COLLEEN PURCKA
WEST KELOWNA,BC
Summary
Clinical systems leader and Registered Clinical Counsellor with 15+ years in mental health, substance use, and community services. Expertise in complex case management, clinical operations, and service integration. Demonstrated success in guiding teams through service model changes and enhancing inter-agency collaboration. Strong knowledge of BC’s mental health systems and commitment to service excellence.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Intake & Assessment Coordinator
Foundry Virtual, Providence Health Care
West Kelowna, British Columbia
11.2021 - Current
- Serve as part of the leadership team for Foundry Virtual, providing clinical guidance and operational support across interdisciplinary services.
- Provide coverage for Primary Care Social Work, supporting team capacity, continuity of care, and clinical risk management.
- Guide clinicians in triage, service prioritization, ethical decision-making, and adherence to documentation standards.
- Oversee complex mental health and substance use referrals, ensuring appropriate screening, psychosocial assessment, and coordinated care planning.
- Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and determine care pathways for youth presenting with psychiatric, substance use, and psychosocial complexity.
- Maintain high standards of clinical documentation and confidentiality aligned with organizational and regulatory expectations.
- Led development of intake, assessment, and primary care workflows, creating standardized pathways to improve access, efficiency, and care continuity.
- Participate in service evaluation and continuous quality improvement initiatives across virtual and community-based care models.
- Support refinement of service standards, workflows, and team practices to enhance clinical outcomes and staff effectiveness.
- Act as liaison between Foundry Virtual, community agencies, and health system partners to support integrated care pathways.
- Support health navigation by connecting youth and families with appropriate community and provincial services.
- Deliver presentations and consultations to partners regarding service scope, referral processes, and collaborative care models.
- Supported implementation of evolving service models, including virtual care expansion and primary care integration.
- Translated program changes into frontline operations through consultation, training, and clinical leadership.
Registered Clinical Counsellor – Private Practice
Ember & Root Therapy
01.2021 - Current
- Provide trauma-informed counselling to adults, couples, and families presenting with trauma, anxiety, burnout, depression, relational stress, and occupational mental health challenges.
- Work extensively with first responders and helping professionals, addressing operational stress injuries, vicarious trauma, moral injury, and burnout.
- Integrate evidence-based and trauma-focused modalities including Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), ACT, CBT, DBT, attachment-based and somatic-informed approaches.
- Support clients navigating regulatory, workplace, and disability-related systems, bridging clinical care with system advocacy.
- Maintain rigorous documentation, privacy standards, and ethical accountability in accordance with RCC practice requirements.
Community Policing Coordinator
RCMP
Penticton, South Okanagan Similkameen
10.2019 - 07.2021
- Served as team lead supervising restorative justice facilitators and coordinating community justice initiatives.
- Organized and facilitated restorative justice circles across Southern Okanagan communities.
- Built partnerships with justice, municipal, and social service stakeholders.
- Delivered community education through presentations, outreach, and networking.
Youth Probation Officer
Ministry of Children and Family Development
, BC
04.2011 - 10.2019
- Managed complex caseloads of 15–20 youth, conducting psychosocial assessments and individualized case planning.
- Applied trauma-informed and motivational interviewing practices in accordance with Youth Justice policy.
- Developed prevention and intervention strategies through community engagement and education.
- Played a key role in developing a restorative justice program with Fort Nelson First Nation.
- Extensive experience working with Indigenous youth and families.
Adult Probation Officer
Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General
, BC
07.2009 - 04.2011
- Supervised adult offenders on bail and sentenced orders.
- Facilitated court-mandated Substance Abuse Management psychoeducational groups.
- Partnered with community agencies to support reintegration and recovery.
School District Counsellor (K–12)
School District 81
Fort Nelson, BC
09.2007 - 06.2009
- Delivered CBT-based 'Friends for Life' anxiety prevention program.
- Supported at-risk students through behavioural, academic, and psychosocial interventions.
- Collaborated with administrators and educators in case planning and school-based interventions.
Education
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) -
British Columbia
08-2021
Master of Arts - Counselling Psychology
Yorkville University
New Brunswick08-2021
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC01.1992
Skills
- Clinical leadership and oversight
- Care coordination
- Clinical documentation
- Ethical decision-making
- Trauma-informed care
- Community outreach
- Effective communication
- Conflict resolution
- Systems advocacy
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Team development and performance
- Strategic planning
- Operational planning
- Change management
- Service redesign
- Stakeholder relations
- Vendor relations
Technology Skills
- Clinical documentation systems & electronic records
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
- MS Teams, Zoom, Virtual Care Platforms
Volunteer Experience
- Program Coordinator, PARTY Program, Kelowna, 2015–2019, Led multi-agency youth risk prevention initiative with RCMP, Interior Health, KGH, BC Ambulance, UBCO Nursing.
- Special Assignments, Partnership for a Healthy Downtown (Kelowna)
- Supervision & mentorship, practicum students (UBCO)
- Co-facilitator, Community Restorative Justice Programs
- Co-facilitator, Youth Substance Abuse Management Courses
Leadership Strengths
- Guides multidisciplinary teams through complex clinical and operational challenges
- Builds trust-based, accountable team cultures
- Drives continuous improvement through reflective practice and systems evaluation
- Communicates effectively across clinical, operational, and executive contexts
- Balances service excellence with staff well-being and sustainable workloads
Professional Development
- Leadership 2020 (MCFD & Federation of Community Social Services of BC)
- Emotion Focused Family Therapy - 2021
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy - 2021
- Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) – Trauma Treatment
- Integrated Case Management Training (MCFD)
- Restorative Justice Facilitator Training (JIBC)
- Complex Cases & Concurrent Disorders (JIBC)
- Trauma-Informed Practice (MCFD)
- Motivational Interviewing (JIBC)
- Substance Abuse Management Group Facilitation
- Working Effectively with Indigenous & FASD Youth
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Intake & Assessment Coordinator
Foundry Virtual, Providence Health Care
11.2021 - Current
Registered Clinical Counsellor – Private Practice
Ember & Root Therapy
01.2021 - Current
Community Policing Coordinator
RCMP
10.2019 - 07.2021
Youth Probation Officer
Ministry of Children and Family Development
04.2011 - 10.2019
Adult Probation Officer
Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General
07.2009 - 04.2011
School District Counsellor (K–12)
School District 81
09.2007 - 06.2009
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) -
British Columbia
Master of Arts - Counselling Psychology
Yorkville University
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Simon Fraser University