Please note my rates are increasing June 1, 2025. Thank you for your continued support.
Empower Yourself
Take Control of Your Future


When to speak with a counsellor:
Depression
If you are feeling sad, lonely, tired, lethargic, or having problems looking forward to events you normally would. You may be depressed.
Anxiety
If you feel nervous, fearful, or disproportionately upset about an event or circumstance. If you have recently had a panic attack, you may have anxiety.
Grief / Loss
If you have recently lost a loved one or feel there is a missing piece in your life you may be suffering from grief and / or loss.
Post Traumatic Stress
If you are easy to get mad, experiencing flashbacks or having recurring nightmares of an event you cannot seem to wake from. You may have post-traumatic stress.
Relationships
Are you struggling to communicate with your partner? I have now been trained in EFCT a clinically proven method to help you engage more effectively in your relationships
Chronic Pain
When you are suffering from chronic pain, it can feel very lonely. If you feel there is no one who understands what you are going through or really need someone to empathize. You are not alone.
You are feeling tired, easily frustrated, annoyed by your work and loved ones, but maybe don't know why.
You feel like you have nowhere left to turn, and the most logical answer is death.
You are struggling to get through to a loved one, or are having challenges communicating and you feel you cannot figure out a way to get through to them, or how to live with them.
Burnt Out
Suicidal Thoughts / Actions
Family Issues

Who am I? How can I help?
Valerie Dessaulles, MA, RCC

Hi, I’m Valerie Dessaulles, and I’d like to share a bit about my journey. For over 12 years, I served as a paramedic, where I had the privilege of supporting people during some of their toughest times. In those moments, I saw how deeply people longed for a compassionate, understanding person to talk to—a safe space where they could truly be heard. This inspired me to pursue a Master’s of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, so I could continue helping others, but in a deeper, more holistic way.
Since 2009, my heart has been in the helping profession. Initially, I focused on the body’s incredible ability to handle trauma in the role of a paramedic. Now, as a therapist, I’m honored to walk alongside individuals as they navigate their emotional and mental health challenges. The human body is resilient, but sometimes, it needs a little extra support to fully heal—and that’s where I come in.
Recognizing the impact of trauma on ourselves can be really difficult, and that’s why having someone you can trust to listen and guide you is so important. During my time as a paramedic, I was able to build that trust with complete strangers in their moments of need, and now, I would love the opportunity to be that trusted person for you, too. It would be my absolute privilege to support you during your journey toward healing.
I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), and over the years, I’ve had the honor of working with many wonderful individuals, each with their own unique story. It’s this diversity that keeps me inspired and helps me tailor each session to the needs of the person I’m working with. My approach is deeply rooted in the belief that every person is unique, and because of that, the tools we use in therapy should be just as unique. I want to help you find the strategies that will work best for you, recognizing and celebrating the qualities that make you who you are.
Each of us has experiences and survival mechanisms that have shaped us—sometimes they help, sometimes they don’t. Together, we’ll work on understanding and accepting these aspects of yourself so you can move forward with confidence and self-compassion.
Every session will be personalized, just like you. I’m here to help you uncover the support, understanding, and tools you need to feel better and live the life you deserve.
inue helping others, but in a deeper, more holistic way.
Since 2009, my heart has been in the helping profession. Initially, I focused on the body’s incredible ability to handle trauma in the role of a paramedic. Now, as a therapist, I’m honored to walk alongside individuals as they navigate their emotional and mental health challenges. The human body is resilient, but sometimes, it needs a little extra support to fully heal—and that’s where I come in.
Recognizing the impact of trauma on ourselves can be really difficult, and that’s why having someone you can trust to listen and guide you is so important. During my time as a paramedic, I was able to build that trust with complete strangers in their moments of need, and now, I would love the opportunity to be that trusted person for you, too. It would be my absolute privilege to support you during your journey toward healing.
I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), and over the years, I’ve had the honor of working with many wonderful individuals, each with their own unique story. It’s this diversity that keeps me inspired and helps me tailor each session to the needs of the person I’m working with. My approach is deeply rooted in the belief that every person is unique, and because of that, the tools we use in therapy should be just as unique. I want to help you find the strategies that will work best for you, recognizing and celebrating the qualities that make you who you are.
Each of us has experiences and survival mechanisms that have shaped us—sometimes they help, sometimes they don’t. Together, we’ll work on understanding and accepting these aspects of yourself so you can move forward with confidence and self-compassion.
Every session will be personalized, just like you. I’m here to help you uncover the support, understanding, and tools you need to feel better and live the life you deserve.

"I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.
Maya Angelou
Schedule a Session
778-824-1168
140 Alexander St. NE, Suite 208
Salmon Arm, BC
V1E 1H1
