The people behind the Centre

Meet co-founders Ryan Snow & Sue Snow

And the caring team offering counselling, coaching, recovery support, EXOMind™, EMVital™, acupuncture, massage therapy, and Reiki. See the philosophy behind their work on Intentions & Guiding Principles.

Co-founders

Ryan Snow, Co-Founder, Counsellor and Recovery Coach at the Centre for Wholeness & Well Being.

Ryan Snow

Co-Founder, Counsellor & Recovery Coach · ACC, NCCP III

Certified Addiction Counsellor · Certified Psychedelic Integration Coach · ARISE Interventionist

A former World Cup freestyle skier and Olympic-level coach, Ryan found his own path through depression and addiction toward recovery, and now guides others through theirs.

Ryan spent 10 years competing on the World Cup stage with the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, then transitioned to coaching elite athletes for teams from Canada, Australia, China, the USA (2010 Olympics), and Brazil (2014 Olympics).

When one of his athletes experienced a life-altering accident weeks before the Sochi Olympics, the impact sent Ryan into a cycle of depression and addiction. It was during that period that he began his own path toward healing, through meditation, yoga, family support, and self-discovery, including his initiation into the Missoko Bwiti tradition under his teacher, Moughenda Mikala.

Today, Ryan combines his background as an Olympic-level coach with the heart-centred approach he developed on his own recovery journey. He is a full initiate of the Bwiti Missoko tradition, grounded in earth traditions and honouring Pacha Mama, which informs his work supporting others through ceremony and integration.

Recovery from addiction and trauma is possible, and Ryan is here to guide you on your journey.

Sue Snow, Co-Founder and Counsellor at the Centre for Wholeness & Well Being.

Sue Snow

Co-Founder & Counsellor · B.A./M.Ed, CCDC, MPCC

Registered Professional Counsellor · Brain Story Certification · Compassionate Inquiry Counsellor · HeartMath Facilitator

Sue is an educator, counsellor, and coach who co-created the Centre’s programs. Her own experience with psychiatric care shapes her advocacy for compassionate alternatives to standard treatment.

Sue holds a B.A./M.Ed and a range of credentials, including Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC), Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (MPCC), and Certified Addiction Counsellor. She is a registered member of the Association of Counselling Therapists Alberta and the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association, and, like Ryan, has been trained and initiated into the Bwiti Missoko tradition under Moughenda Mikala.

Sue’s dedication to integrative healing is rooted in her own transformational journey. Having endured the challenges of psychiatric treatment, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), psychoactive medications, and invalidating therapeutic techniques, she has become an advocate for alternatives to stigmatizing psychiatric diagnoses and treatments, committed to care that doesn’t rely on mind-altering drugs or harmful interventions.

As a mother and family member of people in recovery, Sue understands the complexity and heartache of addiction firsthand, and recognizes that recovery is rarely linear. She brings extensive experience in education, case management, and addiction recovery coaching, and is a lifelong learner who has participated in and facilitated many personal and spiritual seminars, retreats, and workshops.

A small black-and-white dog resting with a plush toy in a sunlit room at the Centre.
A quiet afternoon at the Centre.

Practitioners & advisors

  • Jennifer Hammer

    Jennifer Hammer

    Growth & Innovation Advisor · Certified Coach, Reiki Master

    Jennifer blends strategic organizational insight with hands-on energy work, supporting the Centre’s growth while working directly with clients through life transitions and loss.

    As Growth & Innovation Advisor, Jennifer supports the Centre’s evolution by helping shape programs, partnerships, and systems that are values-aligned and community-responsive, drawing on experience in program management, corporate leadership, and non-profit governance.

    Alongside her advisory role, she works directly with clients as a Certified Coach and Reiki Master & Teacher, supporting people through life transitions, grief and loss, and periods of personal or professional change, blending evidence-informed coaching with energy-based healing.

  • Bellgene McGregor

    Bellgene McGregor

    Masters of Counselling, CCC

    A former teacher and 12-year military veteran, Bell brings an eclectic, multicultural therapeutic approach to adolescents, adults, and couples, in person and online.

    Bell completed her Master of Counselling degree at City University of Seattle and provides low-cost counselling through the Centre. Before becoming a therapist, 17 years as a teacher and 12 years in the military taught her to deeply value connection, community, and safe, supportive spaces where healing and growth can flourish.

    She draws from Solution-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and creative and somatic practices, guided by each person’s own strengths and inner resources. She also offers Sandtray Therapy, which uses miniature figures in a tray of sand to explore experiences and emotions in ways words alone can’t always capture.

    A collection of small Sandtray Therapy figures at the Centre — animals, sea creatures, a butterfly, and other miniatures.
  • Dr. Matthew Rider

    Dr. Matthew Rider, Dr. Ac.

    Doctor of Acupuncture

    A graduate of the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr. Rider specializes in chronic pain, blending acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and over a decade of meditation experience.

    Dr. Rider brings a strong foundation in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to his work, enriched by his own long-standing meditation and mindfulness practice. His treatments integrate acupuncture, herbal medicine, and the relationship between mind and body to offer a personalized, compassionate approach to healing.

  • Rachel Hooker

    Rachel Hooker

    Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)

    A 2018 graduate of Makami College in Calgary, Rachel specializes in migraine and concussion treatment with a whole-body, somatic integration approach.

    Rachel has worked in a variety of multidisciplinary clinics since graduating, and brings that broad clinical experience into her work at the Centre.

  • Amber Craig

    Amber Craig

    Marketing Advisor

    A professional writer, designer, and marketer for over 20 years, Amber has worked with more than 130 companies on design, branding, marketing, and strategy.

    Amber is currently the Principal and Founder of Spark Business Strategies, specializing in marketing and merchandising strategy. She advises the Centre rather than working directly with clients, so there is no booking link for her here.

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