Compass Team

Darla graduated from the University of Victoria with a Masters’ Degree in Counselling Psychology. She has over 23 years of experience across health care and education settings, providing counselling and psychotherapy to children, youth and families. At the core of her work, is a passion for supporting individuals in accessing and developing their internal resources and resiliency, while expanding their learning and building capacity throughout the lifespan. With the varied experience of a generalist, a clinical focus on depression, anxiety, and trauma, alongside an appreciation for the benefits of supportive consultation for practitioners, she joined the Compass Team. Outside of work, Darla enjoys global and local travel adventures, and staying active in mind and body.

Dr. Erin Smith is a psychiatrist with the Compass program at BCCH and also works at BCWH at Reproductive Mental Health and the Oak Tree Clinic. She completed her general adult psychiatry residency at UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and also completed an addiction psychiatry fellowship at the same institution. Prior to working for Compass, Dr. Smith worked at the Provincial Youth Concurrent Disorders clinic at BCCH. She is passionate about working with people during their pregnancies and in the postpartum period as well as transitional age youth and adults with concurrent disorders and their families. Dr. Smith is also a motivational interviewing (MI) trainer and a member of the internationally regarded organization Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). She is a published author in the field of MI as well as the field of addictions and is passionate about teaching motivational interviewing and also lectures on a variety of different topics for medical trainees through her role as a clinical instructor at UBC. Dr. Smith is proud to be part of the collaborative and multidisciplinary team at Compass.

Hali obtained her Masters of Social Work from the University of British Columbia. She has Cree and Métis ancestry through both of her grandmothers and mixed European settler ancestry through both grandfathers. Hali is passionate about mental health care, but has a particular passion for the mental health of Indigenous youth, families and communities. Hali’s previous work and practicum experiences include working in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in community mental health, working in youth full-time attendance addictions treatment, working in Indigenous family preservation, and working in research, and policy development for a delegated Aboriginal agency. Hali also has some experience in academic research and on initiatives to decolonize and indigenize the health profession education programs at the University of British Columbia. When not at work Hali can be found taking recreational dance classes or flexing her creative muscles through digital illustration, painting, and beadwork.

Helen is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse who has been working with children with mental health concerns and their caregivers for 17 years. Prior to working in Compass, Helen was the Nurse Clinician in ADHD Provincial Program for many years. Helen recently completed a Masters of Education at Simon Fraser University and has an interest in teaching Mindfulness and contemplative practices to healthcare professionals.Originally from Yorkshire, England, Helen makes a great Yorkshire Pudding. She always has a creative project on the go and loves spending time with her husband and their French Bulldog, Dave.

Dr. Jennifer Russel's family is initially from Scotland, and her grandmother moved to Montreal, where her Mother was born. She grew up in Toronto and moved to Vancouver in 2010. She identifies as a white settler. She is a mom to two boys, a wife, sister, daughter and friend. She uses she/her pronouns. She is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and social worker, who has primarily worked in urban areas. She is passionate about equity in health care, and is working towards improving our ability to care for our provinces' children and youth. She was the clinical Director of the Compass program from its start in September 2018 until the fall of 2021, and now works as a member of the team, and as the Associate Head of Mental Health at BCCH & Women’s hospital.

Kate was born in Hong Kong and moved to North Vancouver when she was young and grew up with the North Shore Mountains and trails at her back door. She graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She focused her career at BC Children’s Hospital and has worked in the various mental health programs offered at the Healthy Minds Centre since 2009. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her young son and family, travelling, watching movies and shows, reading and discovering new and exciting places to eat at.

Dr. Katharine Thomson is a clinical and research psychologist and the clinical director of the Compass Program. She identifies as a cisgender queer able-bodied woman with White settler roots, and humbly recognizes the many privileges those identities have afforded her, including access to higher education and intergenerational wealth. Kate was born in Calgary but moved all over the world throughout her childhood and adult life, and is very grateful to have landed as a guest in the beautiful Musqueam lands with her wife and two young children. Prior to joining our team, Dr. Thomson was an attending psychologist in consultation and liaison at Boston Children’s Hospital and an instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She has special interests in trauma-informed care, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, eating disorders, somatization, LGBTQ+ healthcare, and health equity. In addition to her role in the Compass Program, Dr. Thomson has a private practice where she works with children, adolescents, and young adults. Outside of work, she can be found exploring beaches and forests with her family, starting a new DYI project, or learning to garden.

Trish is a Program Coordinator with the Compass Team at BC Children’s Hospital. She has had the privilege of living, playing, and learning in various countries in Africa. As she navigated the different African cultures, she often felt this inexplicable imbalance that came with the inability to hold conversations about mental health. This ignited her involvement in mental health-related initiatives during her time as a student at the University of British Columbia. She also has a deep interest in moving beyond treating health issues to creating supportive environments that support optimal health outcomes. As such, she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Global Health Policy where she is deepening her knowledge and skills related to the social determinants of health. Her educational background and work experiences deeply reflect her commitment to health equity and holistic wellness. Before joining the Compass team, she was exposed to a wide range of work related to Indigenous Health through her Co-op placement with the First Nations Health Authority. Additionally, she has both international and local experiences in research, monitoring and evaluation, and community building. Outside of work and school, you will find her exploring some of the easiest hiking trails in BC, literally chasing sunsets and getting creative through dance and singing.

Meredith is a Program Manager with the Health Literacy Team at BC Children's Hospital. She works alongside the Compass Program to support the implementation and growth of the program's Education Strategy. Meredith has a BA in Medical Anthropology from McGill University and a Master's in Public Health from Simon Fraser University. She has worked over ten years in the field of public health and is passionate about health promotion, health equity, and mental health literacy.

Dr. Priya Watson is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with the Compass Program at BCCH. In addition to her clinical work, which has focused on mood and anxiety disorders, Dr. Watson has published articles, books, and online courses on the subjects of trauma, culture, psychotherapy, and continuing professional development. She has a particular interest in developmental trauma, and collaborating with front-line care providers to provide trauma-informed care to children, youth and their families.

Robin Friedlander is a Clinical Professor and Director of the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Program in the Dept. of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is past head of the Neuropsychiatry clinic and currently leads the SIB clinic at BC Children’s Hospital. Dr Friedlander trained in medicine and psychiatry in South Africa. Since moving to Vancouver, BC in 1993, clinical, academic and teaching pursuits have been in the field of Developmental Psychiatry.

Sonja has a Bachelor’s in Child and Youth Care and a Master’s Degree in Human Security. Currently Director of the Outpatient Psychiatry Department at BC Children’s Hospital, Sonja previously worked within a variety of roles supporting vulnerable populations with challenges related to mental health and substance use, including supporting children, youth and families, individuals living in conflict zones, individuals struggling with homelessness in the Downtown Eastside, and adults with mental health issues involved with the criminal justice system. She has worked with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Children and Family Development around Provincial initiatives to improve responses and supports for families affected by mental health and substance use issues with an emphasis on whole family supports, recognizing the intergenerational nature of these concerns. Outside of work, Sonja can be found horseback riding and jumping or curled up with a good book.

Susan Baer is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with the Compass team. She was born in the US and grew up moving around the US and other countries before settling in the beautiful traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, where she raised her two children. She has worked at BC Children’s Hospital since 2004 in clinical and administrative roles. She is proud to have helped found the Compass team in 2018 and is passionate about increasing access to mental health supports for children and youth across BC. She has particular interests in anxiety and neurodevelopmental disorders. Her favorite part about working on Compass is collaborating with community providers across the province as well as working with the multidisciplinary Compass team. Outside of work, she loves all outdoor activities, particularly backcountry adventures with her two dogs.