OUR TEAM
Autumn Fowler, CCC
Founder of The Nest
Individuals & Couples
Conflict & Communication
Sex & Intimacy
Mental Load & Division of Labour
Family of Origin & In-Law Relationships
Pre-Marital
Fertility & TTC
Preparing for Baby
Stress of Early Parenthood
Parenting Challenges
Perinatal Mental Health
Hi! I’m Autumn, Canadian Certified Counsellor (#12284) and Relationship Specialist. I’m a wife, mama, counsellor, entrepreneur, and coffee enthusiast, who has spent over a decade studying the science of relationships and human connection.
I have completed my Masters in Counselling Psychology and have taken further training in Gottman Methods Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couples & Family Therapies, all of which have helped shape the way I work with my clients.
I serve individuals and couples who deeply desire and value fulfilling relationships with the people who matter most- whether this be with themself, a family member, friend, or spouse. I do this by offering a variety of services with compassion, a dash of science, equal parts humour and authenticity, and a good helping of practical tools. People often describe me as warm, calm, and nurturing.
When I’m not busy running a business and doing further research about the human connection, you can find me cooking up a storm (currently obsessed with the perfect soup!), going on hikes around this gorgeous island, practicing yoga, connecting with friends and family, chasing after my little ones, playing with my pup, and trying to beat my husband at Cribbage.
Nicola Spencer, RCC
Individuals & Couples
Conflict & Communication
Sex & Intimacy
Long-Distance Relationships
Living Child-Free
Dating, Break-ups, & Relationship Patterns
Hi, I’m Nicola - a couples and relationship-focused counsellor who’s passionate about helping partners reconnect, communicate better, and navigate life’s messy, beautiful moments together.
My therapy space is grounded in collaboration, curiosity, and compassion. Whether you're dating, married, navigating non-monogamy, long-distance, or intentionally child-free - I’m here to support you as a team. Relationships are deeply personal, but they don’t have to be figured out alone. Let’s roll up our sleeves and explore what’s working, what’s not, and what kind of connection you want to build moving forward.
In my work with couples, I aim to help you:
Talk so your partner actually hears [aka — understands] you
Feel like a real team instead of two opposing forces
Make the hard conversations a bit easier & more productive
Imagine new ways to improve your sex life
Create closeness, even in long-distance relationships
Explore the complexities of being intentionally child-free
I think of therapy as “work hard, play hard” - with a generous side of empathy, honesty, and a bit of humour. Together, we’ll look at the dynamics that keep you stuck, the strengths that hold you together, and the possibilities waiting to unfold. My goal isn’t to “fix” you or your relationship - it’s to help you co-create a space where both of you can feel seen, supported, and more connected than ever.
Ruby Au, RCC
Individuals, Couples & Families
Conflict & Communication
Intimacy
Anxiety & Depression
Multi-generational Family Dynamics
Inter-racial Couples
Chinese & South Asian Populations
Hi, I’m Ruby. I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #3429) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and hold a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology.
I have worked in a wide array of mental health services serving patients across the spectrum of mental health. At the beginning of my career, I was a Child, Youth & Family Therapist working alongside the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society (VACFSS), providing individual and family counselling therapy to children and their family.
I then mainly worked with the adult population as a Mental Health Clinician at the Cross Cultural Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic at the Vancouver General Hospital, the Group Therapy Program at the Royal Columbian Hospital, and with different community Mental Health & Substance Use Services teams at both Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Fraser Health Authority.
Before focusing on my private practice, I worked as a Primary Care Clinical Counsellor with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCH) at the Vancouver Primary Care Networks in a multi-disciplinary setting working alongside family physicians.
My interests are in cross cultural mental health. I conducted research on the mental health issues in Chinese Canadians in Metro-Vancouver, as well as on the regional differences among ethnic Chinese on level of acculturation to Canadian culture and perceived barriers to mental health help seeking. These research were published in the World Cultural Psychiatry Research Review (WCPRR).
I was invited to be a workshop presenter at the 14th Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists Scientific Meeting in Brisbane, Australia in 2010, to share my understanding and experience in engaging and treating ethnic Chinese.
I specialize in treating depression, anxiety, and relationship issues. I work in an integrative approach with my therapy mainly based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). My expansive counselling experiences allow me to tailor therapy to the needs of my patients. I believe with bio-psycho-social-spiritual support, patients are empowered to utilize their strengths in their individual recovery journey.
I am tri-lingual in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin and am able to provide counselling services in these languages.
Carly Deal
Individuals, Youth, & Families
Complex Mental Health & Addiction
Trauma
Pre & Postnatal mental health
Transition to Motherhood
Separation & Divorce
Hi, I’m Carly. I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor with over 15 years of experience supporting youth and families. I bring a deep understanding of the challenges that come with navigating adolescence, especially when mental health, trauma, and family stress intersect. My work focuses on helping young people and their families who are coping with complex trauma, substance use, concurrent disorders, and traits of borderline personality disorder.
I have extensive experience working within complex family dynamics and supporting children and youth involved with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). This background has strengthened my ability to approach each situation with empathy, flexibility, and collaboration, recognizing the multiple systems and relationships that influence a young person’s wellbeing. Whether you’re feeling stuck, anxious, disconnected, or simply unsure of the next step, I offer a steady presence and a space where your voice matters.
My approach is collaborative and flexible. Therapy with me isn’t one-size-fits-all. We’ll move at your pace, and together we’ll find what feels most effective, whether that means exploring stories from your past, developing tools to cope in the present, or making sense of what’s happening in your life right now. My work is grounded in person-centered and solution-focused therapy, and I also draw from trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, and CBT when they feel supportive to your goals. I am currently completing my training EMDR and hope to offer this in 2026.
I have extensive experience working with individuals who have lived through complex trauma, and I am committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive space for people of all backgrounds and identities.
I am also a trained Doula and have lived experience as a mother of two who navigated separation and now lives in a blended family. These experiences further my passion for supporting mothers through the big life transitions of their motherhood journey.
Outside the counselling room, you can usually find me outdoors with my partner, kids, and two dogs. I’m an avid reader, crafter, and lover of a good board game. I feel deeply grateful to call Vancouver Island home and often find healing in the quiet presence of the ocean and the mountains.
If something here resonates, I’d love to connect. You’re welcome just as you are.