Our Part-time faculty have been part of the fabric that makes our part-time instruction every bit as good
as our full-time instruction. Our students just have more time between classes and typically are taking
part-time courses while juggling other full-time duties in parenting, working, or other educational
pursuit and hobbies. Part-time students can be confident that we choose our part-time faculty carefully.
They are not just adjunct faculty. These are wellness professionals who are phenomenally talented in
their professions, and they are teaching at Rhodes Wellness College because helping students in this
capacity brings joy to them. We are grateful for their contribution to our students and our college
community.
Part-Time Education Management & Senior Faculty
Part-Time Coaching & Counselling Faculty
Part-Time 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
Part-Time Coaching & Counselling Faculty
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.
Lola Shanks, PCD
Lola is a graduate of the Rhodes Wellness College’s Professional Counsellor Diploma program. She has attained additional certifications in Neurolinguistic Programming and Magnetic Mind Coaching as well as Transformational Breath Facilitation. Lola combines these disciplines along with highly developed intuition to help others find the ease, harmony, health and joy made possible by living in a state of flow. She has a passion for learning and sharing knowledge, finding it to be one of the great doorways to growth and change.
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.
Fiona Jeyachandran, MA (Counselling), CCC
Fiona supports adults, families and relationships towards health, healing and happiness. Skilled in individual & group therapy, clinical supervision, consulting, program development, and workshop creation & facilitation. 2LGBTQ friendly & trauma informed.
Staci Hodza, ACC, RPC
Staci Hodza is an ICF Certified Life Coach (ACC), and a Registered Professional Counsellor Candidate (RPC-C), dedicating her 18+ years of education and experience, working with children, youth and families. Her career in social services spans various roles ranging from front-line support to executive administration, granting her unique insights from both ends of the spectrum. Driven by a deep passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people, she utilizes her expertise and diverse background to offer transformative guidance and support using a solution focused holistic coaching model. Her mission is to empower individuals to reach their full potential through a journey of self-discovery, that fosters personal growth and development, while leaving a lasting positive impact that extends far beyond the coaching relationship.
Claire Colbeck, MCPP-Provisional (CPCA), AIEHP, YTT-500
Claire is a counsellor, yoga teacher and facilitator who brings a compassionate, trauma-informed and integrative approach to her work. Drawing from her background in counselling, yoga and integrative energy healing, she supports others in exploring personal growth and fostering wellbeing within an inclusive and affirming space. After completing the Professional Counselling Diploma Program at Rhodes Wellness College in 2023, Claire joined the Rhodes team as a Full-Time Teaching Assistant. From there, she shifted into a role as a Part-Time Facilitator within the Life Coaching Program.
Part-Time End-of-Life 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.
Christopher Testa, RTC
Christopher is a Therapeutic Counsellor, Wellness Coach, Group Facilitator and Instructor. 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.
Rebekka Walker
Rebekka Walker is an educator, program director, and seasoned somatic practitioner who brings over two decades of experience to the fields of integrative wellness, conscious dying, and trauma-informed care. As the Director of the Yoga Therapy Programs at the Vancouver School of Healing Arts and a skilled death and bereavement doula, Rebekka is passionate about preparing the next generation of end-of-life caregivers with the tools, sensitivity, and presence required to meet this sacred threshold. Her teaching weaves together mindfulness, somatic therapy, spiritual care, and social justice—guiding students to support the dying and bereaved with both skill and heart. Rebekka brings particular depth in emotional and spiritual accompaniment, legacy work, and advance care planning, and she emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care
for individuals and families.
