Martin Bartel | MTS-C, RCC, RMFT

Martin and his wife are the parents of 4 sons and together with their respective partners are grandparents of 12 grandchildren. Martin and Wanda began their family journey in 1980 when they ventured off of Martin’s family farm to start their own dairy farming journey in Agassiz. In 1989 they sold Marwabar Holsteins Ltd and after a year of transitioning moved to Jamaica to do community development work for three years with Mennonite Central Committee.

Upon returning Martin attained a masters degree in Theological Studies in Counselling and has been in Private Practice as a Family Therapist since 1996. He has also worked extensively with the Ministry of Children and Family Development both as a Team Leader for Child and Youth Mental Health Services and as a Director of Operations. Martin is also an adjunct professor at Trinity Western University in the Counselling Psychology Department. As part of his practice, he supervises Master’s level advanced practicum students who assist in providing therapeutic services.

Martin and his wife Wanda currently live on acreage which was part of Martin’s farming homestead in Agassiz where his private practice is located providing a range of therapeutic services.

Martin and his wife Wanda currently live on acreage which was part of Martin’s farming homestead in Agassiz where his private practice is located providing a range of therapeutic services.

• In Office Counselling
• Online Counselling
• Nature Based Counselling
• Equine Assisted Counselling

Evan Arndt

Evan is passionate about exploring profound questions and helping individuals cultivate healthy relationships, connect with their emotions, and navigate challenging decisions. He believes that the root of suffering often results from fear of isolation, meaninglessness, freedom, death, and incongruence with one’s true self.

Evan’s work centres on exploring big questions and helping clients identify their true selves and live according to their values.

Grounded in an existential and humanistic framework, Evan aims to create a safe, collaborative space where you can express your true self, discover meaning, and experience freedom amid life’s uncertainties.

Evan’s work incorporates relational and emotion-focused theory to help you explore your feelings toward yourself and others and better understand how your relationships have impacted you. Evan is committed to collaboratively exploring strategies that help you develop coping skills aligned with your values, enabling you to face life’s uncertainties and challenges.

When Evan is not engrossed in his work, you can usually find him playing basketball or team handball or working out whenever he gets the chance. When he wants to keep it more chill, he’s probably at home watching a Marvel movie or TV show or playing video games like The Last of Us, Uncharted, or The Legend of Zelda.

Evan’s personal journey navigating the difficulties of academia with a learning disability and the difficult mental toll of rehabbing from countless sports-related injuries are just a few of the (many) reasons he felt drawn to counselling.

Regardless of what you’re struggling with, Evan knows how helpful it can be to have someone to talk to, and he hopes to offer that same support to you.

Passion areas:

Ashleigh Wells, M.A. Student

Ashleigh Wells is a Master’s student in Counselling Psychology at TWU, with a growing specialization in equine-assisted and nature-based counselling approaches. She is passionate about providing a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where clients can explore their experiences at their own pace. Ashleigh’s approach is guided by curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for the unique factors that shape each person’s story.

From an early age, Ashleigh felt a deep connection to animals and dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. She spent several years working in a veterinary practice, where she developed a strong understanding of the complexity of caring not only for animals, but also for the humans who love them. During this time, she became increasingly aware of the unique mental health challenges faced by veterinary professionals. This awareness became a driving force in her decision to return to school and pursue counselling. While Ashleigh ultimately chose a different path than veterinary medicine, her experiences continue to shape her work and are central to her developing clinical focus, including her thesis research topic exploring access to mental health supports for veterinary professionals.

• In Office Counselling
• Online Counselling
• Nature Based Counselling
• Equine Assisted Counselling
• Lifespan Integration Level 1 & Level 2 Trained
• Observed and Experiential Integration (OEI) Therapy Level 1 Certified
• Introduction to Sandtray

Bugsy & Lexie

Bugsy and Lexie each bring their own energy and ways of interacting with each other, and they contribute to healing in the counselling process. Through communicating with horses, individuals can gain deeper insights into patterns that may also appear in other relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. Spending time with Lexie and Bugsy supports the development of mindfulness, exploring boundaries, practicing assertive communication skills, learning to manage emotions, moving with intention, and so much more!