Who is our son, Brenden? Touching the lives of others through counselling..........

Brenden Bentley-Taylor

Brenden utilizes a gentle approach and curiosity in his practice to help people uncover the reasons for their unhappiness and to assist with opening up new possibilities for emotional freedom. The areas of practice that Brenden works with include anxiety, depression, indecisiveness, relationships, anger, grief, fear, and trauma. He values each person?s unique journey through life and seeks to listen respectfully as the session unfolds. Sessions with Brenden move at a pace that is comfortable for the client and can take the form of dialogue, EMDR therapy, skills development, mindfulness, and/or psychoeducation.

Brenden received his Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Child & Youth Care and Masters Degree in Child & Youth Care from the University of Victoria, Canada. He is a certified teacher and a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #15796). Brenden counsels individuals and couples, and facilitates various wellness groups. He is an EMDR practitioner, and has trained with the highly-regarded faculty at University of Denver’s PREP program to help couples improve the quality of their partnership. Previously he worked at international schools, coached basketball, and facilitated leadership academies. Currently, Brenden teaches at the University of Victoria in the Child & Youth Care faculty.

Born in Perth, Australia, Brenden moved frequently with his family following his father’s career, living in Canada, Christmas Island, and Singapore before the age of 13. Upon returning to Australia he completed his high school studies and continued to travel throughout his 20s, living in the U.S., Vietnam, and Indonesia, where he learned to speak fluent Indonesian. Being exposed to the rich cultures and histories of the countries he lived in, and witnessing a level of poverty that is less prevalent in the Western World, Brenden developed a passion for humanitarian service, which inspired him to work closely with street children in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. In 2011, he founded a Day Centre in the Sri Lankan city of Galle that provided basic needs such as food, clothing, and safety, and educational support to children living on the street, which still supports up to 20 children daily.

Living a transient life resulted in a lot of soul-searching and self-discovery, and seeking answers to the larger questions in life, such as what is my purpose, what is the meaning of life, where can I find a true sense of belonging, and how can people become the greatest version of themselves? This combination of events has led Brenden to develop a perspective of thinking outside the box and to consider creative possibilities for change. Working in the field of counselling, he is now able to make a difference in the lives of those he works with so they too can live their best life and fulfill their dreams and aspirations.