STAFF
Interns
We run a teaching clinic with students from Social Work and Counselling Therapy university programmes. Please contact us at thepeoplescounsellingclinic@gmail.com if you are interested in completing your practicum here. Include a resume and writing sample.
Executive Director
James Dubé is white, born and raised in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia. He attended Cole Harbour District High School from 1998 - 2001. He completed Bachelor’s degrees in both Neuroscience (Dalhousie University) and Social Work (University of Victoria). He also completed a health-focused Master’s programme in Social Work (University of Waterloo). He completed one of his undergraduate social work practicums in 2015 as a student of Robert Wright and together they began shaping what is now The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic. At the clinic, he has held progressive roles serving as Case Manager, Clinic Manager, and now Executive Director. He continues to offer direct services there as a clinician/administrator.
James’ MSW practicum work was completed at Nova Scotia Health Authority in the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department at Dartmouth General Hospital. He has previous front-line experience in addictions and with children and youth in care. He has participated in mental health and addictions policy development as a member of working groups at the IWK Health Centre, Nova Scotia Health Authority, and British Columbia Centre on Substance Use.
James provides leadership at The Peoples' Counselling Clinic in their ManTalk work with male identified victims of sexual violence; with their work to serve people of all genders with sexual behaviour problems; and with the free community-based mental health services they offer. He helped develop and implement the Hey Men, Male Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence, and Inside Out projects. He provides supervision to all staff and students at the clinic. He also speaks and presents publicly on behalf of the clinic in various capacities.
James has also worked closely with other agencies to design innovative and responsive programmes to inadequately served groups. He has been the clinic's point person for a partnership with the Halifax Domestic Violence Court Programme. He also provided clinical support to Trafficking and Exploitation Services System, a collaboration of various local agencies. He has provided significant support to the development of programmes and policies related to forensic assessment work that has been conducted at The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic, including Impact of Race and Culture Assessments, Parental Capacity Assessments, immigration hearing assessments, risk of violence assessments and other forensic assessments for Family and Criminal Courts.
James is an active member of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. He acts as a mentor in the Candidacy Program, has contributed articles to Connection Magazine, and was a member of the Clinical Committee for its duration.
Board of Directors
Melyssa Wood
Sobaz Benjamin
Mike Poworoznyk
Alecia Green
Shannon Pringle
Raytia Turney
Emeritus: Thelma Boutilier
Executive Assistant
Nina was born in the Philippines but has spent most of her life in Halifax, proudly identifying as a Haligonian. She graduated from Citadel High School and went on to earn a double major in Sustainability and Environmental Science from Dalhousie University. Her administrative skills were honed through part-time work at a doctor’s office during her university years. In August 2024, Nina joined The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic as the Executive Assistant to James Dubé drawn by the team’s shared commitment to accessible and community-based mental health care for all.
She is particularly passionate about the intersection of social justice, sustainability, and mental health. She believes that true sustainability goes beyond environmental stewardship; it also means building equitable systems where everyone has access to the resources and support they need to thrive. For Nina, advocating for accessible mental health care is an integral part of creating healthy, resilient communities and a more just society for all.
Therapist
Michelle Chisholm is a neurodivergent, queer identified therapist. She holds a Master of Social Work from University of Victoria, as well as a BSW from Dalhousie University and a BA in Sociology/Criminology from Saint Mary’s University. She is a Registered Social Worker with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. Michelle has over seven years of experience providing mental health support to a diverse range of populations including first responders, trauma survivors, and folks at risk of criminalization. She has contributed to research in the field of psychology, studying the efficacy of treatment methods for individuals experiencing Post Traumatic Stress symptoms. Michelle has a special interest in helping highly sensitive people and folks with complex trauma to recognize their strengths, discover their self-worth and ability to heal through a non-pathologizing approach to mental health.
Michelle’s approach is built on relational practice, understanding that compassion, choice, and collaboration are essential to creating a safer therapeutic environment. Michelle takes an integrative approach, influenced by mindfulness, narrative therapies, parts work, and psychodynamic approaches to support clients to live more authentically and in alignment with their values. She is passionate about supporting folks to heal through self-compassion and curiosity.
Clinic Manager
Kim Gowan, Diploma Counselling Skills/ Social-Human Services, BSc. MACP, CCC, RCT.
Kim Gowan grew up on the West Coast, and earned her BSc in Psychology from the University of Victoria before moving to the East Coast with her family. She was raised by her grandparents; who believed that community service starts at home. Kim completed a Diploma in Counselling Skills, before starting a Masters of Counselling Psychology program. Kim was a practicum student at the Peoples Counselling Clinic and after graduating with her Masters she continued as an associate of the Peoples’ Counselling Clinic, so that she could work in forensic and clinical counselling. Kim was hired at the clinic in 2020, continuing to grow in her clinical and assessment skills while working with clients from the Halifax Domestic Violence Court, Wellness Court, Corrections, and other community organizations. Kim works with the Halifax Refugee Clinic supporting refugee assessments and has been approved with Department of Community Services to provide counselling and assessments to child welfare clients.
She is a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT). She uses a trauma informed approach. Kim’s work often uses psycho-social development theory, attachment theory and several other integrated theories that fit with the individual client and the developing therapeutic plan. Kim believes that the influence of trauma, childhood events, how we attach often impacts how we manage stress, anxiety or perceive day to day events. Talk therapy can reduce stress in those areas in life where people feel stuck or overwhelmed and can improve personal growth. She believes that therapy needs to be approached with empathy, openness and in a safe environment.
Therapist
JJ Wilson is an African Nova Scotian therapist born and raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He graduated from Dartmouth High School in 2012 before earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Social Anthropology (2017) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (2020) from Dalhousie University. He went on to finish his Master of Social Work at Dalhousie in 2021, where he completed his practicum with The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic. JJ now works as a full-time therapist at the clinic, providing client-centered support to individuals from diverse backgrounds.
JJ’s work is deeply rooted in supporting marginalized communities and promoting healing through an anti-oppressive, trauma-informed lens. He serves clients through the Halifax Domestic Violence Court Programme and facilitates Inside Out, a men’s wellness group for individuals who have perpetrated or may be at risk of perpetrating violence. He also works closely with Black youth at Ross Road Junior High and Cole Harbour High School, offering support tailored to their unique experiences.
In addition to this clinical work, JJ provides therapeutic services to university students in the Indigenous Black and Mi’kmaq Initiative at Dalhousie Law School and supports students of African descent at St. Francis Xavier University and Acadia University. His research interests include the school-to-prison pipeline in African Nova Scotian communities and addressing systemic barriers that impact marginalized populations. JJ is committed to empowering his clients, helping them recognize their strengths, and equipping them with the tools to navigate trauma and life’s challenges.
Therapist
Natalia Castellanos is a multi-racial, queer, disabled immigrant working out of K’jipuktuk.
Before becoming a counsellor, she spent many years creating, facilitating and supporting community healing spaces. She has worked primarily with immigrants, queer and trans folks, people of the global majority, and disabled people in both rural and urban spaces. Natalia brings this background into her work, and sees counselling as a tool that helps her remain in service to her communities.
Natalia’s counselling is rooted in a liberatory practice that is informed by queer theories, anti-racist teachings, disability justice and land liberation practices. She considers healing to be inherently relational work, and considers the role of oppression, historical violence and intergenerational patterns when working with trauma. In sessions, she draws from attachment-based theories, parts work, somatic practices, existential approaches, etc.
Natalia obtained a Master’s in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University, and is a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists. She completed her practicum at The Peoples' Counselling Clinic where she later returned to work as a clinician.