Chantelle Efird
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor candidate
I give people a place to slow down and make sense of what they’re going through, then we work out together what might help.
- Sees
- Teens and adults, individuals
- Sessions
- Online by video, anywhere in BC
- Times
- Midday, evening and weekend times
- Fees
- Free consultation. Sessions from $60. Full fees
- Languages
- English
Taking new clients
Next you’ll pick a time in Jane, our secure booking system. It asks for your name, email and phone.
Meet Chantelle
I’m Chantelle, and I’m the low-fee counsellor at Desert Solace. I’m a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor candidate (RTCc) with ACCT, which means I’m trained and working toward full registration under the direct supervision of Kimberly Castle (ACCT #2509). It’s also why my fee is $60 a session. If money is very tight, I’m open to talking about pro bono sessions, one person at a time (see low-cost counselling in BC).
Growing up, I lived with anxiety and ADHD, and we moved every few years. I was surrounded by people dealing with their own mental health, and I learned how isolating it is to struggle and not know who to talk to. I wanted to be that person for other people: someone you can open up to without being judged, and without having to explain or defend yourself.
You don’t have to know exactly what you need, or have the right words for how you’re feeling. Sometimes the first step is simply saying, ‘I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m struggling.’ We can start there, together, one step at a time.
Is Chantelle the right fit?
A good fit if
Teens and young adults especially, and anyone in the middle of a big change: starting something new, a relationship shifting, or not knowing what comes next. Anxiety, ADHD, stress and burnout, and self-esteem. I also enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds, and I’d rather get to know you than make assumptions.
You don’t need to know exactly what you want to work on. What matters is being willing to explore and take small steps.
Probably not the right fit if
If English isn’t your first language, or your faith is central to your life, you may feel more at home with a counsellor who shares your language or background. For thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or recovery from sexual abuse, another counsellor on the team will be a better fit.
What Chantelle helps with
Primary
- Anxiety, stress and burnout
- ADHD and self-esteem
- Life transitions, especially for teens and young adults
Read more: Anxiety, stress and burnout, Teens and young adults
Also works with
Self-esteem, women’s issues, low mood, life transitions. Neurodivergent-friendly.
How I work
No pressure to fix yourself. We slow things down enough to understand what’s happening, then find ways forward that fit your actual life.
I don’t see counselling as me having the answers while you sit back and listen. We work it out together: what’s happening, where it comes from, and what might actually fit your life.
With anxiety, that means looking at what keeps the worry going (the overthinking, the second-guessing, the 3 a.m. replays) and building ways to handle it. The goal isn’t to make anxiety vanish. It’s to help you feel more able to manage it. With stress and burnout, we look at your limits and needs, and make room for rest without adding another layer of pressure to “fix” yourself.
I draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and solution-focused work, depending on what you need. When homework makes sense, it’s usually journalling or a small challenge. My approach is neurodivergent-friendly.
Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Solution-focused and person-centred
Parents and guardians
Parents and guardians are welcome to be involved in their child’s counselling journey when appropriate and with the child’s agreement. However, counselling is also a space where young people can feel comfortable speaking openly and privately. Confidentiality is respected, with exceptions where safety concerns or legal obligations require information to be shared. More for parents on the teens and young adults page.
What a first session is like
Relaxed, with no pressure to share more than you’re comfortable with. We’ll talk about what brought you to counselling, a bit of your background, the people who support you, and what you hope will be different. We’ll also check whether working together feels like a good fit, because trust matters more than anything else in this. Sessions are by video through Jane, and you choose whether your camera is on or off.
Sessions usually start weekly, for an hour, and spread out to every two weeks or once a month over time. Some weeks you’ll know exactly what you want to talk about. Some weeks you won’t, and that’s completely okay. We can pick up where we left off and see what’s still coming up.
Fees, times and billing
- Fees
- Free consultation, then $60 for 60 minutes or $85 for 90.If money is very tight, Chantelle is open to talking about pro bono sessions, one person at a time. Ask in your free consultation.
- Paying less
- Chantelle is our low-fee counsellor: $60 a session.
- Times
- Midday, evening and weekend times. Video through Jane, camera on or off.
As a counsellor candidate, insurance coverage is case by case. Check with your own provider whether your plan reimburses her sessions. Fees and insurance
Next you’ll pick a time in Jane, our secure booking system. It asks for your name, email and phone.
Training and registration
- RTCc Registered Therapeutic Counsellor candidate with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT). She is a trained counsellor working toward full RTC status, under the direct supervision of Kimberly Castle (ACCT #2509).
- Registration
- ACCT, candidate member. Supervised by Kimberly Castle (ACCT #2509).
- Supervisor
- Kimberly Castle, ACCT #2509
- Counselling since
- 2026
Other counsellors you might like
Madison Morrison
Also works with anxiety, stress and burnout.
For adults who look fine on the outside and feel fried on the inside.
Jasneet Purewal
Also works with anxiety, stress and burnout.
For the ones everyone else leans on. Family pressure, couples and life before or after marriage, in English, Punjabi or Hindi.
Davis Wiggs
Addiction, the quieter habits nobody talks about, and couples after betrayal. Kind, and he’ll still ask the hard question.
A free first conversation with Chantelle
Next you’ll pick a time in Jane, our secure booking system. It asks for your name, email and phone.