Team

If you reach out to us, we can provide help to triage your situation and discuss options for care and biblical counselling.

Rick Walton

Rick is a certified Biblical Counsellor through ABC, and serves as the Director of Biblical Counselling for True North Soul Care at West London Alliance Church.

Rick is passionate about Jesus and His redemption which brings healing and hope to life today and for eternity. In addition, he is an ABC training leader for the Level 1 Foundations course and a supervisor for the Level 2 practicum. His vocational background combines 14 years in business leadership and over 15 years of pastoral experience, including leading a Biblical Counselling ministry in the local church.

He considers it a privilege to walk alongside individuals and couples for a season of life, compassionately understanding their life context and discerning counsel from God’s revelation in the Bible. He relies on the transformative power of God’s Spirit to bring about heart change and guide the counsellee to live out God’s wisdom in shaping new life habits.

Rick’s Care & Counselling Focus:

Individuals: He supports individuals with a particular focus on anger and conflict, anxiety and depression, fear and worry, burnout prevention and revitalization, addiction and recovery, stress and self management, and health and fitness in body stewardship.

Couples: He supports couples and families with a focus on pre-engagement, pre-marital, marriage, and family care.

Business and Ministry Leaders: He supports men and women in the private and nonprofit sectors with vocational fit assessments, biblical self-care strategies, burnout recovery, team building, and conflict management.

Rick is married to his best friend, Teresa. They have two adult children with two grandchildren. Rick enjoys coffee shops with friends and family, good books and courses to keep him learning, and CrossFit to help keep physically healthy and connected to the community.

Colleen Shoemaker

Jesus tells us that, as his children, we can have freedom, joy, and peace, even in the midst of suffering. Yet, so many times, we feel the opposite; we feel trapped and burdened down by life. God’s wonderful promises seem to escape us, and we long for them to be a reality in our lives.

Colleen has been there, and it’s her privilege to walk alongside others when they find themselves in places of messiness, struggles and anxiety.

Her counselling approach is to know you as a whole person, to work together to discover how the gospel of Jesus Christ is relevant to your situation, and to help you understand how your story fits into his wonderful story.

Colleen is an ABC Level 2 certified Biblical Counsellor.  In addition, she has obtained three certificates from Christian Counselling and Education Foundations School of Biblical Counselling (CCEF): Foundations of Biblical Counselling, Topics in Biblical Counselling, and Counselling Skills and Practice. CCEF’s course of study included courses on a biblical view of personal change, the theology of the person, developing effective relationships, caring ministries within the local church, and the effective use of Scripture in counselling. As well, for many years, Colleen and her husband have served together as small group leaders at WLA church.

One of Colleen’s greatest joys is her family. Her husband, Kevin, is Colleen’s constant support, and their two adult daughters and their husbands bring her much joy. She loves hikes with her husband and family, coffee with friends, and a good book.

Deb Wilkins

God has given us many good gifts to enjoy in this life, yet we can’t help but see suffering and loss all around us.  Because it is part of the human experience, Deb is passionate about explaining how God’s word brings hope and healing.

Deb has served in Christian ministries for over 45 years (Teen Ranch, Bayview Glen Church, West London Alliance Church, and Compassion Canada).  She has had the privilege of coming alongside people to equip and encourage them in their walk of faith.

She always knew that suffering was a part of our Christian experience, but it wasn’t until suffering and loss touched her life personally, that she was able to understand the profound nature of it and all that God can accomplish through it. These experiences have changed Deb and deepened her relationship with God. Three months after Deb’s husband died of cancer in 2018,  she went through her own cancer diagnosis. 

After she finished treatment, Deb felt led to get some qualifications in biblical counselling to add credentials to her personal experiences.  She is now certified through the Association of Biblical Counselors, under the leadership of Rick Walton. 

She joined the counselling team and it has been her privilege these past two years to meet with people who are journeying through many areas of loss such as: loss of a loved one, employment, health,  relationships, dreams, and a general loss of hope. It continues to be a great joy for Deb to see God working  through His word to transform hearts, renew minds and provide bright hope for the future.

Tony Johnston

Tony has always had a heart for those going through various trials and suffering. He firmly believes true growth, healing, and change happens when believers walk with one another through the ups and downs of life. Whether you’re facing challenges related to faith, relationships, addiction, temptations, or mental health, Tony is here to walk alongside you with love and compassion.

Tony is a certified biblical counsellor with the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC).  He, also, holds a BSc in Ministry Leadership from Moody Bible Institute. He has experience helping people in all walks of life and have been extremely blessed to see lives changed through the power of the Holy Spirit.

On a personal note, He is married to his my amazing wife.  One of his favourite things in life are movies. Tony can get easily carried away chatting about all things film!