Briar Schulz, PhD, RCC-ACS

Assistant Professor of Counselling Psychology
I am a counselling professor that cares deeply about my students and the learning we undertake together. I strive to create an environment that fosters compassion, curiosity, and a genuine respect for all the people we have the privilege of working with.

Briar Schulz Ph.D. (RCC-ACS) is a British Columbia Registered Clinical Counsellor and accredited clinical supervisor. Her work within helping professions spans over 25 years beginning initially as a Registered Nurse working primarily in mental health before moving into the counselling field. She holds a BSN from the University of British Columbia, and M.A. in Counselling Psychology, and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. from the University of Victoria. In addition to maintaining a private practice in Langley for 20 years, she has over 22 years' experience teaching in a post-secondary setting, at both the undergraduate and graduate level.  Dr Schulz is also passionate about community engagement and has founded two non-profit societies that have received government funding. Furthermore, Briar Schulz is a trainer for the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute of Canada.  Briar's research interests focus on student counsellor engagement and wellness in their education in addition to using photovoice and arts based research as an extension of narrative inquiry.

  • PhD (University of Victoria)
  • MA Counselling Psychology (Adler University)
  • BsN (University of British Columbia)
     

Expertise

Vicarious trauma, Expressive Therapies, Eating Disorders, Depression, Health Psychology
 

  • Expressive therapies and their impact on development in counsellors in training (work in progress)
  • The impact of Christian Faith in mitigating vicarious trauma for counsellors in training (work in progress)
  • Stories of persistence for Nursing students (Doctoral Thesis 2015)
  • The Mother/Daughter Relationship during adolescence (Masters Thesis 2004)
  • Schulz, B. Stories of persistence of Canadian nursing students. The Foresight International Journal of Higher Education (2014)
  • Schulz, B. Disordered eating in the workplace. Beyond the Basics. Life Strategies publication (2019)
     

Awards & Honours

  • Best Teaching Award Nominee by KPU students (2021, 2022, 2023)

Affiliations & Memberships

  • British Columbia Association of Registered Clinical Counsellors

  • CPSY 510 Group Counselling
  • CPSY 523/524/525 Foundations of Counselling Psychology
  • CPSY 590 Advanced Counselling Skills
  • CPSY591/592 Practicum