We’re here to help

Cognito is pleased to introduce our team of professionals who are passionate for helping clients on their mental health journey.

Meet the team

He/Him
Victoria, BC

Stephen Roberts

MA, RCC

Clinical Supervisor

Stephen is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.

He provides guidance and supervision for our team of counsellors and life coaches. Stephen brings a diverse history of lived experience to his counselling practice. Stephen approaches each client with the belief that with the right support and encouragement we all have the ability to lead more productive and fulfilled lives. Starting from a place of empathy and compassion, Stephen guides his patients through a respectful examination of their life choices with the goal of providing them with the practical tools they need to meet their true potential.

Stephen received his Master of Arts from Liberty University, with a specialty in Marriage and Family Counselling. Prior to becoming a counsellor, Stephen earned a Doctorate and Master’s degree from the University of British Columbia, and a BA from Queen’s University.

Stephen has been married to Dr. Jillian Roberts since 1989 and is the father of three children. He is a proud and active citizen of the Métis Nation of British Columbia.

Types of therapy offered:

A blend of person-centered, solution-focused, cognitive-behavioural and Christian therapeutic approaches.

Ages or specific groups of clients:

Children, adolescents, adults and families.

Group, family, couple or individuals:

Individuals and groups

Specializations:

Working with clients who are struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, bereavement, motivational challenges and building emotionally fulfilling relationships.

Treatment to alleviate what problems:

Anxiety, Trauma, Grief, Depression.

Dr Francois Muller
He/Him
Victoria, BC

Dr Francois Muller

Victoria, BC

MD

Acting Medical Director, Consulting Physician & Co-Founder

Dr. Francois Muller is a co-founder of Cognito

Dr Francois Muller is a General Practitioner that lives and co-owns a multidisciplinary clinic in Victoria BC, where he has served his local community for 15 years.

He completed his medical degree in South Africa in 1998. Francois has a breadth of medical professional experience from inpatient and outpatient settings in South Africa, England and Canada.  

Francois’s clinic serves all facets of the community in a broader patient medical home setting.  He has a passion for general practice and patient advocacy.

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Dr Marlene Muller
She/Her
Victoria, BC

Dr Marlene Muller

Victoria, BC

MD

Consulting Physician & Co-Founder

Dr. Marlene Muller is a co-founder of Cognito

Dr Marlene Muller is a Family Physician in Victoria, BC. She completed her Medical Degree in South Africa in 1996.  She has lived and worked in South Africa, England and Canada.  She has been proudly Canadian since 2001.

She has been working in a multi-disciplinary clinic in Victoria BC since 2007 and has been part of a group of physicians delivering high quality care to the community.  She has a special interest in Psychiatry and worked in a psychiatric hospital in Chertsey, England.

She strives to give evidence based, kind and compassionate care to each of her patients. She is a mom of 2 busy teenagers.

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Bhavan Manhas
She/Her
Victoria, BC

Bhavan Manhas

Victoria, BC

MN, NP

Medical Director

Bhavan is Cognito's Medical Director

Bhavan is a Family Nurse Practitioner with a diverse professional background and over a decade of health care experience in direct patient care and administrative roles throughout British Columbia and  the UK. She received her Master of Science in Nursing: Nurse Practitioner from the University of Victoria in 2014 and has practiced across various settings including family practice, urgent care and seniors consultative care.

She is passionate about providing person-centered care and committed to developing collaborative care partnerships while striving to meet a patient’s health care goals.

Bhavan is an avid basketball fan and loves spending time with her French Bulldog, Mamba.

Bhavan is currently on maternity leave.

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Dr Kent Comeau
He/Him
Medicine Hat, AB

Dr Kent Comeau

Medicine Hat, AB

MD, FRCPC, BMSC

Psychiatrist

Dr. Comeau is a practicing psychiatrist who offers group sessions at Cognito

Dr. Comeau is a psychiatrist practicing in Medicine Hat, AB who completed his Medical Degree at the University of Alberta and graduated from the Psychiatry Residency Program at the University of British Columbia. He is a fully accredited rTMS provider through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and completed his rTMS certification and training through Duke University.

In addition to specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders, his clinical expertise also includes working with individuals with chronic and persistent mental illness, shared-care for young adults and group psychotherapy.

Dr. Comeau is passionate about helping his patients restore balance in their lives through his patient-centered approach and developing treatment plans tailored to an individuals circumstances and unique needs.

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Kayla Milley
She/her
Victoria, BC

Kayla Milley

Victoria, BC

MN, NP

Nurse Practitioner

Kayla is a Nurse Practitioner in Victoria, BC.

Kayla is a nurse practitioner who completed her Master of Science in Nursing in 2019. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Kayla was a registered nurse for 8 years. Her areas of practice include rural and remote, urgent care, and primary care. She has a special interest in Indigenous health, women’s health, mental health, and addictions.

Outside of work she enjoys cooking, travelling, and spending time with family and friends.

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John Llaguno
He/Him
Victoria, BC

John Llaguno

Victoria, BC

DNP, MN, NP

Nurse Practitioner

John is a Nurse Practitioner licensed in British Columbia and Alberta.

He completed his Bachelors in Nursing with a specialty in Critical Care at BCIT/Thompson River University in BC. His Masters of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner through Athabasca University in Alberta. He holds two Doctorate degrees. A Doctor of Medicine from USAT – Florida/Montserrat, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Aspen University in Colorado – both with distinction.

Through his own significant critical illness/life event in 2015 resulting in hospitalization for a period of time, John has gained deeper insight into what good looks like in health care practice and treats others with respect, dignity, empathy and compassion.

He has over 15 years of experience in a wide variety of healthcare fields in primary care, telemedicine, pharma and medical with an emphasis in health promotion and disease prevention.

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Joanna Stevenson
She/Her
Vancouver, BC

Joanna Stevenson

Vancouver, BC

DNP, MN, NP

Nurse Practitioner

Joanna is a family Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of nursing experience.

She began her nursing career as a medical/surgical registered nurse before completing her Master of Science in Nursing degree at the University of Northern British Columbia in 2016. As an NP, Joanna has worked in a variety of settings including primary care, occupational health, tele-health, and education.

A strong advocate for the NP role and advanced nursing education, Joanna completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree through Chatham University in Pittsburg, PA in 2020. Joanna is dedicated to improving health outcomes for patients and has a special interest in women's health and mental health.

Outside of work, Joanna enjoys spending time with her husband and young daughter, and is an avid Formula 1 fan.

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Trish Obasi
She/Her
Kelowna, BC

Trish Obasi

Kelowna, BC

MN, FNP

Family Nurse Practitioner

Trish is a Family Nurse Practitioner in Kelowna, BC.

Trish is a family nurse practitioner who completed her Master of Science in Nursing in 2021 at the University of Northern British Columbia. With 7 years of nursing experience, she has practiced in remote/rural clinics across northern BC and Nunavut supporting individuals of all ages. She has also practiced in various settings offering virtual and telehealth delivery.

Trish has a special interest in mental health, chronic pain management and the older adult population. Her practice is rooted in empowering others to maintain a healthy balance by adopting the biopsychosocial model of wellness and medicine.

Outside of work, she enjoys watching K-dramas, weightlifting, being in nature, cooking and exploring the world with her husband and friends.

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Danica Spence
She/Her
Victoria, BC

Danica Spence

Victoria, BC

Operations Lead

Danica leads clinical operations at Cognito.

Danica is an experienced Marketing and Business Development Manager with over 8 years in Healthcare focusing on Clinic Management and Surgical Assistance. She has considerable experience in management consultation, team building, professional development, strategic implementation, and company collaboration.

She studied in Famagusta, Cyprus for Business Administration where she was able to travel, learn and appreciate the different cultures. During this time she found her love for languages, and continues to be studious with several at once.  

Danica is an avid volunteer, and has spoken on behalf of various non-profit organizations, and likes to focus on those advocating for mental health awareness.

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Lily McWilliams
She/Her
Victoria, BC

Lily McWilliams

Victoria, BC

RPh

Pharmacist

Lily is a registered pharmacist in Victoria, British Columbia.

Lily attended McGill University and graduated with a BSc Pharm from the University of British Columbia in 2015. She has a special interest in addictions, mental health and infectious diseases.

Outside of work Lily enjoys overnight hikes, reading and running.

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Vanessa Fata
She/Her
Victoria, BC

Vanessa Fata

Victoria, BC

CBT Care Provider Co-Lead

Vanessa is the team lead for Cognito's CBT Care Providers in Victoria, BC.

Vanessa is a team co-lead for Cognito's CBT Care Providers in Victoria, BC.

Her passion to help others and improve their well-being began 12 years ago in her aesthetics career; Vanessa has since grown her passion into mental health where she practices today with Cognito as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Care Provider.

She is enthusiastic about helping others through their personal growth, awareness, navigating through difficult times, while implementing cognitive behavioural therapy and executive functioning techniques to help improve her clients anxiety, depression, insomnia, and ADHD.

Vanessa finds joy in exercise, meditation, and overall health and by doing so it helps her be attentive and empathetic when interacting with her clientele.

Vanessa is currently on maternity leave.

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Maddie Cooper
She/Her
Vancouver, BC

Maddie Cooper

Vancouver, BC

CBT Care Provider Lead

Maddie has worked in a number of community mental health services in the UK.

Maddie is one of the co-leads for Cognito's team of CBT Care Providers.

She completed her BSc in Psychology in 2016 in the UK, and later studied a Postgraduate Certificate, focusing on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Through her work, Maddie values having a front row seat in supporting individuals reach their goals to better manage symptoms of anxiety, depression and ADHD. This is an opportunity she continues to find great fulfillment in. She is passionate about empowering others to cope with life's inevitable transitions and challenges.

Outside of work, she enjoys unwinding by spending time baking in the kitchen or enjoying the beautiful outdoors with her partner.

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Mehreen Sahir
She/Her
Victoria, BC

Mehreen Sahir

Victoria, BC

CBT Care Provider

Mahreen is a Cognitive Behavioural Care Provider at Cognito.

Mehreen Sahir has a passion for working with others, and always uses a client-centred approach wherever she goes. She has vast experience working in the customer service and teaching fields, and is dedicated to helping individuals in the community. Her interest in helping others has motivated her to work in the mental health field, where she can aid individuals in finding a positive path for themselves. 

She has completed a BA degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria in 2022, with emphasis on lifespan development, cultural psychology, mental health disorders, and well-being. She also holds a special interest in memory and related executive functions, understanding that mental health concerns can vastly impact these, preventing us from living our lives to the fullest.

In her free time, she is busy writing away, volunteering, scrapbooking, or travelling wherever possible.

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Jessica Marshall
She/Her
Victoria, BC

Jessica Marshall

Victoria, BC

CBT Care Provider

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and is a graduate of the post-degree Interprofessional Mental Health & Addiction program

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and is a graduate of the post-degree Interprofessional Mental Health & Addiction program (IMHA) from Camosun College. With an educational background in mental health and a diverse professional background which includes teaching, customer relations and e-commerce, Jessica has gained valuable experience connecting with all kinds of people.

As Jessica furthers her career in the field of mental health, her focus is on finding ways to effectively and compassionately support and help others dealing with the symptoms of anxiety, depression, insomnia and/or ADHD through use of counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy.

In her free time Jessica loves creative writing, yoga, and travelling. Jessica's passion for travel took her abroad to Europe where she lived and worked for a few years exploring different cities and cultures- an experience that was not only rewarding but also taught her the importance of growth, exploration and self-love. When she is not travelling she likes spending time with family and friends and getting out in nature.

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Brittany Bercier
She/Her
Duncan, BC

Brittany Bercier

Duncan, BC

CBT Care Provider

Brittany graduated with a Wellness Counseling and Coaching Diploma.

Brittany is a graduate of Rhodes Wellness College. She graduated with a Wellness Counseling and Coaching Diploma. Her own life experiences inspired her to pursue a career path of wellness, mindfulness, ADHD Support and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Brittany is a passionate and empathetic individual, who holds space for clients to heal, grow, and progress towards their personal goals.

Brittany’s free time is spent with her husband, three children, and pets outdoors exploring nature. She also loves to sing as a form of meditation and relaxation.

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Amanda Jarvis
She/her
Kamloops, BC

Amanda Jarvis

Kamloops, BC

CBT Care Provider

Amanda holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Counselling from Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Amanda holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Counselling from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is currently continuing her education through Adler University's Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program.

As a certified CBT practitioner, Amanda is empathetic, curious, compassionate and keenly aware of how hard we can be on ourselves. Amanda always brings a tone of self-love and kindness to conversations, as people usually deserve more of it than they give themselves.

Over the last 3 years, Amanda has been dedicated to volunteer work, providing safe spaces for emotional exploration and helping others achieve their goals. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys walking in nature, spending time with her partner or looking for new foods to try. She also loves physical activities such as hiking, stretching and lifting weights.

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Sarah Wiebe
She/Her
Saskatoon, SK

Sarah Wiebe

Saskatoon, SK

CBT Care Provider

Sarah has been working in the mental health field for over a decade.

She holds a diploma in Child and Youth Care Counseling, and completed her BA in Child and Youth Care in 2010. She has also had additional training in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Anger management.

Sarah has enjoyed working in various locations across Canada supporting individuals with their mental health. Sarah's approach to working with clients can be described as client centred, compassion focused, and goal oriented. Her areas of special interest include Indigenous wellbeing, whole person wellness, anger management, and ADHD.

Outside of work Sarah enjoys spending time with family, being in the forest, exploring, hiking, cycling, and always having a furbaby by her side.

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Nicole Brown
SHE/HER
Saskatoon, SK

Nicole Brown

Saskatoon, SK

CBT Care Provider Co-Lead

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan.

She's always had a passion for helping others, both locally and internationally. Her travels have led her to work in orphanages in both Africa and Central America. Her time abroad coupled with personal experience motivates her to pursue a career within the mental health field.

During university, she was involved in a number of research projects that focused on ADHD and the executive functioning of university students--aiding in the understanding of study skills, time and project management. With a concentration in neuropsychology, she loves to spend time researching the brain and how mental health intervention can lead to positive change in plasticity (being so involved helps her own ADHD tremendously!)

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, painting, reading, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

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Melissa Johnman
SHE/HER
Victoria, BC

Melissa Johnman

Victoria, BC

CBT Care Provider

Melissa is a CBT Provider at Cognito.

Melissa is a CBT provider who has completed her studies in psychology and counselling. Melissa has a variety of experience in working with children through to adults in field areas including residential youth work, private counselling practice, and mentoring roles in school based programs.

Australian born and bred, Melissa is here in Canada to work and in her downtime you will find her exploring this beautiful country or sitting with a book in one hand and a tea in the other.

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