We Are IH: MHSU clinician humbled by client transformations

July 4, 2024

Colette and Scout enjoy the views from Knox Mountain in Kelowna.

Name: Colette Mayne (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Clinician
Years of Service: 7
Worksite: Kelowna Mental Health and Substance Use
Community: Kelowna
Ancestral Territory: Syilx Nation
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Ghandi

With a deep passion for community work and helping vulnerable people, Colette Mayne says witnessing her clients take steps to live healthier, more balanced lives is the most rewarding part of her role.

"Kindness, empathy and compassion can go along way when we are collaborating with vulnerable people. The world needs more of this right now," says Colette. "It's important to connect with others and hold space for those that need it, as we all have things that we are dealing with under the surface. Even us health-care professionals are not immune to having tough times."

The mental health and substance use (MHSU) clinician, who has been with Interior Health (IH) for seven years and in the counselling field for nearly 20, is part of an Integrated Treatment Team (ITT) in Kelowna that supports individuals with substance use disorder.

“We support people at the community level or in their homes who have a moderate to severe substance use disorder and are at the highest risk of drug poisoning due to being recreational users," she says.

“Most of the people we support in our program are working professionals, business owners and community members, and have families. Having access to discreet substance use supports is of the utmost importance to those we support.”

Colette says she is continually learning in her role and much of that comes from her daily interactions.

“I have found that my most profound and valuable learning experiences have been from the people we support,” shares Colette.

In this Story…

Learn more about Colette’s journey with IH

Colette nominates Lauren Stewart, occupational therapist, to keep We Are IH going

Explore mental health and substance use clinician roles Careers@IH

Learn more about Colette’s journey with IH

Colette began her career in counselling in 2005 working in the non-profit sector at two different agencies supporting mental health and substance use clientele. One of these positions was at John Howard Society, providing support to individuals on probation, parole and those exiting the corrections system.

Woman, man, girl, and boy stand in front of waterfall in lush forest — The Mayne family captures a moment on a hike to a waterfall in Maui.

“I valued my time working at the community level and being a part of the non-profit sector, as these experiences have more than enriched my professional life,” she says. “Having exposure to the marginalized and less fortunate in our community has been a profound experience that I continue to carry with me throughout my career.”

In 2017, she joined IH, initially working at Kelowna General Hospital, then transferring to Outreach Urban Health where she covered a social work position supporting the street population. This led to an entirely new and unique role working from the safe consumption recreational vehicle.

“I spent two years working ‘on the bus’ and supported Kelowna’s most vulnerable from a trauma-informed and harm reduction lens,” recalls Colette.

Just before the pandemic, she joined the substance use team as an outreach clinician and worked full time in that role as she completed her Master of Social Work through the University of Waterloo.

Her current role in the Integrated Treatment Team involves meeting people in person either at her office, in a community setting or in private residences. She provides clients with counselling for substance use and mental health, helps them formulate personalized goals, and takes steps with them to meet these goals.

“Treatment referrals, accessing withdrawal management support, referrals to other resources, accessing our substance use groups and one-on-one support are some other duties that I perform daily with my clients," Colette says. "Linking with medical and other counselling supports such as addictions doctors, trauma, and grief counselling are also a large part of what happens in my day to day.”

“The most rewarding part of my job is witnessing my clients taking the steps to living a life that is more balanced and healthier, and watching them do the work to make these changes. Witnessing these transformations is powerful and humbling, and gives me hope that I am in the right field. I also really enjoy meeting new people, hearing their stories, and supporting them to make changes.”

-- Colette Mayne

Colette also holds a spot on the coordinated access meeting table with BC Housing, which houses individuals in the Kelowna area in the supportive housing units across the community. Being a part of this table is a vital role she values deeply.

Woman, man, girl, and boy in winter clothing and skis on a snowy slope with trees in the background — A family ski day at Big White in Kelowna.

Colette’s life outside of work is equally varied and busy. She prioritizes spending time with her husband, daughter Kensey, aged 13, son Kendal, aged 10, and dog, Scout. She is an avid hiker, and enjoys paddle boarding, camping and mountain biking in the summer. Wintertime means downhill skiing, and the family can often be found shredding the slopes at Big White.

“It brings me joy and gratitude to be able to live and work in such a beautiful place.”

Colette nominates Lauren Stewart, occupational therapist, to keep We Are IH going

“Lauren is an occupational therapist with MHSU, primarily the substance use team, and has been with IH a long time. She is an amazing collaborator, is knowledgeable, and supportive of teams, and just an all-around lovely human.” – Colette Mayne