About Me
Hello Everyone! My name is Wanita Pelley. I am an empath with a passion for helping others navigate life's challenges. Through both personal experience and professional training, I've gained the tools to guide others in finding their anchor when life feels overwhelming or out of control.
I work with people of all ages and have experience supporting clients with ASD, PTSD, FASD, Attachment Disorder, Anxiety and Depression. Each session is tailored to meet you where you are, with compassion, understanding, and tender care.
My therapy dogs, Karma and Kaly, are an integral part of my work. They support in-person clients by providing grounding, comfort, and co-regulation, helping individuals safely connect with their emotions and engage more fully in their healing journey
About Anchor
Anchor Counselling & Animal Assisted Therapy is dedicated to providing a holistic approach to mental health counseling. We integrate traditional counselling methods with the healing power of animal-assisted therapy, along with optional mindfulness-based therapeutic practices, to offer a unique and effective treatment experience. Our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their thoughts and emotions while forming a special bond with our therapy animals.
Our Process
At Anchor Counselling & Animal Assisted Therapy, we understand that every individual's journey towards mental well-being is unique. Our counseling process is tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of each client. We begin by conducting a comprehensive assessment to gain a deeper understanding of the client's background, challenges, and aspirations. Through a collaborative approach, we work with our clients to develop personalized treatment plans that may include animal-assisted therapy sessions, mindfulness-based therapeutic practices, individual counseling, group therapy, and other evidence-based techniques. Our aim is to empower individuals to cultivate resilience, gain self-awareness, and foster positive changes in their lives.
My Qualifications
I am a Social Services Worker, Animal Assisted Therapist, Life Skills Coach, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Facilitator, with training in Trauma, Grief & Loss from the National Institute for Trauma & Loss in Children, Circle of Security - CPRI, ASIST, Mental Heath First Aid, CBT, and FASD.
My Mindfulness Journey
My interest in meditation began nearly 20 years ago, but my true immersion into mindfulness started in April 2019 when I completed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program through the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Memorial Health in Massachusetts. That course was a turning point for me. I realized how poorly I had been managing my stress and how deeply it was affecting my relationships, my ability to enjoy life, and my capacity to perform at my full potential. The experience was transformative— and it sparked a deep desire to study mindfulness more intentionally.
Over the next year, I continued to explore mindfulness on my own, diving into the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and Jon Kabat-Zinn and strengthening my personal practice. In the spring of 2020, I enrolled in the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program at UMass Memorial Health. After completing MBCT, I took part in a 5-day online silent retreat as preparation for the MBSR Facilitator Training through the Centre for Mindfulness Studies in
Toronto, which I completed in 2021.
Since then, I have had the privilege of co-facilitating six 8-week MBSR programs—each one a powerful and rewarding experience. As part of my ongoing professional development and personal healing, I have also attended several 3–7-day silent meditation retreats, which have deepened my practice, expanded my self awareness, and reinforced my belief in the transformative potential of mindfulness.
I have lived with anxiety and depression for many years and understand how overwhelming, painful, and sometimes frightening these experiences can be. While I explored many ways to reduce my anxiety, nothing created lasting change until I committed to a regular mindfulness practice. I still have moments where my chest tightens or my heart races, but now I can recognize these sensations as anxiety—and I have the tools to respond with awareness instead of being swept away. Mindfulness has given me the ability to pause, choose a different response, and interrupt the old patterns that once kept me stuck.
Finding a practice that helps me feel grounded, empowered, and in control of my own life has been nothing short of life-changing. I often describe the difference as moving from the back seat of a runaway roller coaster to the driver’s seat of my own experience. I truly believe the world would be a kinder, safer, more connected place if everyone practiced mindfulness, and I am
passionate about being part of that change. It is deeply fulfilling to share MBSR with others and witness the profound shifts that occur as people become more present, more compassionate, and more engaged in their lives.