Bilingual Counsellor in Victoria, BC
When life changes,
find your way back.
Counselling that brings together language, culture, identity, and life’s big changes.
Big changes in life can affect us in many ways. They can change how we see ourselves, where we feel we belong, and what comes next.
Maybe you’re moving to a new country, changing careers, retiring, going through a loss, working through changes in a relationship, or just trying to find where you belong. Changes like these can make you stop and ask who you are and where your life is heading.
About Me
Hi, I’m François Viquesnel. I’m a bilingual counsellor, and I love helping people through big life changes and big questions about who they are.
I’ve lived and worked in eight countries, and worked with people in seventeen more. So I know, from my own life, what it feels like to move somewhere new, to look for a place where you belong, to bump into different cultures, and to figure out who you are all over again.
I started training in counselling in 1996. Since then, my career has taken an unusual path. I’ve worked in human resources for a big international company, coached leaders, and helped hospitals, businesses, and government teams through major changes. Altogether, that’s more than 30 years of experience helping people grow, lead, and get through change.
I have a Diploma in Applied Psychology and Professional Counselling. I am a Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling – Provisional, Registration #4988, with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA). I work under the clinical supervision of Susanne Currie, MPCC, RQS 3671.
Who I Support
- People going through big life changes
- Adults asking questions about who they are and where they belong
- People who want more balance, clarity, and meaning in their life
- Immigrants, newcomers, and people from minority groups
My Approach
Insight • Support • Clarity
The word Synesis comes from Greek. It means deep understanding, good judgment, and practical wisdom — the values that guide my work.
My approach is:
- warm and focused on a respectful relationship
- sensitive to different cultures
- mindful of how trauma affects people
- focused on your strengths
- focused on meaning, independence, and resilience
My goal isn’t just to make symptoms go away.
It’s to help you understand what this change in your life is asking you to become.
Services
Individual counselling. 50-minute sessions, in person in Victoria or online anywhere in British Columbia.
- $150 per 50-minute session
- $220 per 75-minute extended session
Coverage is different for every plan. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) usually offer 4 to 8 free sessions a year. Extended health plans — including Sun Life, Pacific Blue Cross, TELUS Health, and Green Shield — vary by policy. Please check your coverage with your employer or insurer before booking.
What to Expect
A simple process, from our first contact to your ongoing sessions.
- Free 15-minute chat — a chance to ask questions and see if we’re a good fit
- First session — we’ll talk about what brought you here and what you’re hoping for
- Ongoing sessions — 50-minute sessions at a pace that works for you, building on your goals as we go
- Private and secure — your records and payments go through a safe, encrypted system
Let’s Begin with a Conversation
Choosing a counsellor is an important decision. I invite you to a free 15-minute conversation: a chance to get acquainted, ask questions, and see if we’re a good fit.
I acknowledge and respect the Lekwungen people, on whose traditional, unceded territory I live and work.