Who are we?

Jen and Kim have a combined 20 years experience in both counselling and education, and they are both Registered Clincial Counsellors in what is now known as Victoria, BC, Canada, but is traditionally known as the territories of the Esquimalt, Songhees, and WSANEC peoples.

​

Jen Shortt (MA, RCC) is a Queer Anishinaabe & mixed Eurpoean counsellor, currently working and living in the territories of the Songees, Esquaimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. Jen grew up in Treaty 13 territory, home of the Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee) and Anishinabewaki peoples, also known as Toronto. She has lived in Coast Salish territory for 18 years. She has been a counsellor for more than 12 years, primarily working with Indigenous youth. Her passion lies in supporting 2SLGBTQ+ and Indigenous youth, as well as supporting youth during their high school years. She has been a high school counsellor for the past 7 years. Her approach to counselling is wholistic, rooted in her Indigenous ways of knowing and being, decolonizing, trauma informed, feminist and client centered.

​

Kim (BEd, MC, RCC) is a settler teacher and uninvited guest living and working on the Songhees and Esquimalt land in what is now known as Victoria, BC, Canada. Kim has been a teacher in mainstream and alternative education settings for the past 10 years and has worked in some of the most challenging environments with what some would call the most "challenging" students.  Kim has run both educational and therapeutic programs for children and youth in mainstream classes, youth in custody, inpatient addictions treatment, and high-risk youth experiencing suicidal ideation, Kim is passionate about creating meaningful connection and community for students and increasing teacher awareness of trauma informed practices and mental health.