Biographical Info My name means ‘to care’ and I have always been drawn to helping others. I grew up in England where I trained to be a middle school teacher. Although I loved teaching, I came to realize that I wanted to focus on supporting people’s social, emotional, and mental wellbeing more than delivering a science curriculum. Therefore, I left my teaching position and began a convoluted journey that took me all over the world working in a wide range of programs providing support to children, youth, and families. Eventually, my journey brought me to Victoria, BC. I feel deeply grateful to be able to call this place ‘home’ and to live, work, and play on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen peoples. Since being in Victoria, I have worked in a variety of contexts, which have all involved coming alongside families facing challenging situations. From 2008-2018, I was employed at the University of Victoria Family Centre offering support to student families juggling school and parenting, while often a long way from the support and familiarity of home. While working at the Family Centre, I became an accredited positive parenting educator and a Triple P Parenting Group facilitator. In 2018, I left this position to pursue a Master’s in Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria. As part of the master’s program, I completed a nine-month clinical internship as a mental health clinician with the Ministry of Children and Family Development. During the internship, I provided individual and group counselling services to children, youth, and families experiencing concerns related to anxiety, anger management, school, low-mood, grief and loss, or trauma. Since graduating, I have been working as a registered clinical counsellor at Vancouver Island Child, Youth, and Family Counselling Services. I am currently working at becoming a licensed Synergetic Play Therapist and a BC Licensed Play Therapist. I enjoy working with all age groups and look forward to meeting you and finding out how I can help you achieve your goals. When I am not in the counselling room, I can be found hanging out with my husband, two teenagers, and a rather rascally dog called Taz. We like to explore the wonderful nature surrounding us as well as play at making something new out of discarded pieces of furniture!
Level BC Registered Play Therapist (BCRPT)
https://vicyfcs.com/therapists/emma-chalifour/
Designation Registered Clinical Counsellor
Office Address Line 1 2870 Glen Lake Road
Office City Victoria
Office Postal Code V9B 4A7
Office Phone 2503820409