Afton Schindel

**ONLINE ONLY**

SPECIAL RATE $70 PER HOUR

Insurance coverage welcome.

Currently Accepting:

Adults, Youth (12+), Young Adults, Families, Seniors, 

CVAP (Crime Victim Assistance Program)

Areas of Expertise:

Anxiety - Depression - PTSD - Autism - ADHD - Complex Trauma - Grief - Addictions - LGBTQS2 - Concurrent Disorders

Life Transitions - Perimenopausal & Menopausal Support

Religious Trauma - Childhood Abuse - Sexual Abuse - 

Family Conflict - Workplace Stress 

Self-Esteem - Identity

BOOKING SCHEDULE COMING SOON

I’m a trauma-trained mental health professional and trained social worker who provides secure online counselling for adults, teens (12+), and families.

My style is warm, approachable, and, most of all, easygoing. I want you to feel comfortable being yourself—not like you have to say the “right” things or have everything figured out before you come to counselling. You can show up exactly as you are.

I believe that good counselling starts with feeling safe, heard, and genuinely understood. My role is not to judge you or tell you how you should live your life. Instead, I work alongside you to understand what you’re experiencing, make sense of what may be getting in the way, and find practical ways to help you move forward.

I offer compassionate, evidence-informed counselling that combines practical strategies with deeper self-exploration. My hope is that you leave our sessions feeling not only supported, but also more confident, more self-aware, and better equipped to handle whatever life brings your way.

I’m a counselling intern with more than 30 years of experience in the mental health field. Over the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with people from many different backgrounds and with many different life experiences.

My background as a trained social worker, former foster parent, and school counsellor has shaped the way I understand people and their stories. I’ve learned that what we see on the surface is often only part of the picture.

Our mental health and emotional well-being can be influenced by so many things—our early experiences, relationships, family systems, biology, environment, culture, life circumstances, and the ways we have learned to cope.

That’s why I take a whole-person approach. I want to understand not just what you’re struggling with, but also who you are, what you’ve been through, what matters to you, and the strengths you already have.

I draw from a number of therapeutic approaches, including:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Narrative Therapy
• Attachment Therapy

I don’t believe therapy should be one-size-fits-all. I tailor my approach to you—your needs, personality, experiences, strengths, goals, and readiness for change.

My practice is neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-focused. I’m passionate about helping people understand themselves with greater compassion, develop healthier coping strategies, strengthen emotional regulation, and make changes that feel meaningful and sustainable.

Sometimes therapy is about learning new skills. Sometimes it’s about understanding why you respond to situations the way you do. And sometimes it’s simply about having a safe person beside you while you work through something difficult.

Often, it’s a combination of all three.

Maybe you’ve been managing on your own for a long time. Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected from yourself, or simply unsure of what comes next.

You don’t need to have the answers before you begin counselling.

You also don’t need to wait until things become unbearable.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship or family challenges, questions about identity, neurodiversity, or a significant life transition, I offer a space where you can slow down, take a breath, and be yourself.

My hope is that, over time, you feel more understood—not only by me, but by yourself.

Registered with BC Association of Clinical Counsellors

** ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS**

Currently Accepting:

Adults, Youth (9+), Young Adults, Families

Areas of Expertise:

Anxiety - Depression - PTSD - First Responders - Complex Trauma - Grief - Addictions  Identity - LGBTQS2 - Concurrent Disorders

Pregnancy Issues - Fertility - Postpartum

Family Conflict

As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (22872), I work with you to set goals for therapy.  Your strengths will lead the direction of therapy, with a few tweaks here and there.  We will consider your current relationships as well as your childhood to inform us of how your body’s Nervous System directs and impacts you each day.  As you learn more about your body’s fight/flight/freeze responses you will begin to understand your emotional responses and choose different ways to express yourself.  

Therapy can sometimes be intimidating, so my job is to help you feel relaxed, maybe even laugh a little at ourselves.  We will create space for difficult emotions and might find new ways to respond to familiar challenges.  I believe therapy works best when it feels like a genuine, supportive relationship—one where you feel heard, respected, and understood.

I've had the honor of working with teens and families navigating the world of Neurodivergence.  Neurodivergent-affirming counselling enables people to develop a sense of direction, gain control of their lives, and improve their mental health.

 Growing up in a society that may have labeled you as lazy, unreliable, too much, or not smart, often leads to internalized shame, regret, and grief. How could someone not be sensitive to rejection in an environment like that? You can learn to trust your own judgment, reframe the stories you’ve been telling yourself, and find a more powerful perspective.  

Wondering if your teen might be neurodivergent?  Hearing terms like ADHD or Autism can be overwhelming.  I have worked with teens who are diagnosed with ADHD or Autism, as well as those who haven't had an assessment.  As a parent, you might also be looking for support with setting limits while helping your adolescent mature with the confidence to make mistakes. 

 Neurodiverse teens can struggle between masking their behaviours and learning to accept themselves for the unique and awesome people they are.  I can support your teen (and you)  in navigating through the daily grind of school/friends/family/social media in a way that works for them, not always for everyone else.  

Whether you're reaching out for yourself or for your teen, I offer an approach that respects your unique experiences and supports growth at your own pace. 

** Louise is currently NOT accepting new clients at this time**

Registered with BC Association of Clinical Counsellors

Currently Accepting:

Couples, Individual Adults, Youth (12+), Young Adults, Families

Areas of Expertise:

Neurodivergence including Autism, ADHD, and Giftedness

Depression, Anxiety, LGBTQS2, Family Conflict, Trauma, Shame, Self-esteem, Identity, Life Transitions

As a Registered Clinical Counsellor, I feel very privileged and find it an honor to  walk with clients on this messy journey called life. Life can be amazing sometimes,  but life can also be difficult, fraught with challenges. We were never meant to do  this on our own. I work with adults, youth and couples.  

I know how difficult it is to ask for help and reach out. It requires strength and  vulnerability. So, thank you for coming to this page and taking the next step.  

My Approach to Counselling 

I am a very good listener and this makes the biggest difference in the two of us  doing the work that lies ahead - you know you are being heard. Through our work  together, we can utilize the power of connection and how every human being  longs to be seen, heard, and understood. This in turn leads to greater clarity for  steps ahead.   

I believe that we are the experts of our own lives and stories. No one knows our own lives and our own selves better than each of us do. Therefore, my focus is on  being client-centered. I believe that the past can inform the present, and so  psychodynamic considerations are important. Incorporating stories is an  important element in using narrative therapy with a humanistic approach.  

I am warm, compassionate, and with a touch of humor, and my clients would  describe me as non-judgmental, very real, and authentic.   

Let’s walk forward together 

 Louise Rumble, B.Sc., M.Ed., R.C.C.(BCACC)

 Insofar as neurodivergence as a focus, I have also worked as a teacher, specifically with  children/youth who have specific needs and challenges. As a result, I have a tremendous  amount of knowledge and experience of the education system both here in Canada and the UK.  I understand the frustration that parents and students face, especially if the student has  learning challenges and/or is neurodivergent. It can feel very lonely. I am a huge advocate for  those who feel like they have no voice, especially in an education setting. Even as a parent, I  understand this intimately.  

 Finding Your Way Forward

Feeling lost?  Stuck?  Repeating the same patterns month after month, year after year?  Are you feeling like you just can't set boundaries because you're not used to putting your needs first? You don't have to do this alone.

I work with Adults, Youth, and Families, with a special interest and expertise in working with Neurodivergent individuals.  

When it Feels Like Your Brain Doesn't Fit

You may have spent years masking your needs, pushing through overwhelm, and questioning yourself because you didn't fit comfortably into systems that weren't designed with your brain in mind. Maybe you've been told to “just try harder,” or made to feel that being different meant something was wrong with you.

Over time, the pressure to perform, adapt, shrink yourself, or constantly explain your experience can become exhausting. You may find yourself wondering why things that seem easy for others feel so difficult for you.

You're not weak. You're tired.

Does this sound familiar?

• Exhausted, trying to constantly masking
• Struggling with transitions, unexpected changes and routines
• Feeling misunderstood, isolated or "too much"
• Challenges with executive functioning
• Self-blame and self-doubt
• Wishing you were different

One of the ways I help my clients is by exploring the nervous system and how it responds to stress, relationships, life experiences, and the demands we place on ourselves.

You may understand what you should be doing, but still find yourself overwhelmed, anxious, reactive, exhausted, or unable to calm down. Learning to recognize what is happening in your body and nervous system can help create greater understanding and, over time, a greater sense of calm, connection, and peace.

I work with adults who may be experiencing stress, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, people-pleasing, difficulty with boundaries, relationship challenges, parenting stress, or major life transitions.

Sometimes, as adults, we become so accustomed to taking care of everyone else that we lose touch with what we need. Counselling can be an opportunity to slow down, understand yourself more deeply, and begin making changes that support your own well-being.

I also have a particular interest in working with youth and neurodivergent individuals. I understand that children and teens can experience the world differently, and that what looks like challenging behaviour on the outside can often be communicating something much deeper.

I work with young people and parents to reduce conflict and increase connection, helping families better understand one another and find ways forward that feel supportive and realistic.

As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (25008), I bring a compassionate, grounded, and deeply authentic presence to my counselling practice. I firmly believe that true healing and growth begin in a space where you can show up exactly as you are. While I welcome individuals from all walks of life, I specialize in child and youth wellness (ages 4–19), perinatal mental health, and collaborative family support.

With over 20 years of experience as an educator and school counsellor, I have a true understanding of the emotional and developmental landscapes that children and adolescents navigate today. Whether a young person is experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma, or major life shifts, my goal is to provide a calm, safe environment where they feel truly heard, accepted, and capable of finding their own confidence.

I also partner closely with families to build a consistent circle of support around their children. Using my deep knowledge of the school system, I uniquely bridge the gap between home and school, acting as an advocate to help your family navigate these spaces with confidence.

In addition to my work with youth, I am passionate about supporting individuals through the profound emotional changes of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood. My practice is informed by specialized Perinatal Mental Health training and my time volunteering at the Pacific Post Partum Society. I also have lived experience with postpartum anxiety and depression. This background allows me to offer an empathetic, judgment-free perspective to parents navigating these complex transitions.

Outside of the office, I look for opportunities to slow down, stay present, and find ease in the middle of a full life. You can often find me practicing yoga, spending time in nature, or enjoying life with my family and my dog, Plum.

Advanced Trainings:

• CBT, DBT, and ACT Skills

• ADHD in Children and Teens

• Advanced Child-Centered Play Therapy

• Perinatal Mental Health Certificate

• Positive Parenting Coaching Certificate

• ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

Registered with BC Association of Clinical Counsellors

** ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS **

Currently Accepting:

Young Adults, Individuals, Families

Areas of Expertise:

Anxiety - Depression -Menopause - Boundaries - Grief - Life Transitions - Men's Issues - PTSD - Complex Trauma  

LGBTQ2 - Shame - Self-Esteem - Stress Tolerance - Family Conflict

FOUNDER AND CLINIC DIRECTOR 

Currently Accepting:

Youth (12+), Adults, Families, Parents separating/divorcing

Areas of Expertise:

Parent/Teen conflict, LGBTQS2+, Addictions, Trauma, Neurodivergence, Giftedness, Anxiety, Depression, Parenting support, Grief & Loss, Life Transitions, Athlete performance