About Us
Tanya Surette PhD, R. Psych, CCC, CCC-S
Tanya Surette, owner of Valley Inner Space, has been providing counselling and assessment services to children, adolescents, adults, and couples for the past 16 years in school, agency, and private practice settings. She is a Registered Psychologist with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology, a Canadian Certified Counsellor and Canadian Certified Counsellor Supervisor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She also works as an Associate Professor in the M.Ed. in Counselling Program at Acadia University. Before moving to NS in 2019, she owned and operated a private practice in Alberta for 7 years, where she worked as an educational, clinical, and counselling psychologist providing counselling, assessment, and supervision services to children, youth, adults, couples, and groups. Tanya is passionate about upholding the ethics of social justice, with a research focus on bringing first voice to marginalized populations to improve services and supports for the mental health needs of underserved groups. In her counselling and clinical work, Tanya is committed to providing a safe space to her clients, filled with unconditional positive regard, equity, acceptance, and empowerment as each client defines their needs and desired journeys towards flourishing. In addition to expertise in the field of assessment, Tanya has specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Gottman Couples Interventions, arts and play based approaches, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness practices. She works from an integrative approach, which prioritizes self-determination and a strength-based focus.
Contact Tanya at info@valleyinnerspace.ca
Kelly Brenton, PsyD, M.Ed., CCC, RCT-C
Kelly Brenton has been providing counselling services to children, adolescents, and couples for over 20 years. She is a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She also works as an Assistant Professor at Acadia University in the M.Ed. Counselling Program. Kelly is committed to empowering clients to see their strengths and use these to move towards desired change. Working through an integrative approach to counselling, Kelly works alongside the client through a strength-based framework. This focuses on the empowerment of clients to determine their needs and areas of growth. Kelly is a Certified Trauma Integration Clinician through the Attachment and Trauma Treatment Centre for Healing. She also has training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, arts and play-based practices, and mindfulness practices. Contact Kelly at kelly.brenton@valleyinnerspace.ca
Belinda Robinson M.Ed., RCT-C, CCC
Belinda Robinson is a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. With a master’s degree in counselling from Acadia University, she has a client-centred way of being in her approach and practises through an attachment focused lens, believing that what shows up in the present is linked to something in our past. She is culturally responsive, collaborative, trauma-informed, and strength-focused and is committed to a practice where clients feel seen, heard, and valued. Belinda empowers clients to value their agency, see their resiliency as a strength, foster self compassion, and believe in their capacity to create meaningful change for themselves. Her approach is integrative, meaning that she draws on therapeutic strategies from a range of counselling practices to help clients process and reflect more deeply. Belinda’s work is informed by trainings she has completed in art-based approaches, sand tray, Attachment Focused – EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), ITATM (Integrative Trauma and Attachment Treatment Model®), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness. Belinda meets with clients in-person or via secure video or phoneContact Belinda at belinda@valleyinnerspace.ca
Daria Pool BSW, MSW, RSW
Daria Pool holds a Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University and is registered with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (#9424). Daria has over 20 years of experience assisting children and families, and providing training and consultation to social workers in Ontario, Alberta and Michigan. Daria offers supportive counseling therapy to people who are looking to increase the joy and balance in their lives. She feels privileged to walk alongside you, as you navigate the challenges that you are facing, together.
Daria will provide a listening ear and use proven methods to help you make the changes you want in your life. She is committed to providing non-judgmental, affirming, counseling therapy. She offers individual and couples therapy, and parenting support.With compassion and caring, she will listen to what brings you to counselling. Daria will use your sessions to empower you to live a better and healthier life. She will guide the conversation so you can reflect on your strengths and what is working well for you, as well as what situations you hope to improve. Daria will help you identify the solutions to the problems that you’re facing and make a plan to work through them. She draws upon approaches such as Solution-Focused and Narrative therapies.
Daria recognizes that people have different comfort levels with meeting virtually or in-person. She offers counselling sessions in-person at our Kentville office or via secure video.
Contact Daria at daria.pool@valleyinnerspace.ca
David MacPhee BSW, MSW, RSW
David is a Registered Social Work (NSCSW #7571) with a Master of Social Work degree from Dalhousie University (2019). Before his career as a Clinical Social Worker, David was involved in social justice work, addiction recovery, leading mental health programming for elementary and high school, and mental health promotion groups to a wide variety of ages and cultural backgrounds. David approaches therapy from a client-led and trauma-informed perspective. David provides support to clients with anxiety, depression, stress, career decisions, nagging self-critical thought, processing of “bad sad or scary” memories, issues pertaining to family dynamics, and religious trauma. David gently helps clients move from guilt, shame and feeling stuck, to a greater self-acceptance. David’s approach is informed by his training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Attachment and Trauma Focused Therapy (level 1). His practice is also informed by mindfulness-based interventions, as well as body-based therapies like Somatic Experience and Polyvagal theory.
David offers in-person and virtual appointments.
Contact David at david.macphee@valleyinnerspace.ca
Dorothy Hunse M.Ed., RCT-C, CCC
Dorothy is a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association. With a Master’s degree in Counselling from Acadia University, Dorothy tailors her approach to the uniqueness of each client. She welcomes clients into a safe and compassionate space where they can be seen, heard, understood, and valued believing that these are the conditions that support change. Dorothy operates from a strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and collaborative perspective, to support clients as they gain insight into themselves and their situations, grow in self-compassion, and are empowered to draw on their innate wisdom and resources to bring about the desired change. Dorothy offers counselling on a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, stress, emotional regulation, identity/esteem, codependency, relationships, boundaries, vocational/academic, transition/loss/grief, end-of-life and spiritual/existential concerns. She draws on Attachment and Acceptance-based, Cognitive Behavioural, Mindfulness, Solution-focused and Narrative approaches to support clients in ways that are meaningful to them. Recognizing that client needs vary, Dorothy offers counselling in-person at our Kentville office, and by secure video or phone call.
Contact Dorothy at dorothy.hunse@valleyinnerspace.ca
Mark Baigent M.Coun., RCT, CCC
Mark Baigent (he/him) is a Counselling Therapist Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists, a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and holds a Master of Counselling degree from Gonzaga University. In addition to his counselling practice, Mark teaches part-time in the M.Ed. Counselling program at Acadia University, teaching Couples & Family Counselling.
In his couples and family work, Mark is actively pursuing certification in Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT/EFCT), which helps clients create, maintain, or repair strong attachment bonds while working to deepen and improve communication in each session. Mark believes that couples counselling can be helpful at any stage of a relationship, whether it be starting from the beginning (e.g., create a strong foundation), working through a transition (e.g., pre/post marriage, children, job changes, loss, etc.), or seeking to repair after challenges emerge (e.g., affair, co-parenting after separation, separation or reconnection). Mark understands that starting couple/family therapy can feel scary or overwhelming to start; because of this, Mark places a high priority on helping each partner feel welcome, understood, and valued in his couples/family work. With individuals, Mark continues to draw from his EFT training, while also using a blend of Narrative and Existential Therapies. Mark assists his clients to acquire a sense of power & control over their problems, develop confidence in decision-making, experience emotions in a safe way, and improve communication skills in relationships.
Mark primarily works with those looking to improve their relationships, access their emotions safely, and navigate difficult transitions in life. He has prior experience working with military veterans & first-responders, PTSD, grief & loss, adolescents, new or expecting parents, co-parents, and couples & families.
Contact Mark at mark.baigent@valleyinnerspace.ca
Inna Viriasova M.Ed. (Counselling), PhD (Theory & Criticism), RCT-C, CCC
Inna is a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate) and Canadian Certified Counsellor. She supports individuals and couples who want to improve their relationships, and adults, teens, and children who experience anxiety, depression, effects of trauma, or significant life changes. Inna also enjoys working with professors and students, immigrants, neurodiverse, and 2SLGBTQ+ clients. Her counselling style is gentle and compassionate, geared to help clients gain a deeper understanding of their struggles, cultivate self-acceptance, and foster personal and relational growth. Inna’s approach is primarily attachment-based, relational, depth-oriented, and trauma-informed. When working with children, she relies on sand play and mindfulness-based interventions to help them express and process their thoughts and feelings. Inna also has training in the developmental model of couples therapy, which informs her work with couples who want to improve their communication and deepen their connection. Having lived in several different countries before settling in Canada seventeen years ago, Inna is culturally responsive and offers counselling in English and Ukrainian. Inspired by the strength of Indigenous, Black, and 2SLGBTQ+ people, she is committed to building inclusive communities that foster health and wellness.
Contact Inna at inna.viriasova@outlook.com
Website - https://www.viriasovacounselling.com/
Gina Spidle M.Ed. in Counselling, RCT, CCC
Gina is a Registered Counselling Therapist with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
Gina received her M.Ed in Counselling from Acadia University and also works at the Acadia Counselling Centre.
I focus on empowering my clients and aim to help them recognize their own strengths. I use an integrative approach, drawing on knowledge from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Polyvagal Theory.
Whether living with addictions (behavioural and substance), eating disorders, grief, depression, anxiety or simply having struggles with day to day life, I provide a calm and safe environment where you will feel seen and heard, without judgement.
Contact Gina at