About us
Dr. Cara Samuel, R. Psych
I have a combined PhD in Clinical & Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto with a Collaborative Specialization in Public Health Policy, and MSc in Clinical Lifespan (Developmental) Psychology from the University of Victoria
I completed my doctoral residency with the Rural Consultation Program, Young Offender Team, and Correctional Service Canada in Saskatchewan. I also worked for over a decade in community mental health, sexualized and gender-based violence, and cultural safety and racial justice in mental health.
I’ve lived in remote and rural communities on Haida Gwaii, Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ lands (Tofino and Ucluelet area), and Treaty 3 (rural Saskatchewan) and Treaty 1 (rural Manitoba) lands, and have also worked in Nunavut, Yukon, and Tahltan (Iskut, Dease Lake) and Taku River Tlingit (Atlin) territories.
I split my time between Haida Gwaii and the lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples (Victoria), and am available for virtual, in-person and fly-in psychological services.
I am a multi-racial femme (they/them/she/her) and a settler on the lands on which I currently live. My father is Black with ancestral ties to Trinidad, Nigeria and Nepal, and my mother’s family is from Finland and Sapmi (northern Scandinavia).
While I work with a wide range of concerns, ages, and populations, I have spent the last 15 years developing specialized expertise in complex PTSD, intergenerational trauma, colonial and racial violence, and culturally safe, anti-racist approaches in therapy, assessment, and research. I have over a decade of experience providing consultation, program development, program evaluation and policy analysis services to non-profit and government agencies. I also work with justice-involved and incarcerated youth and adults.
My master’s thesis critically examined prevailing understandings of Complex PTSD, exploring the role of dissociation and attachment while challenging dominant DSM-based diagnostic models. My doctoral dissertation used a decolonial lens to confront colonial narratives in trauma theory, child protection policy, and psychological research. This work also focused on what meaningful trauma- and violence-informed, culturally safe care looks when working with Indigenous and racialized communities.
My communities’ own experiences of colonialism elsewhere in the world provide a path to empathy, and instil me with sense of solidarity with and responsibility to Indigenous Peoples here. With humility, accountability and continuous self-inquiry, I offer my skills and knowledge as tools to support Indigenous self-determinism and well-being. “When they are free we will all be free” (Combahee River Collective).
Assessments:
Psycho-educational assessments
ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity) assessments
ASD (autism spectrum) assessments
Other neurodevelopmental/complex behavioural assessments
Mental health/diagnostic assessments
Forensic risk/court-ordered assessments
Immigration/refugee assessments
Other Services:
Individual therapy for teens and adults
Couples therapy
Supervision and consultation
Program development and evaluation
Policy development and analysis
Quantitative and qualitative, community-based research
Workshops and presentations
Dr. Drexler ortiz, R. Psych
I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology (Lifespan Emphasis) from the University of Victoria.
I completed my residency in the Rural-Generalist Stream at the University of Manitoba where I focused on receiving a broad range of clinical expertise. My training has primarily been community focused, which to me means being able to provide a level of support and empathy to anyone who seeks support.
I am grateful to have been invited to work in several remote and rural communities, including the ancestral lands of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (Prince George area); Haisla First Nation (Kitimaat area); Secwepemc, T'exelcemc, and Xat'súll First Nations (Williams Lake and surrounding regions); Nak'azdli Whut'en First Nation (Fort St. James area); and Treaty 1 Territory (rural Manitoba).
While I am currently living on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples (Richmond, BC), I am available for in-person, virtual and fly-in psychological services.
I immigrated from Cavite, Philippines when I was 4 years old to Treaty 6 Territory (Edmonton, AB). I continuously reflect on my position as a racialized settler from another colonized country (the Philippines). Since I work closely with Indigenous communities both locally and rurally, I reflect on our similar histories as one bridge towards empathy, and I also reflect on our differences in histories to acknowledge where I may have gaps in my own understanding. Having grown up on lands away from my own ancestors, I am grateful to live on lands that have offered me a life that my own lineage could have never imagined.
I have grown up loving hiking, and my favourite parts of life have involved taking in breathtaking scenery. My other hobbies include travelling to different lands and learning about different cultures and histories. Part of why I enjoy working with remote and rural communities is being able to learn about different ways of living. I look forward to spending the rest of my life learning through the experience of others.
Assessments:
Psycho-educational assessments
ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity) assessments
ASD (autism spectrum) assessments
Other neurodevelopmental/complex behavioural assessments
Mental health/diagnostic assessments
Other Services:
Individual therapy for teens and adults
Parent coaching
Supervision and consultation
Program development and evaluation
Qualitative and quantitative, community-based research
Workshops and presentations
“Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul”
— Carl Jung
Are you passionate about accessible, sustainable and ethical care that prioritizes a relational, strengths-based, and anti-oppressive approach?
Are you a psychologist, school psychologist, counsellor, speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, nurse practitioner, nurse, doctor or other service provider?
Or, are you a provider looking to develop more in-community mental health and health services where you live?
Send us an email!