We are fortunate to have incredibly skilled, highly trained, and empathetic faculty who push, pull, support, and of course teach. Teaching is a difficult and very worthy calling. We choose our faculty for their balance of academic abilities with the ability to hold space for our students in the deep experiential learning model Rhodes Wellness College is known for. We are very grateful for their contributions to our students and our community.
Education Management & Senior Faculty
Counselling & Coaching Faculty
Nutrition Counselling Faculty
Registered Massage Therapy Faculty
Education Management & Senior Faculty
Acting Director of Education
Kirsten Johansson, MA, RCC
Kirsten is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapy and Psychology. She holds additional certification in Relational Somatic Therapy, as well as training in Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.
Kirsten teaches in the Wellness Counselling program at Rhodes Wellness College. Her classes invite students to explore the material through engaging discussions, creative exercises, independent self-study, and practical hands-on sessions with peers. She strives to create a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment for each student to thrive.
In addition to teaching, Kirsten has a counselling practice in Vancouver. Her work addresses issues related to trauma, grief, anxiety, depression and relationships. On occasion, Kirsten facilitates wellness retreats for small groups incorporating mindfulness based Eco-Art Therapy. For more information about Kirsten, please visit her website: kirstenjohansson.com
Director of Student & Career Services
Janice Prinsloo, RPC
Janice is a wife, mother, counsellor, coach, and mentor. She is a dedicated student of personal growth, leadership, and taking ownership and responsibility in contributing to positive change in the world. The values that she strives to live by are integrity, impact, wealth, joy, and mastery. Having graduated from the Professional Counsellor Diploma program with Rhodes Wellness College in 2014, she has been a member of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association for 8 years. As the Director of Student & Career Services at Rhodes Wellness College, she supports the student’s experience with understanding, empathy, curiosity, and facilitation. Outside of Rhodes Wellness College, you can find Janice helping individuals and families achieve their dreams through consistent action, leadership, and business development.
Special Educational Consultant
Bea Rhodes, MPCC-S, MEd
Bea Rhodes is a Registered Professional Counsellor, and Counselling Supervisor. She founded Rhodes Wellness College in 1996. She holds a Master of Education (Adult Education) from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelors Degree from Simon Fraser University. For many years, Bea was a college instructor and contract trainer for the University College of the Fraser Valley. She worked in the Federal and Provincial Prison system, providing counselling and conducting Life Skills programs for convicted offenders. Additionally, she has designed and instructed many counselling, wellness, and personal development programs over the past thirty years. Bea believes that we are all interconnected and that “hurt people hurt people.” Bea teaches the Basic Counselling and Sexual Abuse & Trauma sections in the Life Skills Counselling semester, as well as Advanced Trauma in second year.
Manager of Supervision
Kerry Vega, MPCC-S, RCS, MA (Clinical Counselling), BA
Kerry is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor, a Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling and Qualified Clinical Supervisor, with a Master’s degree in Clinical Counselling.
Kerry teaches Supervised Clinical Practice, Ethics, Business & Marketing, and Mental Wellness, as well as providing Counselling Supervision for second year students (and beyond) with Rhodes. Additionally, Kerry teaches business, leadership and communication courses for multiple agencies and corporations, as well as in her private practice where she provides both counselling, coaching, and business development courses for wellness practitioners growing their own practices.
Manager of Engagement and Improvement
Tova Payne, RHN, B.Sc. (Psychology), LCD
Tova is a graduate of McGill’s Psychology program, a Certified Life Coach, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, and Certified Yoga Teacher, with over 17 years’ of experience in the health and wellness industry as an instructor, facilitator, curriculum designer, and coach. Tova has been involved in developing curriculum since 2009 with the launch of a yoga teacher training she took from inception to completion. Her passion for designing curriculum continued as she created several programs and supported other colleges with course content and innovation in a multitude of arenas spanning from business to nutrition, and mind-body-spirit wellness. In 2019 she was the lead developer for the Professional Integrative Nutrition Program collaborating with subject experts to launch an integrative program at Rhodes.
Manager of Coaching Education
Jill Cherewyk, PCC, RPC
Jill Cherewyk is a passionate and purpose-driven instructor, facilitator, and grief and loss coach and counsellor. She serves as the Manager and Senior Instructor of Coaching Education at Rhodes Wellness College, where she also teaches Mental Wellness and Leadership. Jill brings a deeply holistic, experiential approach to her work, rooted in her training and lived experience. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation and a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association.
Since graduating from Rhodes Wellness College in 2016, Jill has been committed to helping others cultivate awareness, clarity, and empowerment through transformational experiences. She is especially passionate about training and mentoring instructors to step into their authentic leadership style, using the experiential group process model she loves and believes in. Jill’s leadership style is collaborative, compassionately direct, and infused with a sense of play. She models the very tools and skills she teaches, creating spaces that invite courage, depth, and meaningful change. Whether she’s facilitating a group, coaching a client, or leading a team, Jill is guided by a belief in the ripple effect—how personal transformation radiates outward to impact communities and beyond. She lives and works on the unceded territory of the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, known today as Vancouver, British Columbia.
Supervisor of Education, Life Skills Counselling
Vanessa de Souza, MSW, RSW
Vanessa de Souza (she/her) graduated with her Masters in Social Work from the University of Toronto and is a registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She brings a wealth of experience having worked in crisis and suicide intervention, peer support training and facilitation, counselling, and group facilitation in numerous settings, such as healthcare, elementary school, post-secondary, and community non-profits. She values an eclectic approach to counselling, utilizing a variety of different modalities, while supporting her clients through an anti-oppressive and anti-racist lens. Vanessa is currently teaching the Mental Health courses in the counselling department. Vanessa aims to support students in strengthening their counselling skills so that they may effectively bring their whole selves to their clinical practice while integrating professionalism and clinical theory.
Nutrition Program Supervisor
Chantal Russell, RHN, Pro-EFW, ACC
Chantal Russell is the Program Supervisor for both the Professional Integrative Nutrition Diploma (PIND) and the Professional Animal Assisted Wellness Therapy (PAAW) programs at Rhodes Wellness College. She brings a deeply integrative and trauma-informed lens to wellness education, grounded in over a decade of experience working with clients in yoga studio settings, private practice, recovery environments, and educational leadership. A Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Pro-EFW (Equine Facilitated Wellness) Professional, yoga teacher, and trauma-informed coach, Chantal’s work weaves together nervous system awareness, embodiment, relational healing, and nature-based wisdom. She is passionate about supporting both students and clients to develop presence, empathy, and ethical, heart-centered approaches to wellness practice. Chantal is the founder of Heartwell, a sanctuary on Vancouver Island where humans and horses come together to reconnect with the wisdom of the body, the heart, and the natural world. Through equine-guided experiences, coaching, and education, she facilitates healing through relationship,
attunement, and reciprocal connection with the living environment. Learn more at heartwellfarm.com
Student Services
Student Success Supervisor
Fiona Caldwell, PCD
Fiona lives by her top 3 values: authenticity, compassion and connection. Mixing this up with a cupful of intuition, spirituality, a holistic approach, and a good measure of fun, is her best recipe for daily life. All are welcome and accepted with unconditional positive regard with Fiona. Fiona is a 2022 Graduate of the Professional Counsellor Diploma program with Rhodes Wellness College. Thanks to Rhodes, she was able to discover these fundamental values and foster them within herself. These values are highlighted in Fiona’s passion in creating a safe space for all people to be seen and heard with honest communication. Fiona is attentive in all aspects of a person’s journey but particularly where disenfranchised grief and loss exist. Originally from England, Fiona has lived in Europe, New Zealand, Australia and now Vancouver. The skills she’s gained from this have helped create her global view.
Counselling & Coaching Faculty
Stephen Garrett, MA (Leadership)
When you meet Stephen, you are meeting a man who lives life fully. A genuine heart and commitment to life have produced in Stephen the qualities of a warrior: integrity, strength, leadership, kindness, and wisdom. He has experienced success in life as a teacher, investment banker, social worker, author, Interfaith Minister, and currently executive director of the Memorial Society of BC.
Arising out of his personal experience of hundreds of deaths Stephen’s heart passion and life energy are focused on changing the conversation we have about death from one of fear and denial to one of embrace and inspiration. Stephen combines his life experience with his Masters in Leadership and Training as he trains and mentors people interested in dealing with dying, death, and grief in new and inspiring ways. Reverend Garrett is an author, educator, coach, and trainer specializing in reframing our approach to dying, death and grief.
Dr. Dean Davey, PhD
Dean lives by two convictions: 1) everyone needs to be loved; and 2) suffering is an opportunity for transformation. These convictions grew as Dean served as a Pastor, giving him the privilege of walking alongside others through life’s varied stages. During this time, he held numerous leadership and board positions in organizations focused on personal and humanitarian development. Following two decades of pastoral and non-profit work, he went into the marketplace where he led a successful business for 12 years while he completed his PhD. Dean has worked in academics since 2015, and completed the Life Coach training through Rhodes in 2021. His PhD research focused on suffering and failure as an educational transformative process and seeks to help others discover this in their own journey through Chrysalis Advantage Coaching and Consulting. To learn more about Dean, please visit deandavey.com
Aviva Smith, ACC
Coach, Consultant, Facilitator, and graduate of Rhodes Wellness College. Aviva focus is on connection. Connection to community, core values and our authentic self. This focus is what has driven her entrepreneurial career. Aviva sold her successful business in the Companion pet industry in 2019 to concentrate on her coaching practice.
Patricia Gonzales, PCD
Patricia is a Professional Registered Counsellor, Wellness Coach, Group Facilitator and Mental and Emotional Wellness Instructor.Patricia has a private practice centered on connecting people to their innermost desires, setting effective goals and developing a plan to achieve them. She believes that long-lasting and fulfilling change requires an alignment between mind, body and spirit. Thus, her approach is to integrate all of these elements within a successful mindset, while honoring the deep emotions that arise when implementing change and transformation. Her passion project is the development of Women Circles where they can connect in a meaningful way and form authentic relationships while healing the individual and collective feminine wounds. She is also a Neurolinguistic Programming Practitioner (NLP) and is currently enrolled in a 500-hour Yoga & Tantra Mindfulness Teacher Training program, to further deepen her own practice and better support her clients and students.
Christopher Testa, RTC, ACC
Christopher is a Therapeutic Counsellor, Wellness Coach, Group Facilitator, and the Supervisor of Life Skills Counselling. Christopher’s practice works closely with grief and loss, burnout and desire for change. Where he provides a client-focused approach offering a safe and empathetic space to explore. He is most inspired when working with others as they learn to empower themselves to become the version of you that you’ve always wanted.
Natalie Talson, MA, RTC
Natalie is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor with a Master’s degree in Leadership. In private practice she focuses on somatic work for trauma resolution with a deep compassion and patience that comes from lived experience. She has performed poetry competitions, stand-up comedy, and community theatre, cultivating a vast appreciation for how the arts can heal and transform us. Having lived in a state of survival for years herself, she seeks to support people in finding regulation, safety, worthiness, and an intrinsic peace beneath the layers of pain. Natalie is honored to hold space for others journey’s, while remaining committed to her own ongoing learning and growth. She values empathy, connection, and play, and believes that everyone deserves to feel heard, to be seen, and to feel joy.
Shivani Agarwal, MA, RCC
Tamar Chanté, RPC, PCD
Tamar is a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association. She is a Professional Counselling Diploma graduate from Rhodes Wellness College, is currently in the Advanced Somatic Experiencing™ Training Program, and is an active alumni of Irene Lyon’s ‘Smart Body Smart Mind’ Program. She is passionate about somatic therapy, nervous system regulation, and trauma education. Tamar approaches her professional work as a Counsellor and teacher with compassion and care. Her greatest joy is helping people grow in knowledge and skillsets, and helping her clients and students gain tools they need to achieve greater well-being.
Olivia Lohan, PCD, CLC
Olivia has been teaching counselling and coaching students for nearly a decade on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish nations. She currently teaches Life Coaching in the Professional Integrative Nutrition Program. Her focus is to create learning environments that welcome all people and honour all lived experiences. Olivia sees every individual in the classroom as capable of leadership and teamwork. She strives to create compassionate learning spaces and supports students towards thriving in their work.
She is Director of Nutrition and Community Life for Saint James Music Academy and has been instrumental in developing the Academy’s community-based program that creates social change through the power of music, healthy living and community building. Combining her passion for nutrition, her focus on health and her counselling/coaching experience, Olivia nurtures students on their path towards growth, empowerment and well being.
Logen Elizabeth Melville, RPC-c, ACC
Logen is an RPCc certified life coach and emotional & mental wellness instructor with a focus on creating nurturing environments, growth, and self empowerment. She is also an experienced counsellor, life coach, and wellness instructor, who specializes in re-patterning through psychodrama and emotional release techniques.
Logen is an advocate for self-responsibility and conscious communication for the purpose of facilitating change, and she understands the intricate relationship between breath, boundaries, and the central nervous system as essential tools for bringing about personal and social empowerment. She embraces imperfections as a foundation for joy and nurtures holistic well-being as a means of fostering personal growth. Logen is a firm believer that expansion and growth are always possible.
Belinda Grames, WCD, CLC
With over 25 years in the field of social services, Belinda is a licensed and certified, sex-positive, trauma-informed coach, compassion-based educator, and behavioral consultant. Her biggest passion is facilitating high quality education and development of people in the coaching, wellness, and behavioral health field. Amongst provided services, Belinda mentors life coaches and counselors new to consensual non-monogamy, gender affirming and sex-positive practices.
Franco Cado, PCD
Franco is a dedicated full-time care worker focused on the well-being, safety, and advocacy of the youth he serves. He collaborates closely with various agencies to provide comprehensive support, from de-escalating situations to ensuring a secure home environment. At the core of his diverse interests lies a passion for personal development. Throughout Franco’s journey, he’s engaged in a wide range of activities aimed at holistic growth and self-discovery.
From co-facilitating retreats and workshops on mature masculinity and conscious relationships to participating in shamanic ceremonies and holotropic breathwork sessions, he’s explored various avenues for inner exploration and healing. His meditation practice spans across traditions such as Vipassana, Theravada Thai Forest, Zen, Chan, and Tibetan Tantra, offering profound insights into the nature of the mind and consciousness.
Amanda Kingsmith, BCom
Amanda is a 500-hour RYT, an author, a podcast host, and a business coach. She blends her background in business with her love of yoga and is passionate about helping yoga teachers and young professionals create sustainable careers that they are passionate about. Amanda is the host of Mastering the Business of Yoga, the co-host of The World Wanderers, and the author of “How to Master the Business of Yoga”. When she’s not practicing or teaching yoga, you can find Amanda traveling the world with her husband and daughters, hiking mountains, or curling up with a cup of tea and a good book.
Nicole McEwen, BA, MC, RCC
Nicole is a Registered Clinical Counsellor actively working in private practice on Vancouver Island (Chemainus). During her counselling career she has worked in a variety of clinical settings including community, medical, residential addictions treatment, and intensive virtual outpatient. Her work is both trauma and neurodivergence informed and she is influenced by theories grounded in epigenetics, evolutionary psychology, and sociobiology. Nicole brings a passion for cultivating curiosity, awareness, and self-trust in her work with both clients and students.
Hena Mahboob, RCC
Hena is a Registered Clinical Counsellor working in private practice in British Columbia. She has a Master of Counselling Psychology degree from Adler University.
Originally from London, UK, Hena has a background in human resources and business management, and a passion for fostering personal and professional growth and development.
For more information about Hena, you can visit Unison Therapy.
Jasmine Vatuloka, PCC, PCD
Jasmine Vatuloka (she/her) is a recent graduate of the Professional Counselling Diploma program. As a coach, counsellor and facilitator, she cares deeply about creating spaces that align with the values of acceptance, safety and inclusion; she offers a warm and supportive energy to the classroom by embodying these values while also inviting and normalizing everyone’s imperfect humanness. “All parts belong” and “shame dies in safe spaces” are phrases she says often. Jasmine’s passion is supporting cycle-breakers and survivors in creating more compassionate relationships within themselves, and therefore others, along their post-traumatic growth path. Her belief is that if we want to create collective change in the community towards peace, we must all begin with cultivating a relationship of peace within ourselves.
Jamie Dovedoff, BHK, MEd, CVRP, CCC
Jamie is a Canadian Certified Counsellor who combines her passion for physical rehabilitation and psychological well being with a deep commitment to supporting clients through life’s challenges whether that be physical or psychological or both.
Jamie has a private practice where she offers a safe and nonjudgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts, emotions, and concerns so they can grow their understanding and awareness of their self and the missing piece(s) to lead fulfilling lives. She specializes in burnout prevention and recovery, pain management, stress management, resilience, assertive communication, career counselling and women’s health. Jamie’s classes encourage self exploration in a warm and respectful environment where students can stretch their comfort levels while deepening their understanding of the course content and themselves.
Akeiko Rawn, MNTCW, RCC-ACS
Akeiko Rawn (she/her) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). She earned her Master’s degree in narrative therapy and community work together with Dulwich Centre and the University of Melbourne. For over ten years, she has worked in various settings including agencies, schools, and private practice. Presently, Akeiko works at Arches Counselling as both a therapist and a site supervisor, specializing in trauma care and support for neurodivergence.
Melanie Kate Karl, PCD, MPCC
Dana Hubley, RPC-C
Dana received her Professional Counsellor Diploma from Rhodes Wellness College in 2022 and is a member in good standing with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association. Being able to share knowledge, see others grow, and gain confidence in themselves has always been Dana’s passion. Whether this was in the financial industry where she worked for many years, in the field of addiction and recovery, or as a facilitator for Rhodes the desire to help others has always been strong.
Katie MacNeill
Katie is a Registered Psychotherapist with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. She holds additional certification in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International, as well as training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mental Health First Aid. In addition to teaching, Katie has a small private counselling practice in Huntsville, Ontario. Her work addresses issues related to trauma, anxiety, depression, and OCD. She is passionate about facilitating self-compassion and self-growth.
Sarah MacDonell, MPCC, RPC, RST
Sarah is a Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling and Registered Professional Counsellor with the CPCA, as well as a Registered Sandtray Therapist with the WAST. She holds further education in Brainspotting, adverse childhood experiences and brain development, and
interpersonal neurobiology. Having taught internationally at the college and university level, Sarah has a passion for inspiring students and professionals to think outside of the box. In addition to teaching, Sarah has a private practice in Coquitlam and specializes in Play-, Expressive-, and Synergetic Therapies with a client-centred approach. Her clinical work focuses on the correlation between environment, experiences and our adaptive response to trauma.
Shanen Smith
Shanen is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She received her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She is passionate about providing and teaching about trauma-informed, holistic and integrative mental health care. In her counselling work, she strives to go beyond traditional talk therapy and is committed to helping people find safety and calm in their bodies again. She specializes in trauma-informed and integrative approaches with a special interest in somatic and polyvagal theory-informed modalities. In addition to teaching and providing counselling services, Shanen is an author and educator. Her book ‘Anxious and Empowered: 80+ Tools to Help You Manage and Befriend Your Anxiety’ merges her personal and clinical experiences to provide readers with practical strategies for managing their anxiety. She also writes a free newsletter that aims to make information about navigating emotions and anxiety more accessible:
https://substack.com/@authenticallyemotional
Tara Azimi
Dr. Tara Azimi, PhD, RCC, is a counsellor, educator, and researcher with a background that bridges clinical practice and academic scholarship. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, and a PhD in Public Health from the University of Alberta. Her doctoral research explored the experiences and support needs of mothers raising children with Type 1 diabetes and was supported by substantial research funding. She has published several peer-reviewed articles and continues to share her work with both academic and professional communities. With nearly a decade of experience as a therapist, Tara maintains a private counselling practice supporting clients with diverse issues through a trauma-informed lens and compassionate approach. Her work addresses issues related to trauma, relationships, anxiety, depression and self-esteem. Tara has taught courses in public health, psychology, and counselling at the University of Alberta, Adler University, and in community-based programs. She is known for creating interactive and inclusive learning environments that encourage curiosity, dialogue, and critical thinking. Her teaching is informed by both research and clinical experience, with a focus on connecting theory to meaningful real-world applications.
Amanda Stoddard, M.Ed., RPC
Amanda is a Registered Professional Counsellor and OG Certified Literacy Tutor. She has over two decades of experience in education across North America and Asia. She integrates her training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Soul-based Somatic Trauma-informed processing, and Mindfulness based approaches to support clients through grief, trauma, anxiety, and life transitions. Amanda teaches Grief & Loss at Rhodes Wellness College, where her classes invite curiosity, compassion, self-reflection, and embodiedm learning. She strives to create a learning environment rooted in authenticity, openness, and connection. In addition to teaching, Amanda maintains a private counselling practice in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where she lives, works, and explores the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. You can learn more through her website: www.amandastoddard.ca.
Nutrition Faculty
Chantal Russell, RHN, Pro-EFW, ACC
Chantal Russell is the Program Supervisor for both the Professional Integrative Nutrition Diploma (PIND) and the Professional Animal Assisted Wellness Therapy (PAAW) programs at Rhodes Wellness College. She brings a deeply integrative and trauma-informed lens to wellness education, grounded in over a decade of experience working with clients in yoga studio settings, private practice, recovery environments, and educational leadership. A Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Pro-EFW (Equine Facilitated Wellness) Professional, yoga teacher, and trauma-informed coach, Chantal’s work weaves together nervous system awareness, embodiment, relational healing, and nature-based wisdom. She is passionate about supporting both students and clients to develop presence, empathy, and ethical, heart-centered approaches to wellness practice. Chantal is the founder of Heartwell, a sanctuary on Vancouver Island where humans and horses come together to reconnect with the wisdom of the body, the heart, and the natural world. Through equine-guided experiences, coaching, and education, she facilitates healing through relationship, attunement, and reciprocal connection with the living environment. Learn more at heartwellfarm.com
Rebecca Thornton, RHN, RYT
Rebecca is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Registered Yoga Instructor. Passionate about community wellness, her work bridges the concepts of health of the internal and external environment and is an advocate for easier access to healthful foods in all communities.
In private practice she supports clients to connect at a deeper level with the nourishment they need, her main goal being to make nutrition fun and bring clients back to basics with fresh, local, real food helping individuals make sustainable change. Excited for all aspects of wellness and teaching she has taught in nutrition and culinary arts programs in both secondary and post-secondary positions in British Columbia and Nova Scotia and is excited to join the Rhodes family being able to support students with traditional knowledge and current scientific understanding. She brings this passion and excitement to her clients and the classroom.
Balancing her time between teaching, working one-on-one with individuals and families in private practice, corporate wellness programming, and volunteering in her community, in her free time you will find her in the forest hiking with her pup.
To learn more visit wildseedholistichealth.com or see what she’s been cooking on Instagram @wildseedholistichealth
Registered Massage Therapy Faculty
Stephania Johnson, RMT Program Manager
Stephania has been a practicing Registered Massage Therapist since 2007 and brings nearly two decades of experience in clinical practice, program management, and curriculum development. Her work is grounded in a deep interest in communication, contextual factors, and the ways in which therapeutic relationships shape client outcomes. Prior to joining Rhodes Wellness College, she served as a Clinic Manager and Senior Instructor at a long-established RMT college in Vancouver, where she supported both students and faculty across classroom and clinical environments.
Now leading the Registered Massage Therapy Diploma Program at Rhodes, Stephania is committed to building education that is evidence-informed, holistic in its view of the client, and designed to develop critical thinkers who can practice safely, ethically, and effectively.
Taylor James Laviolette (TJ), RMT Lead Instructor
TJ is a dedicated massage therapist whose passion for the profession extends far beyond clinical practice. An RMT since 2007, he has spent more than 15 years refining his skills across diverse settings, from spa environments to rehabilitation clinics. He has supported countless clients dealing with chronic pain especially back pain blending hands-on expertise with evidence-based approaches to deliver effective, thoughtful care. Equally committed to advancing the field, TJ is an experienced educator who has taught at several notable RMT colleges. He is deeply invested in shaping the next generation of massage therapists through teaching, mentorship, and ongoing contributions to research. Driven by curiosity and a commitment to excellence, TJ continually seeks new information, curriculum, and ideas that elevate both his own work and the profession as a whole. Passionate about helping fellow practitioners expand their career possibilities, he actively engages in initiatives that support growth, innovation, and high standards within massage therapy.
Jeff White (He/Him/His) RMT, BKIN
Jeff has been a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) since 2016 and has been actively instructing and mentoring students since 2020. Throughout his clinical career, he has practiced in a wide range of professional settings, giving him a well-rounded perspective on the evolving role of massage therapy within the broader healthcare system. This diverse experience allows him to bridge classroom learning with real-world clinical demands in a meaningful and practical way. As a passionate advocate for the integration and recognition of RMTs in healthcare, Jeff is deeply committed to advancing professional standards and fostering confidence in future practitioners. In his teaching, he places a strong emphasis on translating theory into hands-on practice, ensuring students understand not only the “how,” but also the “why” behind clinical decision-making. By offering rich clinical experiences and supportive guidance, Jeff helps shape a dynamic learning environment that encourages critical thinking, professional growth, and long-term success in the field.
Travis Vandergaag, RMT
Travis has been involved in health care for over 10 years, initially achieving a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology in 2014 before continuing on to a career in Massage Therapy, and has been a practicing Massage Therapist since 2017. He has practiced in various settings, from care facilities to multidisciplinary rehabilitation clinics, and has been fortunate to support many patients with their pain and achieve their goals. Travis has a passion for exercise, especially rehabilitation exercises; being able to provide ways for patients to move and return to the activities they love is a great privilege. He has continued to pursue evidence informed, patient-centered education post-graduation, and is excited to share his knowledge with the next group of massage therapists. Travis strives to provide a classroom environment that is engaging, interesting, and inclusive.
Erin Singer, RMT
Erin is a dedicated BC trained Registered Massage Therapist who has been involved in health care and teaching for over 30 years. She brings a strong background in anatomy and physiology, a genuine love of the sciences, and extensive teaching experience. She also has a particular interest in working with children and neurodiverse populations, which informs her thoughtful, inclusive approach to teaching. Erin enjoys collaborating with others which translates well into clinical practice as she works with patients to support their health and movement goals. She consistently encourages critical thinking and ongoing education to further the profession in meaningful ways. She has worked with The Pain Society of Alberta for the last three years bringing in clinicians and researchers from across Canada and Internationally to help all
Adam Dadson, BA RMT
Adam Dadson is a Registered Massage Therapist and Certified Personal Trainer dedicated to bridging the gap between evidence-informed theory, exercise principles and clinical practice. He aims to empower students through a collaborative and supportive mentorship style that fosters internal motivation, confidence, and professional accountability.
His clinical approach is rooted in the Biopsychosocial model of pain and simple exercise protocols. He utilizes graded exposure and neurological adaptation to create effective, progressive treatment plans. By grounding this methodology within an experiential psychology framework and employing a "show then tell" approach, he encourages clients to stay engaged and actively involved in their personal health. Ultimately, Adam is driven to help the next generation of practitioners master clinical reasoning and develop an informed, effective approach to care.
Richard McIlmoyle, RMT
Dr Richard McIlmoyle has been a practicing chiropractor for 20+ years with post graduate education in pain management. He is a mentor in the interdisciplinary BC Adaptive mentorship network for Chronic pain, mental health and substance use. He is also the inaugural chair of the research committee for the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation.
Dr McIlmoyle has done training in ART, DNS, running biomechanics, pain management, narrative medicine, trauma informed care and many other biomechanics and
psychologically informed courses. The Somatosensory Integration course emerged from the experience of students observing his work and asking questions. It comes from an amalgamation of information on the embodied sense of self, how we experience body sensations and how those drive our biomechanics. Research supported approach to diagnosis and treatment is at the core of this course.
Jasleen Khangura, RMT
Jasleen Khangura is a chiropractor and educator with a passion for anatomy, rehabilitation, and patient-centered care. She currently practices at Pulse Physiotherapy & SportsPro Health Clinic and holds both a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Master of Science from the University of Western States. She also earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University. With experience treating sports injuries, workplace injuries, and everyday musculoskeletal conditions, Jasleen enjoys integrating clinical experience into the classroom to help students better understand the practical applications of course material. She is dedicated to fostering an interactive and supportive learning environment that encourages student growth, confidence, and critical thinking.
Mattias Flemming, RMT
Matty is a Registered Massage Therapist and has been practicing bodywork and massage for over 11 years. She firmly believes in the power of positive touch, using it to help heal, guide, and educate her patients in their journeys to better physical and mental health. Matty has a strong focus in prenatal and peri-natal care but loves to work with people in all walks of life.
Kim Sevilla, RMT
Kim is a Registered Massage Therapist, Manual Osteopathic Therapist, and Certified Yoga Instructor with more than 25 years of experience exploring how the body moves, compensates, and communicates. With over a decade of clinical and teaching experience, she brings a thoughtful, evidence informed approach to her work and is known for her calm presence, clear communication, and ability to make complex concepts accessible. A former yoga studio owner with an extensive background in Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology, Kim has cultivated supportive, education focused communities rooted in mindful movement and holistic wellness. As an educator, she is recognized for her dynamic, curiosity driven teaching style and strong analytical lens. She genuinely enjoys identifying patterns, uncovering dysfunction, and guiding students through understanding why the body behaves the way it does. Kim’s approach aligns with Rhodes Wellness College’s experiential philosophy, emphasizing engagement, empowerment, and meaningful connection. She values inquiry, collaboration, and lifelong learning, bringing these qualities into every space she leads. Outside her professional roles, Kim enjoys time with her family, creative projects, and staying active in the wellness community.
