Rebecca Farnell

I love people. I always knew that I wanted to work with people and I have done so in many different capacities. My journey to becoming a counsellor has taken many twists and turns. Over 15 years ago, I had a life changing summer job. I worked in a camp for children with special needs, from there, my whole trajectory changed. I like to say that a part of heart opened up and I discovered an area of interest I never knew existed. I found a passion and a purpose. I started working as a support worker with individuals with special needs, then as an educational assistant. Later, I helped lead summer camps for teens with Autism. Over the course of my life, I have continued to provide respite care for many families and feel honored to have shared a part of their lives. In 2007, I spent 2 years volunteering in Chiang Mai, Thailand at an orphanage for children with AIDS and HIV. This was a beautiful, heart breaking and life defining experience. I returned to Canada, and completed my Degree in Child and Youth Care. I worked for Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver as a Mentoring Coordinator and it was during this time that my life took another turn. I was challenged with the question of if I could do anything in the world what would I want to do? Without hesitation, I replied, I would get my Masters, become a counsellor and help individuals with ASD and their families. My friend then replied, “What is stopping you? I retorted back “People do not actually live out their dreams do they?” I am delighted to say, that I went after my dream, I went back to school and became a counsellor and now have the absolute honour of working with a variety of people with a diverse set of abilities.