Christine Coughlan, BA Hons
Christine started working in the field after graduating with a Bachelors of Arts Honours from Trent
University, Ontario. In her first job supporting adults
diagnosed with mental health issues, she realized her
passion for helping people achieve their goals, walking side by side with them while they explored and
realized their potential. She learned never to underestimate people and their power to achieve what is
meaningful to them.
Christine started her career in the Peterborough, Ontario chapter of The Canadian Mental Health Association
working in a group home. She enjoyed helping clients find routines and joyful activities in their daily
lives and helped some clients obtain employment and move into more independent living environments
in the community.
In 1995, she moved to Vancouver, British Columbia and began her work with people who had
experienced acquired brain injuries and multiple concussions. She worked as a rehabilitation worker at
Cheshire Homes Society, providing direct support to clients, partnering with them in the rehabilitation
process, and supporting them to set and work towards their goals. Shortly after, she was hired as
Manager of a transitional rehabilitation-focused group home for people with brain injuries, King Edward
House. As part of this position, she had the opportunity to work with G.F. Strong and Lower Mainland
hospital rehabilitation teams to develop rehabilitation and behavioural care plans geared to help clients
achieve their goals of independent living. This experience led to her becoming the Program Director of
Cheshire Homes Society of BC. Within this role, she was responsible for supporting and educating a
team of staff and reporting to funders, all while advocating for the clients and their goals.
In 2005, she relocated to Kamloops and began working for Interior Health in the Acquired Brain Injury
Program. As a Neuro Rehab Case Coordinator, she had the pleasure of working with clients from all
walks of life as they learned to adapt to their brain injuries. She worked both in community, facility and
acute care settings. She helped facilitate discharge planning and developed individualized community
support plans to maximize independence. She acted as a consultant for behavioural care planning and
provided staff, client and family education.
Christine has put in many hours of volunteer work including facilitating a support group for people with
brain injuries, Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference Committee, teaching at the Pearson Hospital Brain
Injury Community Education Program and the Resident Care Aide Program at Langara College, and has
been a member of the Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals and held Registered
Rehabilitation Professional (RRP) designation.
Christine strives to see humanity and individualism in everyone, meeting them where they are in their
journey and gently helping them move forward through compassion, education and relationship
building. She believes all individuals are resilient beings who have the capacity to explore new ways of
living and face challenges, no matter how difficult.
When she’s not working, Christine can be found hanging out with her husband, children and dog,
camping, reading in her garden, hiking, taking photographs, or singing with a local choir.
Christine welcomes you to MindSET and looks forward to helping you find your way to wellness.