I am a dedicated and compassionate Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (MPCC-p) with a Diploma in Professional Counselling from Kelowna College of Professional Counselling. Naturally, I am a natural healer, and I am often the place where friends and family ask me for help, support, and advice. This deep-seated desire to help others guided me to embrace my true calling in mental health.
My personal and professional journey, enriched by diverse experiences, has provided me with a profound understanding of various client needs. This, combined with my therapeutic education, expertise and life experiences, enables me to create a warm and empathetic environment where clients feel genuinely heard and understood. My cozy office space in downtown Kelowna offers a welcoming and safe atmosphere with free parking.
I specialize in ADHD, particularly in girls and women, as well as relationship counselling, anxiety and depression management, life transitions, trauma, grief, and personal growth. My own experiences with ADHD and relationship counselling have driven my passion to be the counsellor I needed during those times.
What sets me apart is my unique blend of directness and empathy. I ask probing questions that help clients better understand themselves, identifying areas for self-reflection and growth. I am passionate about research, professional development, and finding the techniques that best support my clients.
Balancing my professional life with personal interests and family commitments is crucial. As a devoted partner and mother of two plus a fur baby, I prioritize family while ensuring I spend enough time on self-care. I love outdoor activities like hiking, paddle boarding, and spending time at the beach. I enjoy going to the gym, yoga, and travelling whenever possible in colder months.
For those thinking about counselling for the first time, please look at the 15-minute free consult to ensure you are a good fit with your counsellor. The counsellor-patient relationship significantly impacts therapy’s progress and outcomes.
In my practice, I support clients in setting and achieving personal goals through achievable short-term and long-term objectives, regularly reevaluating and adjusting them. I also incorporate recommended reading and homework to maximize the benefits of our sessions.
Looking ahead, I am committed to honing my skills, and my dedication to personal growth and professional development ensures I provide the most effective care for my clients.
CARIN BENSON
Master Professional Clinical Counsellor (Provisional), RPC, DFA, CPCA
Training in Gottman Method Relationship Therapy, Connect Parenting, ADHD, and EMDR Trauma Therapy. I also offer faith-based counselling at the client’s request.
My passion is supporting healthy families. Children thrive in homes where their primary caregivers are healthy, supported, and in a loving, connected relationship with each other. One of the most important factors in creating a thriving home is the quality of the relationship between caregivers.
Research shows that our happiness, resilience, and even health are deeply connected to the quality of our relationships. As John Gottman, a leading relationship researcher, says, “The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life.” In counselling, I help individuals and couples strengthen these connections because thriving in relationships creates thriving lives.
My counselling practice is grounded in a holistic, integrative approach that honours the whole person; emotionally, mentally, physically, and relationally while also considering past experiences and future goals. I take a directive approach and provide tangible tools and practical skills. Lasting change happens when we look at the full picture of someone’s life, not just one part of it.
I draw from several evidence-based approaches, including:
Humanistic & Person-Centered Therapy – creating a safe, respectful space rooted in empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – offering practical strategies to challenge unhelpful thoughts, reshape behaviours, and build healthier patterns.
Brief Psychodynamic Therapy – exploring how early experiences, attachment, and unconscious patterns influence current relationships and struggles.
Gestalt Therapy – increasing self-awareness and working through unresolved emotional experiences in the present moment.
Trauma & EMDR-informed strategies – supporting emotional regulation, grounding, and the safe processing of trauma.
Every client is unique, and therapy is adapted to meet each person where they are, integrating multiple modalities to create a personalized, effective approach.
The goal is simple: to walk alongside clients with curiosity, compassion, and practical support, helping them strengthen relationships, build resilience, and create a life that feels more connected, meaningful, and fulfilling.
“Family is at the centre of my life and my work”. ~ For over 27 years, I’ve worked alongside youth and families, which has given me a deep understanding of complex relational dynamics and a genuine ability to connect with young people. I have extensive experience working with Adults as well as supporting teenagers with challenging behaviours. I believe “Strong relationships are at the heart of lasting change.” I’ve spent decades facilitating group workshops and speaking to diverse audiences; from children and youth to parents and professionals.
Beyond the counselling room, I’m a mom to four incredible children who keep me grounded, humble, and endlessly proud. ”Family is at the centre of my life” ~ both the one I was born into and the one I’ve intentionally built through deep friendships and community involvement, including our schools and the hockey community. I feel most like myself outdoors: skiing in the winter, on the water in the summer, hiking, camping, playing racquet sports, and soaking up time in nature whenever I can. I’m also, unapologetically, an animal lover.
“I believe healing is whole-person work” ~ where physical movement, brain science, metabolic health, and emotional connection all matter. I’m guided by strong values and character and known for being optimistic, playful, and genuine. ”I believe laughter belongs in healing spaces”.
I’ve fallen and risen, been stretched, grown, and experienced both deep pain and insurmountable joy. I personally know the deep power of of supportive relationships, self-awareness, and the beauty of FUN.
Resilience has been etched and woven into every fiber of my being, and I know it’s a gift not meant solely for me. “For me this work isn’t just about what I do ~
It’s a calling”.
