Skip to main content
CVMA VetConnect
Care, Community and Connection
You are not meant to do this alone and we are here to help. CVMA VetConnect Program features licensed and registered psychologists, social workers and therapists who also have the lived experience of being a veterinarian or RVT. Vet-focused help when you need it. Please note that the cost of therapy is the responsibility of the user.
Dr. Alia W. Offman, C.Psych. is a registered psychologist with over 20 years of experience helping individuals navigate stress, trauma, and burnout. She offers mindfulness-based and evidence-informed therapies tailored to the unique challenges of veterinary medicine, including moral injury, burnout and compassion fatigue. As co-director of the North American Chapter of the MiCBT Institute, she integrates mindfulness, neuroscience, and practical tools to support resilience and emotional regulation. Dr. Offman also provides workshops and programs designed specifically for veterinarians.
Dr. Offman can be reached at www.self-balance.ca, 1-613-264-1985 and alia.offman@self-balance.ca
As our mental health becomes more of a priority in veterinary medicine, we may start to wonder how to find someone to talk to when we struggle. Given the unique stressors in this profession, it can be challenging to find a counsellor who truly understands. Ellen Nicklassen started working in the veterinary field when she was 12 years old and has spent time in all positions in the veterinary setting. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013 and owns a small animal practice in Kelowna, BC.
Ellen Nicklassen can be found at thepractitionerslounge.ca and the email is admin@thepractitionerslounge.ca and offers EN sessions.
Janet Sunstrum, DVM, understands the unique challenges of the veterinary field and their impact on mental health. She graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2008 and continues to work as a veterinarian. She is also a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) completing her counselling practicum. Her approach is non-judgmental, empathic, and collaborative, with therapy tailored to each person’s preferences, experiences, and goals. Using trauma-informed, evidence-based techniques, she helps individuals build nervous system regulation, self-awareness, and self-compassion, while fostering resilience.
Janet offers virtual sessions and can be booked at https://www.alli.io/therapist/janet-sunstrum or reached at j.sunstrum@alli.io.
Kathleen Dunbar is a Registered Social Worker and RVT with the Tender Tails program in Nova Scotia. Before becoming a social worker, she worked as an RVT, actively supporting patient care in general practice. Kathleen is dedicated to helping veterinary professionals in the Atlantic provinces navigate the industry's unique challenges through compassion and evidence-based support.
Kathleen Dunbar offers EN sessions. She can be contacted via email at tendertailscarecare@gmail.com and by phone or text at 902-399-5869. Her online booking platform is carnegyanimalhospital.janeapp.com/.
Liz Sinclair Kruth is a registered psychotherapist, registered clinical counsellor and DVM. Prior to becoming a therapist, she was a clinical veterinarian for almost 10 years. As an emergency room veterinarian, in addition to helping animals, she helped people deal with decision making, grief, couple/family disagreements, and a myriad of other challenges.
Liz Sinclair Kruth can be found at lizsinclairkruthcounselling.com and and offers EN sessions. She can be contacted through email: lizsinclairkruth@protonmail.com and phone: 226-780-5223.
Rebecca Lynes, DVM, is a psychotherapy intern passionate about supporting individuals through life’s challenges. Drawing on 15 years as a practicing small animal veterinarian, she has witnessed the impact of burnout, anxiety, and compassion fatigue. Rebecca’s goal is to help clients improve their quality of life through self-reflection and self-discovery, offering a safe, non-judgmental, and empathetic space to explore personal difficulties. Under the supervision of Jennifer Rogers, Registered Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor, she uses approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, and person-centered techniques to guide clients in overcoming obstacles.
When booking an appointment at Jennifer Rogers Therapy, please indicate that you would like to see Rebecca.
Tanya Schobert, RVT is a Registered Professional Counsellor offering in-person and online sessions. She is passionate about supporting individuals through self-healing by providing a safe, compassionate space to explore authenticity, awareness, and curiosity. Before becoming a counsellor, Tanya worked for 30 rewarding years as a Registered Veterinary Technician in Alberta, BC, and Manitoba. Tanya’s practice integrates Polyvagal Theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Observed Experiential Integration therapy to address trauma, addictions, and life challenges while fostering mindfulness, communication, and personal growth.
Tanya can be reached at www.openumbrellawellness.ca and 1-250-254-9945.
Are you a licensed and registered psychologist, social worker or therapist who also has the lived experience of being a veterinarian or RVT? Do you want to join the CVMA VetConnect list of therapists? Email us at wellnessdei@cvma-acmv.org for more information!
Disclaimer: The CVMA is providing the subject list and contact information regarding registered counselors and therapists as a mechanism for communication with them. The CVMA does not endorse or recommend any of the listed professionals and accepts no responsibility or liability for their professional conduct, fees charged or the outcome of any counseling or liability for their professional conduct, fees charged or the outcome of any counseling or support services that they may provide. We encourage all users of this information to conduct their own due diligence before engaging any of these counselors or therapists. This is not an exhaustive list. If you are a regulated counselor or therapist who is also a veterinary professional of you have experience and up-skilled yourself to support veterinary professionals, please email for more information on submission requirements and assessment process to be included in the list.