About us

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We are wellness advocacy group

OWAG is a small, minority-owned family practice of counsellors and wellness Advocacte & coaches committed to culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and people-centred care.

Our approach

We use a multi-disciplinary & Direction-setting approach to support inidvduals in wellness, and advocate for their social and health needs to be met appropriately.

Direction-setting vs goal setting: Direction-setting care has more space for flexibility and adjustments. It accounts for the twists and turns life offers, and allows our journey in wellness to unfold naturally. Direction-setting practices all for more ways to achieve success, and often surpass original goals.
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Our Story
The Okanagan Wellness Advocacy Group was founded on the belief that true wellness extends beyond individual needs and encompasses the collective well-being of our families, communities, and environment. Inspired by the Okanagan Valley’s stunning landscapes and diverse cultures, we are dedicated to fostering health, balance, and connection for all who call this region home. As a family-owned, Black and queer-led organization, our work is deeply rooted in lived experience, intergenerational knowledge, and community care traditions. Drawing from Jungian understandings of collective and ancestral wisdom, we recognize that healing is not created in isolation—it is carried through stories, relationships, cultural memory, and the resilience of those who came before us. Our leadership reflects this lineage of care, survival, and adaptive wisdom, allowing us to offer support that is relational, grounded, and culturally responsive. Compassion is at the heart of everything we do. We recognize that each person’s wellness journey is unique and often shaped by systemic harm, historical trauma, and marginalization. Our programs are designed to meet people where they are, offering understanding, advocacy, and resources that honour both individual dignity and collective healing. We believe wellness is not just a personal pursuit but a shared responsibility. By addressing systemic barriers and centering community-led, culturally informed approaches, we aim to create a culture where healing is not outsourced to institutions, but cultivated through trust, kinship, and the enduring wisdom held within our communities.
Keisha McLean
Wellness Advocate & Coach

Meet Keisha, cwc

You cannot stand high atop a mountain of suffering souls and proclaim yourself free. Freedom is not an indivdual condition. It is collective caring. A sustained devotion. A subtle symphony of interwoven soulfulness. Freedom weeps. - Jalya John
Keisha McLean is a Certified Wellness Coach, professional advocate, and wellness worker with a focus on mental health, substance use, and disabilities. With over eight years of industry experience and a strong commitment to trauma-informed practice and cultural competency, she supports individuals and communities in navigating complex systems and accessing essential resources. Keisha’s direction-setting approach emphasizes sustainable change, resilience, and whole-person wellness, positioning her as a trusted ally in advancing equitable support, advocacy, and long-term well-being.
JOY jULES
Director, Clinical Supervisor

Meet Joy, BA MCH MACP CCC

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand. - Thich Nhat Hanh
Joy Jules brings over 30 years of experience in the mental health field, spanning low-barrier community supports, frontline crisis work, and private practice. Her career has been rooted in meeting people where they are, with deep respect for lived experience, complexity, and resilience.
Joy now focuses her work on clinical supervision and leadership, supporting practitioners and organizations to provide ethical, compassionate, and sustainable care. Her approach is grounded in mindfulness-based practice, emphasizing presence, self-awareness, and reflective engagement as core elements of healing and effective support.
With a strong foundation in both clinical practice and systems-level work, Joy offers thoughtful guidance that bridges individual care, team wellness, and organizational integrity.
Why a Dandelion
I have lost my smile,but don’t worry.The dandelion has it.
If you have lost your smile and yet are still capable of seeing that a dandelion is keeping it for you, the situation is not too bad. You still have enough mindfulness to see that the smile is there.
You only need to breathe consciously one or two times and you will recover your smile. The dandelion is one member of your community of friends. It is there, quite faithful, keeping your smile for you.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Call: 778 557 2112Email: keisha@wellnessadvocacygroup.ca

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