Our Counselling Team
All sessions with our practicum student counselor, Kourtney Rentz, are FREE until Christmas. Kourtney is only doing video appointments and clients can book online or call 250-564-3034 to book.Tanya Bedford
Since early in adolescence, I loved to journey alongside people as they worked through hurts and challenges in life. I was also, for awhile, fascinated with the science of Engineering. Because I loved both science and the humanities, I first graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and worked within the field of oil and gas for 5 years as a project manager. I grew aware that my fascination with Engineering science had waned but my gift for journeying with people had not. So I completed a Masters in Counselling Psychology at Trinity Western University. Since then, I have strived to be present through meaningful and transformative experiences in counselling clients.
My specialization has grown through the years in unique therapies for dissociation, trauma and abuse, depression and anxiety and attachment struggles. These therapies include EMDR, OEI, CBT and some neurofeedback. I am most influenced by existentialism and Virginia Satir’s model of transformational Family systems therapy.
Nancy Alexander
Nancy Alexander has lived and worked in Prince George since 1989. She has been a counsellor with children, youth, individuals and families for over 25 years. Nancy is also a certified teacher and has been a mediator with BCTF for 9 years. She has taught and counselled in elementary and high schools. As a workplace consultant and EFAP counsellor, she has provided counselling, mediation, and consulting regarding critical incidents, harassment, substance abuse, health and safety, mood disorders, marriage and family difficulties, parenting, child and adolescent development, grief and loss, anxiety, anger, depression and gender issues. Nancy has worked with different agencies and government services such as Forensics, MCFD, Alcohol and Drug services, Therapeutic Home Outreach, MCFD, and UNBC. Nancy provides workshops for parents, students and staff groups. Nancy’s counselling strategies focus on solution focused, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational change, mindfulness, EMDR, sand play and art therapy, conflict resolution and strength based change. Nancy believes in the power of a growth mindset and the possibility of change. She has 4 grown children and grandchildren. Nancy holds a master’s degree in counselling, a teacher’s certificate and is certified in EMR therapy. Nancy is an active member of the BC School Counsellors Association and the BC Clinical Counsellors Association. Nancy enjoys spending time kayaking, sailing, and paddle boarding at the family cabin, as well as gardening, skiing, and dog walking. Work life balance is a constant goal!
Lisa Loewen
A therapist since 2013, Lisa Loewen is passionate about walking along with those who desire to live a fuller and conscious life. She specializes in self-esteem issues, anxiety, depression, anger management, communication, self-awareness, trauma, addictions, aggression, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and group processes. Lisa has worked extensively with a range of clients including couples, youth, women and men.
Lisa has training in trauma informed practice, boundaries training, vicarious trauma, mindfulness-based stress reduction, emotional literacy, animal assisted therapy (specifically horses and dogs), attachment theory, making sense of anxiety, equine facilitated wellness therapy, spiritual self-care, grounding breathwork, violence against women, the transformative power of writing, behavior analysis, mourning and trauma, and non-violent communication. Lisa has a wide experience with one-on-one and couples counselling experience and facilitation experience. In addition to the training and experience previously mentioned, Lisa has a registered therapy dog, Level I and II OEI training, and incorporates a range of psychodynamic approaches into her work including Gestalt, Person Centered, Existentialism, Attachment Theory and Acceptance and Commitment therapy. She is currently completing a Masters of Counselling.
In 2017, Lisa was nominated for Health and Wellness Educator of the Year, Health and Wellness Innovator of the Year and Health and Wellness Advocate of the Year here in Prince George.
Lisa is currently supervised by Tanya Bedford and sessions with Lisa qualify for coverage.
When not at work, Lisa can be found painting, mountain biking, skiing and hanging out with her blended family.
Miranda Grattan, RSW
Miranda Grattan (she/her/hers), BSW (with distinction), RSW, MSW
Miranda is from Mackenzie, BC, and she gratefully acknowledges that it is a community situated upon the traditional territory of the Tse’Khene peoples, including Kwadacha Nation, Tsay Keh Dene, and the McLeod Lake Indian Band. Miranda recently relocated to Prince George, and is looking forward to the new personal and professional experiences she will encounter here with respect for the beautiful and unceded ancestral lands, culture and people of the Lheidli T’enneh.
Miranda has over 10 years of experience working with children, youth, adults, families, and professional communities in various areas of focus, including mental health, substance use, grief, chronic stress, and trauma. She has deep respect for the unique wisdom, insight, strengths, and internal/external resources that the people she works with bring to their lives and the process of healing or change. Miranda is flexible in approaches that may be utilized and incorporated into the process, including Somatic Experiencing, Narrative Therapy, sandplay, Motivational Interviewing, and Emotion Focused Family Therapy.
Miranda completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work through the University of Victoria, and is registered with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (#13881). She is an Intermediate student and member of Somatic Experiencing International, which is the leading authority on the Somatic Experiencing method; a body-orientated therapeutic model that helps to heal trauma and other conditions related to stress. Miranda is also a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), which is an internationally respected organization supporting quality assurance in the practice, research, and teaching of Motivational Interviewing; a strengths-based person-centred counselling modality.
Outside of work, Miranda has a deep love for family, friends that have become family, travel adventures, photography, paddle boarding, and being outdoors.
Leanne Dyck, BA (honours), MACP
I have lived in Prince George for the past 5 years and have enjoyed various roles in the community as an Educational Assistant, pastor’s wife for 25 years, mother of 3 young adults, and community volunteer. Over the past 3 years I have focused on gaining experience and training to join with people journeying through grief, anxiety, depression, life changes, relationship difficulties, and trauma. I am seeking to build authentic, collaborative relationships with clients to facilitate their health and wellness goals. Depending on client needs, I utilize Internal Family Systems-informed, polyvagal, Satir transformational, or EMDR modalities to facilitate greater awareness and processing of any possible blocks to a full, mind-body-spirit experience of health and peace.
Kourtney Rentz BS Psych, MA Candidate
I am currently working towards finishing my Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology and have previously received a Bachelors in Psychology. I have spent the last two and a half years working with children and youth in a mental health setting where I believe I have learned a lot about attachment, development, and trauma that could be helpful for myself in working with, and better understanding a variety of clients. I typically work from a trauma informed, person centered lens while also integrating aspects of other models and techniques to best suite client needs. I am passionate about mental health and healing and have always been intrigued by the mind-body connection, so I look forward to continuing this learning journey together and further develop into this role. In my free time I enjoy the outdoors, getting creative, or spending time with friends and family.
Sara Laity
I have lived and worked in Prince George for 25 years. Having completed a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Masters’s degree in Counselling, I have had the privilege of working in several different areas over the years including social assistance, homelessness, addiction, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, psychosis, eating disorders, and autism. Trauma has often been an underlying theme for people I have worked with, and I have developed a deep interest in learning how trauma affects the brain and nervous system and the various ways that people can find healing and relief. I am passionate about supporting and walking alongside others as they strive toward healing and wholeness. I am trained in EMDR and Lifespan Integration Therapy, I also draw from other therapeutic approaches in my work including Somatic Experiencing, Emotion Focused Family Therapy, CBT, DBT, and ACT. Additionally, I have spent the last few years working with several neurodiverse women and gaining further knowledge and experience of how autism often presents differently in girls and women and how to better support them.
Functional Nutrition
Krystal Sarasin
Krystal is a Functional Nutrition Therapist, which is a career that has become her calling, after she made an incredible recovery from debilitating symptoms and 4 rare chronic illnesses. Through her own health journey, Krystal has become passionate about treating mental health and illness differently. Her therapy is based on her background in psychology, mental health and trauma, along with the principals of Functional Medicine and Functional Nutrition. It is deeply rooted in scientific evidence. She emphasizes a natural approach to restoring optimal functioning in your body and works to resolve the root cause, not chase symptoms! She focuses on nourishment, not diets, and adding in, not restricting. Food is medicine. Mindset is medicine. Lifestyle is medicine. Together, we have the power to restore, balance, heal and create. When she is not in the clinic, Krystal can be found spending time with her amazing family, outside in nature, being active, cultivating balance, loving and appreciating life like never before.
Our Manual Osteopathy Team
Myron Bedford
Myron graduated with his doctorate of osteopathy from the National University of Medical Sciences – Spain in 2017. He has been developing his manual practice skills for 11 years as a massage therapist and is now adding to his skills. His goal is to improve the lives of all his clients.
Our Massage Team
Myron Bedford
Myron is a BC registered massage therapist and a nationally registered sport massage certification candidate. His motto is “It doesn’t have to hurt to heal”. He is active with numerous sporting group working with individuals and teams ranging in skill from professional to recreational. Although sport is a passion, he is skilled to deal with all ages and many different conditions. He lives in Prince George with his wife Tanya and two children.
Jade Aune
Jade has been practicing as an RMT since 2018. Graduating from the west coast college of massage therapy in Victoria. She has a passion to help clients achieve better health and wellbeing in a wholistic and relaxing way. Using techniques such as fascial release, deep tissue, stretching, and joint manipulation applied in a slow relaxing manor. Her treatment is individualized to help each and every client with their specific needs. Providing relief to tight muscles from a verity of different conditions including but not limited to chronic pain, sports injuries, pregnancy, anxiety and growing children. Jade believes a work life balance is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. On her down time she can be found camping, hiking, kayaking or crafting.
Coelle Glazier
Coelle received her Massage Registration May 2022. She graduated from Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy in Vernon and is happy to be back in her hometown of Prince George. She offers myofascial release,
neuromuscular therapy, muscular tension relief, and more. She accepts prenatal and postnatal clients, children, and provides everyone with a safe space. Coelle has been familiarizing herself with the walking trails nearby, broadening her knowledge with reading, or spending lost time with family and friends.
Our Administrative Team
Priyanka Wyss, Office Coordinator
Priyanka moved to Canada in 2017. She met her husband in Prince George and has been calling this lovely town her home since then. She enjoys providing care and support to BITS clients and staff through her work. She loves Canadian summers and enjoys kayaking and walks in nature. During her time outside of work, she loves reading books and spending time with her cats.
Ophelia Guerra, Office Assistant
Ophelia is new in Prince George and finishing her Post-Diploma in Human Resources Management in CNC. Prior to coming here, she has a 10-year experience in Sales and Marketing in the pharmaceutical industry where she realized her passion for empathizing and sympathizing with clients in need of care. Growing up in a tropical country, she enjoys outdoor activities and going to the beach. She also loves cooking and spending time with her newfound friends here in Canada.
Our Administrative Team
Laura-Marie Martin
A graduate of BCIT ( Marketing & Small Business Management) and Sprott Shaw College ( Medical Office Assistant), she is invested in helping people achieve wholeness through supporting the work that BITS is dedicated to. She moved to Prince George from Vancouver, with her husband and two children, in 2011 and loves the people and lifestyle here.
We are a Scent Free clinic!
Thank you for respecting those sensitivities, allergies, asthma or other medical conditions.
Please do not wear products with fragrance to your appointment