Carmelle Hermoso

Hello! I’m Carmelle

About Me

I am a second-generation Canadian, born and raised in Victoria, BC. I am a proud daughter of immigrants from the Philippines, who settled in Canada in the 1970s. Because of my parents’ hard work and perseverance as newcomers, they were able to provide me with so many opportunities to follow my passions and interests. I am forever grateful for the many sacrifices they made for our family and our future. Today, my husband and I are parents of two amazing kids. As a young family, we are so fortunate to live, work, and play here on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen peoples.

I completed my Bachelor of Education Degree (Elementary Curriculum) in 2010 from the University of Victoria. As an undergrad student, I worked as a recreation leader at an out of school care program and volunteered as a tutor at the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre.  After graduation, I began working at an independent Montessori school here in Victoria as a Special Education Assistant, supporting students with diverse needs. A few years later, I pursued my AMS Elementary I & II Montessori training through the Vancouver Board of Education Montessori Credential Program, which I finally completed in 2015 while on maternity leave with my first born. Over the last several years, I have worked as an SEA, Learning Assistance Teacher, and Classroom Teacher. Working in a school setting has allowed me to better understand how children see and experience the world, and in particular, how their relationships impact their development.

As someone who has had lived experience with anxiety and depression, I have always been most passionate about supporting my students’ mental health and wellbeing. In my beginning years of teaching, I considered switching careers to become a counsellor, but eventually realized I could combine my two passions by pursuing school counselling. While on maternity leave with my second child, I decided to get my feet wet and took a few courses in Psychology and Counselling at UVic. In the Fall of 2018, I began my graduate studies in the M.Ed. in School Counselling program through City University of Seattle. My first internship experience was at a K-5 school in the Sooke School District, where I provided group counselling to students requiring support with self-regulation and social skills development. After completing my first year of the M.Ed. program, I became the School Counsellor at the Montessori school I had been teaching at. In this role, I provide individual and group counselling, offer support to parents and teachers, as well as collaborate with external agencies involved with some of our students. I also teach and facilitate social-emotional programs as well as provide opportunities for social connections through clubs and lunch groups. I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can combine my training and experience in the Montessori method with child-centred play therapy, both of which highly rely on careful observation of the child in their environment. It has been a blessing to also have the chance to provide counselling to children, youth, and families through VICYFCS.

I look forward to meeting you and I am happy to answer any questions you may have!