Always passionate about supporting healthy families, Iris Wagner-Ritzmann has supported families for over 20 years through coaching, mediation, and counselling. Iris pursued the expertise needed to provide practical and sustainable solutions for parents and children faced with the challenges of separation and divorce. She has helped many children to express their feelings of grief and loss following separation or divorce, and has consulted with parents on how to best support their child(ren) through this new and painful transition  Having taught many seminars and group modules, Iris provides parents with practical tools to navigate the various transition stages in the family unit after separation and divorce. Moreover, Iris is devoted to family counselling and helping parents to co-parent thus enhancing the well-being of their children.

Iris earned her Social Work degree in Germany and worked as a counsellor there for 3 years in a child-learning centre and for 9 years at an adolescent treatment program. While working as a counsellor in the adolescent treatment program, she provided  individual and group psychotherapy to culturally diverse adolescents diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, attention disturbances, anxiety, depression and/or substance use. During her time in Germany, Iris conducted therapy sessions using multi-model approaches: cognitive behaviour therapy, solution focused therapy, expressive arts and adherence to individualized treatment plans that she developed in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.

Through the Justice Institute of British Columbia, Iris continued her training in conflict resolutions and family meditation, furthering her knowledge on the voice of children, the effects of separation and divorce on adults and children, and strategies in dealing with anger. Today, she is a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC), a Certified Mediator, and has earned the additional professional credential of Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (MPCC).

Studying practical social work in Switzerland in 2003, Michael had transitioned from working in  graphic arts  to working with people.. Initially, he worked as a supervisor for a reintegration program, “Care-Men.” Subsequently, Michael had the opportunity to work for a state psychiatric clinic as a supervisor at the drug detention centre, where he gained—what he describes as—”a profound experience” in this area of mental health.

For more than 8 years, Michael has held the position of “Socio Cultural Animator” (a type of Social Worker) at Salvation Army Switzerland in Zurich. In this role, he encouraged and empowered people in difficult life circumstances and conflict situations. As a life-long learner, Michael continued taking courses to  further his education , focusing on developing expertise in de-escalation skills, conflict resolution, verbal and non-verbal Communication, and motivational speaking.

Karen has worked with children and families for over twenty years. Her approach with supervising family visits has evolved over time. Striving to be sensitive to each family’s challenges and to bring out their strengths, Karen believes that her support and guidance is key to the process.

Coming from a diverse social work background, Karen has always kept her focus on helping the family or individual recognize where change can be nurtured while also gently encouraging  individuals to veer away from unhelpful patterns. She strives to make children feel safe and comfortable in what can initially be an emotionally awkward situation for both children and adults. Karen recognizes that supervision is a process and this understanding is evident in her compassionate approach.