Kristen Johnston MA RCC-ACS

counsellor certification
Kristen Johnston

Clinical leadership • Supervision • Mental health education

As Founder and Clinical Director, I am involved in shaping the clinical culture of Juniper and supporting our therapists through consultation and supervision. I am also an Adjunct Faculty member at Adler University, where I have the opportunity to contribute to the education and development of future therapists. After three decades in this profession, one of the things I value most is helping good therapists become better therapists.

I particularly enjoy the conversations that happen in supervision—the complicated cases, the moments when something doesn’t quite make sense, the ethical questions, the unexpected breakthroughs, and the times when a therapist realizes that their own assumptions may be influencing how they’re seeing a client.

Those conversations are where much of the real learning happens.

What I hope Clients Experience at Juniper

Although I may not be the therapist sitting across from you, I want you to know that the quality of care at Juniper matters deeply to me.

We don't hire therapists simply because they have impressive credentials. We look for people who are thoughtful, compassionate, curious and committed to continuing to learn.

We want therapists who can recognize the limits of their expertise, seek consultation when they need it, and remain genuinely interested in the person behind the problem. And we want a practice where therapists support one another rather than working in isolation. Because I believe that good clinical care is a team effort.

A little about my perspective

Over the course of my career, I've become increasingly interested in the complexity of human behaviour and in the limits of simple explanations.

Mental health isn't just about what's happening inside someone's head. Our relationships matter. Our bodies matter. Our environments matter. Our histories matter. Culture matters. Meaning matters. And so do the practical realities of someone's life. I'm wary of approaches that promise a single explanation for complicated human experiences.

Instead, I value kindness, curiosity and courage—the courage to look honestly at what is happening, the curiosity to consider more than one explanation, and the kindness to approach ourselves and others without unnecessary judgment.

Those values are at the heart of Juniper.

Why Juniper?

Different therapists bring different personalities, perspectives, experiences and areas of expertise. There isn't one “Juniper way” of doing therapy, and there shouldn't be.

What I want clients to have is a team of excellent clinicians who think carefully about their work, know when to ask for help, and genuinely care about the people who trust them with their stories.

If you're not sure which therapist is right for you, I can help you find the right fit.

Meet the Juniper Therapists →

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Clinical Supervision: Developing Thoughtful, Confident Therapists

Kristen's commitment to accessible, high-quality mental health care extends beyond her own clinical practice. As an Approved Clinical Supervisor and the founder of Juniper's teaching clinic, she is passionate about developing thoughtful, capable therapists while expanding access to meaningful, affordable counselling.

She provides supervision and mentorship to student interns and Registered Clinical Counsellors across British Columbia, with a particular focus on helping clinicians develop their own authentic voice in the therapeutic relationship.

Kristen believes good supervision is not about teaching therapists to practice exactly as she does. Instead, she encourages supervisees to develop the clinical judgment, curiosity and confidence to think for themselves. Her approach invites therapists to trust their developing clinical intuition while remaining grounded in ethical practice, critical thinking and evidence-informed approaches.

She encourages supervisees to ask not only “What technique should I use?” but also:

What is actually happening here?
What might I be missing?
What does this particular client need from me?
How is my own perspective influencing what I'm seeing?

For Kristen, the goal of supervision is to help clinicians become more thoughtful, self-aware and confident in their work—therapists who can draw from evidence-based practice while also bringing creativity, humanity and their own authentic presence into the therapeutic relationship.

Through supervision, teaching and mentorship, Kristen hopes to strengthen not only individual clinicians but the profession as a whole, while helping create a broader community of therapists who are equipped to provide excellent, accessible care.

Kristen is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)

 

 

 

 

"Within the first five minutes of my very first session with Kristen, I was at ease. Kristen's presence is incredibly calming; she creates the space for me to breathe and express what's going on. She listens without judgement and then offers perfect wisdom or questions to take me deeper. I am incredibly grateful for Kristen's support and honoured to be able to work with her.”

-Gillian

 

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