Professional team

Tom Heah has a M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy. He has taught MBSR, MBCT and other mindfulness programs at Vancouver Coastal Health since 2006. He is a mentor for mindfulness teacher trainees at the UCLA Training in Mindfulness Facilitation Program, and at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies. Tom is passionate about teaching mindfulness, and strongly believes in the ability of individuals to find their own wisdom and strength in healing. He has worked with individuals to help improve functioning in daily activities, and manage anxiety, depression, stress, addictions and psychosis. Tom is a Trained Mindfulness Facilitator through the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, and a Certified MBCT and MBSR Teacher through the UCSD Center for Mindfulness. He is currently a Clinical Faculty member at the University of British Columbia School of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.  

Sarah holds a BEd in Primary Education from Queen’s University. She has been a primary school teacher and a Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT) in Ontario and abroad.  Currently, she teaches in the Integrated Mindfulness Certificate at Royal Roads University and Foundations of Applied Mindfulness Meditation Certificate at The University of Toronto.  Sarah holds a MEd in counselling from the University of Victoria. She serves as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SETM Practitioner) in private practice. She has been a therapist at SȾÁUTW/Tsawout First Nation, where she offered individual and group therapy. Recently, she was a counsellor and Trauma-Informed Yoga facilitator at Bridges for Women Society, where she completed a 3-year training in Somatic Experiencing®.  She has extensive training in Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). She completed a year-long training in MBCT facilitation at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies.  Before moving to Victoria, Sarah taught MBCT courses at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies while teaching and coordinating the Embodied Mind stream in the Certificate of Applied Mindfulness Studies at the University of Toronto.  Previously, Sarah provided counselling services at Native Child and Family Services of Toronto and was a senior facilitator at Mindfulness Without Borders. 

Stephany is a registered occupational therapist that received her MBCT facilitation certificate from the Toronto Centre of Mindfulness studies in 2019. She is currently the program coordinator for Gastown Vocational Services, The Art Studios, and Consults with SpectrumWorks in the Greater Vancouver area. Stephany specializes in mental health and vocational rehabilitation. She has led vocational rehabilitation programs, using best practices to support mental wellness and meaningful, sustainable long-term lifestyles. 

With over 27 years of work experience in the Financial Industry, Pam leverages her corporate background and understanding of workplace cultures into her mindfulness programs and meditation practice. With an in-depth understanding of the demands and challenges employees face daily in their work environments, she has tailored her approach to focus on Stress Reduction, Productivity and Kindness in the workplace.  Her unique perspective enables her to create workplace wellness programs based on a holistic approach to employee wellness.

Pam has studied extensively in the field of healing and wellness and has a Master of Counselling through the University of Gonzaga. She studied under renowned Mindfulness Teachers, Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield from the Insight Meditation Society in the USA and Spirit Rock Centre in California, having completed their two year The Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP). Pam has also completed the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn and has embraced these teachings into her mindfulness programs.  Her gentle approach, with a focus on kindness and generosity, is central to her practice with her clients and assists them towards their own journey into wellness and wellbeing.

A steward to our community and our environment, she has more recently embraced the art of service and giving back to society.  Pam volunteers for Calgary Counselling Centre and Calgary Mental Health Association.

Lani began in career in 2006, after obtaining her PhD in Psychology in 2005. She gained tenure as an associate professor in the School of Management at the Graduate School of Chinese Academy Sciences. In 2007, she became deputy director of the Mental Health Education Center, while obtaining a Postdoctoral fellowship at Rochester University Medical Center, then obtaining adjunct faculty status. From 2013-2018 worked as a research fellow in Nottingham Tron University, before joining AMA. Lani has been continuously working on mindfulness training for over five years.