About Us - Counsellors and Office Staff

Lynette Pollard-Elgert
Executive Director and Therapist

I have my Degree in Criminology; I am a Family Life Educator; Registered Clinical Counsellor; and a Certified Reality Therapist, I am one of several therapists Certified in BC as a Grief Counsellor and Thanatologist through the Association for Death Education and Counselling, (ADEC). I am also certified in Neurofeedback - a useful therapy for someone dealing with the pain of grief and loss.

I have worked in BC for 25 years as an individual and group therapist as well as a Canadian trainer in the field of Loss and Change Management. Some of my areas of interest are working with families who have been traumatized by a homicide, violent crime, accidents, loss of a child or other loved ones. I use the reality therapy model which supports, educates and strengthens peoples coping skills. I am passionate about working with people to bring about personal change that has a positive and sustaining impact on their day-to-day lives.

Having experienced many losses myself has assisted me in creating an atmosphere of compassion and understanding for those grieving.

It is a very honoring experience for me to be able to share with or walk with my clients on their painful journey of change.

Cheryl Bucar

I have worked in organizational loss and change management in for over 25 years. My work and volunteerism has been for both private and public sector firms, secondary and post secondary school systems, police organizations, hospitals, a library system, municipalities and public utilities. My background is varied which I believe has helped greatly in understanding the challenges, issues and complications that people experience in work organizations. I am committed in my work with people to facilitate the change and recovery from loss and change with compassion, empathy and dignity.

Over the past two decades in BC, I have worked with non profit organizations in a consulting and volunteer capacity. I have an undergraduate degree in Business; Graduate education in Business and in the Social Sciences, as well I am a certified therapist. Currently I am completing my PhD in Management in Organizational Leadership.

Having experienced personal and work related loss, I have learned that recovery from the trauma of change and loss is a process. In many situations such as a death or divorce the individual is able to label the loss and associated feelings as grief. Often in an organizational context, individuals do not think that the work related change as loss which can trigger profound feelings of grief. Understanding organizational loss in this context, normalizing the feelings that go with this type of change allows the integration of this knowing into my group and individual counselling work.

I have consulted, volunteered, and been a Board member to Living through Loss Counselling of BC for over 20 years and continue my support to the agency through my volunteerism in addition to building knowledge and experience in grief and loss as a committed  Board member. My areas of practice and research interest in grief and loss are:

• Supporting individuals who have suffered a workplace loss due to restructuring, downsizing, death of a colleague, or job loss and associated complications as a result
• Working with loss related to survivor guilt and fatigue resulting from multiple organizational changes, i.e. rolling downsizing initiatives over years, restructuring, demotions, job change, and a new boss or team, as examples.
• Working with survivors and victims of workplace bullying

John Dubé

I am a registered social worker with a M.Ed. focus on suicide. I began my work in the area of suicide and bereavement in 1985 responding to family and community needs to a suicide or traumatic death.

My areas of interest are working with clients who are struggling to incorporate a health diagnosis, bereavement due to a suicide, traumatic death or homicide and working with men. I work from a gender ecological systems approach that encourages the client to find the answer within and utilize her/his own resources for change and to heal. I provide a respected and safe place that supports the client to do self-reflective work and discover new ways of coping and navigating their world. I am a Level One EMI practitioner.

Over the past 20 years, I have conducted numerous workshops and trainings to professionals (therapists, counselors, teachers, social workers, victim services personnel, nurses) on topics such as:

• Grief - The Basics; Complex Bereavement Issues
• Bereavement due to Suicide, Homicide and Multiple Loss
• Bereavement: Sensitivity for Children, Cross Cultural and Unrecognized
• Suicide Intervention Strategies
• Professional Self-care, Communication
• Program Evaluation and Outcomes

Sheryl Kramer

Although I have always fostered a keen interest in psychology, a devastating loss I suffered in 2003 was the catalyst for my decision to become a counsellor. Motivated by my desire to assist others in their healing, I obtained my Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia and have worked as a clinician providing therapy to individuals, couples and families. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work involves facilitating groups for women healing from grief and loss. I am gratified and honoured to have the opportunity to accompany others on their grief journeys through my work with Living Through Loss Counselling.

Allen Sawkins

I am Registered Shiatsu Therapist, Reiki Practitioner, LaStone Hot Rock Therapist and Therapeutic Bodyworker and have been involved in healing bodywork for over 20 years. I began working as a volunteer with Body Positive, one of the first AIDS Charities in the UK and then as a member of the Complementary Health Staff at the London East Aids Network. I had a private Shiatsu practice at The Primrose Hill Healing Centre, and also worked in tandem with a Therapist from the Metanoia Institute in London. After moving to Canada I was a volunteer with the Persons With Aids Society and also ran a clinic for people with life threatening conditions, including HIV infection, MS and Cancer. I have been a member of the Continuing Education Faculty Staff at Langara College for over 10 years teaching on the Shiatsu Practitioners Diploma Program. I have taught for the Vancouver School Board, the Healing Bodywork Centre and presented a satellite workshop at the BC Aids Conference on Shiatsu and its use for the side effects of drug therapies.

I believe that bodywork is an essential part of healing when we are dealing with grief and loss. Grief has a tendency to take us out of our bodies and as a result we can lose our sense of self and feel disempowered. As a Survivor of a Victim of Homicide, I appreciate that grief impacts us on an emotional, physical and spiritual level, and feel that bodywork helps us stay connected to all these aspects of our being. It also gives us the opportunity to feel nurtured and supported and stay grounded when dealing with episodes of grief.

Click on the image and listen to Allen explain Shiatsu Therapy and the Grief Process

Nancy Szastkiw

I currently do grief and loss counselling with drop-in groups and individuals in Vancouver's downtown east side (DTES). I also work with military clients in transition and with their trauma experiences. My focus is to help people work through the process of grief and loss and other life changes. Respectful listening and an awareness of multiculturalism are cornerstones in my work with clients.

My background includes a business degree in organizational culture, certification as a life coach, an undergraduate degree and a Masters in Counseling Psychology. A focus in my volunteer experience over the years has been in hospice care, psychoeducation, and promotion of healthy activities for people who are working though life changes and grief processes. I am a registered BC clinical counsellor.