy. These teachings have fueled my passion is to help folx connect to themselves, their cultures, communities, histories, ancestors, and creation.
I am inspired by my Indigenous colleagues and the Elder teachers who have blessed and permitted me to share their wisdom and teachings about working with neurodiversity.
As I learn the ancient traditional Chinese medicine principles of connection to breath and movement to balance and cultivate Chi 的气, this connects me to my family and ancestors. It also grounds the roots of somatic wisdom modern theories have claimed.
Meet our Founders
Kyle Lawrence
I use he/him/his pronouns
My mother's mother was born in eslhá7an, a Squamish village community located on the shores of North Vancouver.
Growing up only knowing a small portion of my Skwxwú7mesh lineage and only recently understanding the impact of my grandmother attending the Residential School system in North Vancouver, feelings of loss and not belonging were always there.
I had thought that the Indian Act had succeeded in eradicating my connection to my ancestors and their wisdom. As I learn more about this Intergenerational Trauma and reconnecting with my traditional teachings, the drive for recovery resonates through me. I do this to honour my ancestors. I am the past, present and future; I am Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw.
FASD Expert
Jocelyn
Hello, my name is Jocelyn and I also have FASD. :) Thank you for wanting to learn more about FASD and how to help people.
Sibling Expert and Helper
Consultant
Courtney Farrow-Lawrence
Gwe'. My name is Courtney-Farrow-Lawrence and my ancestry lies in Nova Scotia, of the Mi'kmaq African Nova Scotian and Acadian French peoples. For the last 8 years, I have lived on the traditional territory of the Sto:lo people in British Columba, where I married into the Fraser family of the Snnuneymuxw Nation. I have two beautiful Indigenous children. Since living in BC, I have worked with the Native Courtworkers and Counselling Association of BC, committing to supporting the rights of Indigenous youth and adults in contact with the justice system. I specialize in supporting youth and families in understanding FASD, trauma, impacts of colonization/removal from the land, and the Indigenous spiritual and cultural lens. I focused on connecting with the land and the importance of identity. I also provide community training and create awareness in these areas, which is equally important to creating meaningful change. Please contact me at courtneyfraser84@gmail.com to discuss consultation services.
Meet our Associates
Nicole Chan
Nicole Chan, MA, RCC
Nicole's pronouns are she/her, and she works Mondays.
Nicole completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. She then moved to BC and completed her Master of Counselling Psychology degree from Adler University. Nicole is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a longstanding passion for working with families, focused on helping people connect deeper to themselves and others.
Nicole identifies as Chinese-Malaysian, with generations of her family born in Malaysia and ancestry linking back to Guangzhou, China. As a first-generation immigrant, she understands how the stigma around mental health can prevent folx from seeking help. She hopes to break down this stigmatization and make mental health supports more accessible and inclusive to all.
Nicole has experience with supporting children, teens, adults, families, parents, and couples. She works from a person-centred, anti-oppressive and anti-ableist framework. She uses techniques from many modalities and has specified training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, and Gottman methods. From a decolonized framework, Nicole incorporates somatic and play/expressive arts-based practices that aim to empower people of all abilities and identities with affirming and culturally responsive care.
Nicole completed her counselling practicum at Touchstone Family Association in Richmond. She has also worked as an Independent Living Specialist for Richmond Society for Community Living, supporting folx with developmental disabilities. Nicole has extensive experience working with neurodivergent youth and adults. She currently works as a Supporting Families Clinician for Richmond Addiction Services Society.
Nicole recognizes the individuality of each person she supports and aims to empower folx by giving them the space and tools necessary to empower themselves.
Pamela Wallberg
Pamela Wallberg, M.A., ECE/ITE.
(she/her/hers)
Pamela works a variable schedule Mondays through Thursdays virtually and in person.
The grandchild of Polish-Jewish immigrants who arrived in Canada post-WW2, I was raised on my grandparents' active farm in BC. I currently live with my three children on the unceded and stolen lands of the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and sel̓íl̓witulh peoples.
I hold a Master's of Arts from the University of British Columbia, where my thesis focused on multimodal approaches to emotional literacy in preschool-aged children. I am a licensed Early Childhood / Infant Toddler Educator and a DiRFloortime practitioner, and have completed the Infant Development Consultant certificate program.
Prior to shifting my career to providing counselling services, I worked within the early childhood sector, delivering inclusive support services and parent coaching to children and their families. I have extensive experience working with neurodiverse children and their families in school, childcare, nature/outdoor and home-based settings. I specialize in working with Autistic children and their families, providing a strengths-based approach to recognizing and meeting emotional, sensory, regulatory and attachment needs.
I am particularly interested in incorporating mindfulness, play therapy and expressive arts approaches. I work to provide a safe space for children and their families to recognize, understand and celebrate their own sense of self and identity. I emphasize a warm, authentic approach tailored to meet the individual child and family needs while affirming their strength.
Myles Himmelreich
Myles Himmelreich, FASD Expert, Consultant and Motivational Speaker
(He/Him)
Myles works Tuesdays and Thursdays virtually
Myles Himmelreich has been working as a Disability Consultant for over 15 years. Myles, a leading expert in FASD, is a highly sought-after national and international speaker, educator, and consultant. He has facilitated numerous self-advocacy groups for individuals with FASD and offers one-on-one mentoring support for neurodivergent individuals and their families, specifically around FASD.
Myles has been a co-lead on ground breaking studies such as the 2017 “Quality of Life survey FASD Whole Body Diagnosis” and 2021 “Quality of Life survey Equity vs Equality Live as we know it”. As a member of the FASD Leadership team, Myles has organized and facilitated local, national, and international FASD research conferences. Most recently Myles was the co-researcher for the BC Office of the Representative for Children and Youth’s (RCY) report on FASD.
From a personal perspective and based on lived experience, Myles shares the strategies and techniques needed to support success for individuals with brain and neurological diversity.
To learn more about Myles and his work please visit: https://myleshimmelreich.com/