We're not an EAP program

Abby Chow, MA, RCC-ACS (she/her)

  • 94% of employees who have access to employer-provided EAP, decline it. Even when they could and want to benefit from counselling services. (Study by the American Psychological Association)
  • 40% of employees who reported needing mental health support did not feel comfortable accessing EAP services due to concerns about privacy and confidentiality. (Study by the Center for Workplace Mental Health)
  • Only 8% of HR professionals believe that their organization's EAP is fully effective in addressing employees' mental health needs. (Study by the Society for Human Resource Management)

Clinical Supervisor, Strategy Consultant + Clinical Director

Founder of Venturous Counselling, Prospect Counselling, and Reflecting on Justice. She knows teams inside out having built them from the ground up. She is also an adjunct professor at various clinical psychology universities in Vancouver, and is our anti-oppressive, justice-oriented practice lead. She’s not only a counsellor by trade but also has a solid business background and a management degree from Western University, helping her integrate clinical psychology with optimal business practices from a justice-oriented lens.

Meet the Venturous Team

Jane Whitlaw, MEd, RCC (she/her)

Registered Clinical Counsellor, Walk + Talk / Nature Therapy

Welcome! I’m so happy you’re here and I want to congratulate you on taking the first courageous step toward healing and wellness. Let me provide you with a brief introduction so you have a sense of what to expect in working with me. My clinical philosophies are rooted in the values by which I both live and work. Authenticity, I believe contributes to the development of a trusting and real connection. Who I am in session, is who I am as a person, and the congruency of my own presentation is integral to supporting you to live your life according to your own values and beliefs. I am not here to tell you what to do. I’m here to remind you of the agency you have within yourself to heal from...Read more >>

Esther Jaang, MA Candidate (she/her)

EMDR Practitioner + Clinical Counsellor 

SUPERVISED BY ABBY CHOW, MA, RCC #14742

Hi there, thank you for being here. Clients I’ve worked with have felt overwhelmed by what life was bringing them, and many were being re-visited by the past in ways that were painful and difficult to manage. Does this sound like what you’re going through as well? If so, I would like to help. I would like to support you as you journey through life’s tougher landscapes, which can involve big emotions or a sense of disconnection that is often too much for anyone to manage alone. Each of us has unique layers of wounds and protections that play a role in...Read more >>

Parveen Boyal, MCP, RCC (she/her)

Registered Clinical Counsellor + Sensorimotor/Somatic Psychotherapy

Hi! Thanks for being here and taking the time to find someone to support you on your counselling journey. I know how difficult it can be to reach out for support, regardless of whether or not you’ve accessed counselling before. To give you a better idea of what to expect when working with me, allow me to share a bit about my approach. In my work with clients, I endeavour to create a space in which you can talk about topics and concerns that are difficult or have felt taboo. I am a big proponent of accepting and experiencing the whole spectrum of emotions and developing more compassion towards ourselves. Counselling is a collaborative process where maintaining your autonomy...Read more >>

Julianna Lei, MCP, RCC (she/her)

Registered Clinical Counsellor + In-Person, Nature or Walk + Talk Therapy

Hello and welcome! Come and sit, let’s chat for a while. In my own lived experience getting counselling, I know how uncomfortably vulnerable it is to reach out for help; I’m glad that you are here, bravely making that first step for yourself. My work is grounded on the perspective that how we story our lives is incredibly powerful. These stories can be taught, inherited, passed down, adopted, melded, and combined. Some stories are helpful and empowering, and some stories can cause us to feel trapped, frustrated, and helpless. And for some stories that we have, we would rather them be forgotten, hidden, and ignored because of how much pain and shame these stories bring us...Read more >>

And perhaps most importantly...

Who are you getting with your EAP?

Here’s some industry insider knowledge you might not be aware of:

  • Most EAPs require their counsellors to have 5 years of post graduate experience but only pay ⅓ to ½ of a counsellor’s regular hourly rate.
  • Considering the booming demand for counsellors and mental health support…
  • What level of care are your employees able to access even if they do access EAPs?

Let's start with some context:

Over a decade of experience in Mental Health, Corporate HR + Team Building