Board of Directors

• Stephanie Tofield – Chairman
• Tom Pickett – Treasurer
• Marion Bourne – Secretary
• Pam Johnson
• Mike Yau

Executive Director

Don Wright, MEd is the founder and Executive Director of the Victoria Male Survivors of Sexual Assault Society and the Vancouver Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse, which were consolidated in 1997 to form the British Columbia Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse.

As well as fulfilling his duties as Executive Director, Don travels throughout western Canada providing training to professionals in the sexual abuse field, and consultation to government—both Provincial and Federal—on various projects related to victims of crime and criminal justice. Mr. Wright served on the Board of Directors of the National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization for six years.

In November 2001, the B.C. Human Rights Coalition awarded Mr. Wright with a human rights medal of honour for his pioneering work in this field.

Therapists

Renée Bartkiewicz has been a therapist with BCSMSSA since 1998 after completing a practicum placement with the society. In addition to a Graduate Diploma in Art Therapy, Renée will be receiving an MA. She is actively involved in Vancouver’s art community and has had her work highlighted at several venues.  Renée has been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Levels 1 & 2, and  Self-Regulatory Therapy.

Douglas Matear, MA has also received a Diploma in Guidance Studies. Doug has provided counselling for individuals, groups, couples, children, youth, and families. Doug is Vice Principal  with the Vancouver School district.  Doug began working as a therapist with BCSMSSA in February 2000.

Albert Seinen, M.Ed., CCC has a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Victoria. He has been with BCSMSSA since the beginning of 2000. Albert has a variety of experiences, which include working in residential facilities with youth that have a history of abuse, street outreach, prison outreach and counselling university students. He is now serving our clients in the Duncan area of Vancouver Island.  Albert is fully trained in doing EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and has had training in use of Somatic approaches to releasing traumatic energy trapped in the body.

Paul Whitehead, PhD, CCC finished his Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at the University of British Columbia in 2005. He has taken advanced training in group therapy and therapeutic enactment techniques, as well as Levels 1 and 2 training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Paul has been a therapist with the BCSMSSA for 10 years since completing his Masters’ practicum training with this agency in 1997.

Steven Lake, MEd (Counselling), CCC, PhD (Educational Administration), began counselling 17 years ago. He has been in private practice since then and has worked on a contract basis for Corrections Canada as a psychotherapist and program facilitator, for PAR Consultants as a consultant and psychotherapist, and with the BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse as a therapist since January of 2006. Steven was a clinical faculty member with Royal University Hospital at the University of Saskatchewan and currently teaches psychology at the University of Phoenix (Burnaby Campus) and at the Adler School of Professional Psychology.

Mary Lang, MA, RCC has a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. She has been with our agency since September 2004. She uses an integrative approach inspired by Collaborative and Narrative therapies, as well as Emotionally Focused therapy. Her understanding of child development, attachment theory, current post-traumatic stress research, and Buddhist mindfulness (Vipassana) concepts and practices influence her counseling approach. Mary now manages and provides therapy in our new Courtenay location on Vancouver Island.

Poran Poregbal, MA, RSW, RCC, earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Poran is a registered clinical counsellor with BC Association for Clinical Counsellors and a registered social worker with BC College of Social Workers. She has been working in the field of Counselling, Social Work, Rehabilitation, and Victim Support for the past 17 years of her professional career. Poran Joined BCSMSSA in 2004 offering emotional support, safety planning, and facilitating crisis intervention to male survivors of sexual abuse. As of September 2011, Poran will be working as a full time therapist within this agency, in conjunction with her private practice located in North Vancouver. Poran focuses on a Person Centred theraputic apporach while having an orientation in Trauma Therapy. Poran is a certified educator and active member of the Persian community offering clinical and psycho-educational services to individuals and families. Poran is fluent in English, Persian, and Swedish.

Nobuki Yamaguchi, MA, RCC has a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and registered clinical counsellor in BC. He worked with BCSMSSA from September 2007 to March 2011. Nobuki has moved back to Japan to establish an agency there for male survivors.  It will be the first such agency in that country.  We are proud of him. His agency’s website is www.pomupomu.jp.

Shaun Phillips, M.Ed., R.P.C., S.F.T.T., is a registered professional counsellor, Centre for Focusing-Oriented Therapy Focusing-Oriented therapist and trainer, and Focusing coordinator. Shaun holds a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia. Shaun specializes in working with complex trauma and presented on this work at the First World Conference on Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapies in New York (2009). He works in private practice with a range of adolescent and adult clients addressing issues that include: childhood and adult trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, and relationship issues. Shaun is employed part-time with the BCSMSSA and is an associate with To the Moon and Back Psychological Services where he engages children in Focusing-Oriented Therapy and Play Therapy. Shaun is one of the teachers of the Aboriginal Focusing-Oriented Therapy and Complex Trauma Certificate Program at the Justice Institute, a new program starting January 2011 in British Columbia and is a member of the Focusing Institute’s international Crossing Support Group; a board initiative to re-envision the Advanced and Certification Week.  He joined BCSMSSA originally as a Practicum Student and has been here as a professional therapist since April 2010.

Soren Shamsian, MA, RCC, is working towards his doctorate in counselling psychology.  He has worked with adolescents battling addiction in a treatment center, and the Persian community providing individual, and family counselling.  Soren has volunteered at The Canadian Mental Health Association of Vancouver, the Harry Jerome Recreational Center, Lions Gate Hospital, and at the Children’s Hospital.  Soren offers the following therapeutic methods: client-centered, psycho-dynamic, solution focused, narrative therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.   He joined BCSMSSA in September 2010 and provides Individual and Group therapy.

Michal Gilboa, MA, RCC, holds a masters degree in Clinical Child Psychology from Bar-Ilan University in Israel, as well as additional degrees in Law and in Communication, and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in BC. Michal joined the agency in November 2010 as an intern, after finishing her practicum work in Israel, and is staying on as a therapist, working both with groups and with individual clients. In her practice, Michal has focused primarily on abused and neglected children, adolescents with eating disorders, children on the autism spectrum and their families, children with emotional and behavioural problems and single mothers. Her education and training were mostly in psychodynamic and play therapy. She is also educated in Emotionally Focused Couples therapy, is a certified Parent Educator by the Adler Institute in Vancouver and believes that in each case the specific therapeutic method should fit the client’s needs and belief system.

Daniel Kline, is completing his masters degree in Counselling Psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. He joined the agency after completing his practicum in the Summer of 2011. He works primarily from a Narrative and Post-structural perspective, often investigating themes of identity, oppression, sexuality, and culture as they impact the lives of individuals. He was trained in Narrative Therapy at the Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy and has additionally taken specific training in Sex Therapy, and Gottman Couples Counselling. Daniel also holds a Masters degree from the Universiteit van Amsterdam in History of Religion, specializing in Mysticism and Western Esotericism, and is fascinated by questions of meaning and by practices of personal discovery.

Practicum Students

Master’s level students commit to an eight months training program with us, as part of their degree requirements.  Students have come to us from universities in seven countries.  Their work with us involves individual therapy and co-facilitating a twelve week cycle of group therapy.

Victim Services

The Victim Services Program has been developed to assist clients with non-clinical issues regarding sexual abuse.  Trained victim services workers will assist clients with criminal justice information and support, safety planning, health and community information, referrals, and emotional/practical support.  Victim service workers will also help explore other resources not covered by the Society’s mandate.

Michael Madore

Amy Yew