Team
Helen Watler
Somatic Energy Modalities Lead & Organization Steward
Helen comes to the team with a background in integrative health delivery. She earned advanced certifications in Eden Energy Medicine and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Her work heightens awareness at the level of body-mind, supporting the innate capacity for healing. Helen is playing a lead role on the patient intake team, providing expertise in the area of cognitive somatic energy modalities.
Other Operation and Development Leads
RN, MPH, EdD
Visioning and Development Lead, RTT Innovations Co-Chair & Organization Steward
Shannon Dames (maiden Magnus) is a third generation immigrant with mixed ancestry from Britain, Norway, and Germany. She is a descendant of GT Magnus and Lianne Telnes, the proud mother of Piper and Beckett Dames, and the life partner of Phil Dames. She lives and serves as a Health Professional ...
Lead of Operations & Organization Steward
Phil Dames (he,him), a descendant of diverse European roots, resides on the ancestral lands of the Stz’uminus First Nation. He is the son of George and Leslie Dames, a brother, a father, friend to many and a life partner of Shannon Dames.
Phil is a co-founder, the Lead of Operations and playlist ...
MD
RTT Medical Team Co-Chair, Medical Lead and Organization Steward
Dr. Pamela Kryskow is the medical lead for the Roots To Thrive Program. She is a founding board member of the Psychedelic Association of Canada and the medical chair of the Vancouver Island University Post Graduate Certificate in Psychedelic Medicine assisted Therapy. Pam is also a a clinical i...
MD, FRCPC
Co-Chair RTT Medical Team & Organization Steward
Crosbie completed his MA in Psychology at Lakehead University, prior to completing Medical School at McMaster in 1991. Following medical school, Dr. Watler completed his residency in psychiatry at Dalhousie University. Crosbie relocated to Duncan BC in 2001, working with Island Health in diverse ...
Lead Elder
In my role as a VIU Elder-in-Residence, I work directly with students and Faculty/Professors in Health and Human Services programs at VIU and the Shq’apthut/Gathering Place. I share my Traditional Knowledge to work with all programs within the Health & Human Services and within the Shq’apthut...
RN(c), MN, DMin
Co-Chair RTT Medical Team, Medicine Administration Nursing Lead, PAT Facilitator
Gail brings nearly 50 years of nursing experience to Roots to Thrive. Much of her career has been working with and for Indigenous people and communities. Gail promotes awareness of physical, mental, and spiritual health issues associated with past traumas and walks beside people as they reconnect...
Development Integrator (focus on curriculum and evaluation)
Wes’s core practice is recognizing the heart and beauty in everyone. Joining in the early days of the Roots to Thrive community was therefore a no-brainer. During the ‘80s and ‘90s, he worked as a therapist in addiction and trauma recovery in the US and Australia. He focused on providing advanc...
RPN, BSN, MBA
RTT KAT Program Chair, Intake lead, Nurse Facilitator
Julia comes to the Roots to Thrive team with over twenty years experience as a front-line registered psychiatric nurse. Julia completed her nursing training in New Zealand before becoming certified in California and then Canada. Julia has practiced in a wide variety of clinic areas including inpa...
Somatic Energy Modalities
Darlus has always been curious about the mind/body connection. Working 30 years as a fitness and Stott Pilates instructor, Darlus noticed how emotional energy affected mobility, strength and motivation.
This prompted her to start reading Donna Eden’s work on Energy Medicine. When her two year ol...
MA, RCC
RTT Training Program Chair, Operations Integrator, Facilitator
Krys is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, and she has worked in the Mental Health and Substance Use field for 25 years, managing teams in various leadership capacities. This varied experience working in clinical environments offers a thorough understanding of the challenges in health care and a p...
MA, RCC
RTT Alumni Program Chair, Alumni Facilitator
Graham comes to the Roots to Thrive team with a passion for supporting people on their journeys of healing and growth. He has worked as a clinical counsellor since 2011 using an integrative therapeutic approach that includes the mind and body while honouring people’s inherent wisdom to heal thems...
BA (Psych), MPCC, CHT, RPC, HHP
Somatic Practitioner, Mentee Facilitator
Jill has worked in private practice as a Registered Professional Counsellor since 2007 and has been personally and professionally involved with psychedelics since 2014.
Jill is a graduate of Vancouver Island University’s Post-Graduate Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Program. She was a practicum stud...
