Who We Are
All therapists at Changes Counselling Services are Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. The team is committed to continuous professional growth, bringing a wealth of education, experience, and compassion to their work.
Danielle Pawelchak
Clinical Director & Founder
Registered Clinical Counsellor, M.A. Counselling Psychology, B.A. Psychology, B.Ed, Teaching Certificate
Danielle Pawelchak is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Bachelor of Education, and a British Columbia Teaching Certificate. She brings over 17 years of experience counselling teens and supporting families across British Columbia. She began her career as a research assistant for the University of the Fraser Valley’s Psychology Department, later moving into mental health support work in a psycho-social rehabilitation program for adults living with mental illness.
For more than a decade, Danielle has worked as a counsellor in both elementary and secondary school settings, specializing in supporting youth with complex mental health needs and significant behavioural challenges. Her background in education and her teaching certification give her a deep understanding of the BC school system, making her uniquely skilled in collaborating with educators, administrators, and support teams to create effective, realistic support plans for students.
In addition to her counselling work, Danielle serves as a High School Counsellor Department Lead and mentors graduate-level practicum students as they complete their Master’s programs. She is passionate about guiding the next generation of counsellors and believes in the power of collaboration between school systems, families, and mental health professionals.
A former highly competitive provincial-level figure skater and the parent of a provincially ranked teen athlete, Danielle understands firsthand the mental demands of high-performance sports. This lived experience deeply informs her sports performance counselling, giving her a unique perspective on balancing competition, training, academics, and life as both an athlete and parent.
Danielle also values the healing influence of nature and enjoys getting into the outdoors whenever she can. In her spare time, she loves camping, hiking, and exploring nature's natural beauty with her family.
Known for her empathy, intuition, and genuine connection with clients, she takes pride in creating a safe, non-judgmental space where people feel understood and supported. She considers it a privilege to walk alongside her clients on their journey toward greater wellbeing.
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