Kyle Shaw

 Hello! I’m Kyle

About Me

I was born in Victoria BC and continue to live here, now with my partner and young daughter. We love to adventure together and have been fortunate enough to take advantage of all that Vancouver Island has to offer. I spend most of my free time camping, boating, crabbing and fishing up and down the coast and exploring the unceded territories of many different BC Indigenous Peoples.

I graduated from the University of Victoria with a degree in Biology, which is where my interest in the human brain began to grow. Following a year of travel to many countries around the world, I returned to Victoria and completed a degree in education leading to over a decade of teaching as a high school science teacher. I have taught in both the alternative and independent school systems, working with students from all walks of life. As an educator, I pride myself on building strong relationships with my students and their families. My experiences in education had a strong bearing on my desire to become a counsellor and my pursuit of a Master’s degree in counselling.

My journey into the world of counselling began as a young teenager through my affiliation with The War Amps of Canada’s Child Amputee Programme. I was born missing my left arm below the elbow and have experienced life as a visible minority while navigating a world that views me as “atypical”. As a youth, I began supporting young amputees, peers, as well as families who were all experiencing amputation in one way or another. My experiences as a differently-abled person and the research I conducted while completing my master’s degree fostered an interest in identity formation, resilience and ableism.

In my later teen years and early 20s, I had the privilege of representing Canada in 4 World Championships while playing with the Canadian Amputee Hockey team. These experiences forever changed my view of the world and how incredible individuals are at overcoming physical and mental challenges. Skating beside individuals that had lost limbs in traumatic ways and witnessing their recovery first-hand was inspirational.

I currently work with adults and children ages 12 and up.