Our Story
Rooted in Relationship. Reimagining Mental Health.
Aurora Wellness Group is a northern-based mental health organization dedicated to accessible, culturally safe, and trauma-informed care rooted in mutual respect and human dignity.
We believe healing happens through relationship—to each other, to ourselves, and to the land. In the Yukon and across the North, access to consistent, meaningful mental health care remains deeply unequal. Too often, services are short-term, externally delivered, and disconnected from community realities. Aurora Wellness Group was created to offer something different.
We are more than a clinic—we are a collective of counsellors, cultural healers, creators, and community builders reimagining wellness through decolonizing, community-led approaches.
Whether through clinical counselling, community workshops, destigmatization campaigns, or on-the-land programs, our work meets people where they are—across schools, First Nations offices, cultural spaces, and beyond. We collaborate with traditional knowledge holders and centre those most impacted by systemic barriers, creating space for healing, reclamation, and resilience.
From Solo Practice to Social Enterprise
Aurora Wellness Group was founded on a deep commitment to equity, social justice, and accessible mental health care. Stephanie Leithead began her northern journey in Paulatuk, NWT, later moving to Whitehorse in 2015 to offer mobile counselling to underserved communities.
In 2017, she formally launched Stephanie Leithead Counselling & Consulting Inc., expanding to a team of four travel-based counsellors serving across the territories. When the pandemic halted travel in 2020, Stephanie pivoted to virtual care, continuing to support clients during a time of isolation.
From the North, For the North
In 2021, she and her husband, Matt Van Lankveld, reimagined the practice—opening a clinic in Whitehorse and rebranding as Aurora Wellness Group Ltd., a values-driven social enterprise focused on Yukon communities.
Since then, AWG has grown to a team of 16 professionals, served over 1,300 clients, and built partnerships with First Nations, nonprofits, schools, and wellness providers—extending its reach from the Whitehorse clinic into communities across the North.
Our Mission, Vision & Values
Our Mission
To transform mental health care in northern and remote communities by providing services that are accessible, culturally safe, trauma-informed, and grounded in relationship, equity, and collaboration.
Our Vision
A future where mental wellness is community-driven, culturally grounded, and fully accessible to all—regardless of geography, identity, or income.
Our Core Values:
Relational Practice
Healing begins in safe, trusting relationships—with clients, communities, and one another.
Community-Led Care
We don’t impose; we co-create. Every program is shaped in partnership with the communities we serve.
Neurodiversity & Disability Affirmation
We celebrate differences in how people think, feel, and experience the world—and create spaces that affirm all identities.
Cultural Safety & Decolonization
We honour Indigenous knowledge, support self-determination, and work in ways that challenge colonial systems of care.
Equity & Accessibility
We believe mental health care is a human right. Our services are built to reduce barriers—economic, geographic, systemic.
Integrity & Accountability
We show up with humility, act with transparency, and hold ourselves accountable to those we work with.
Founders
Stephanie Leithead (she/her) – Founder & Clinical Director
A master’s level clinical counsellor, Stephanie brings lived experience as a woman with ADHD and chronic illness. She is a visionary leader, mother of four, and social justice advocate known for her warmth, creativity, and commitment to equity.
Matt Van Lankveld (he/him) – Co-Founder & Operations Lead
Matt leads operations and financial oversight. As Stephanie’s partner in life and business, he’s been instrumental in growing Aurora from a solo practice into a collaborative, team-based organization.
Our Extended Circle
We also work in close partnership with:
First Nations governments and health teams
Schools, non-profits, and community organizations
Traditional knowledge holders and healers
Artists, facilitators, and wellness providers
Meet the Team
Our Team
We are proud to include:
Clinical counsellors, social workers, psychotherapists, and psychologists from diverse disciplines
Cultural and community wellness collaborators
Administrative staff who keep our systems running smoothly
A Collective Rooted in Care
Aurora Wellness Group is powered by a multidisciplinary team of counsellors, wellness practitioners, community collaborators, and support staff. Together, we bring professional expertise, lived experience, and shared values into every setting—whether in one-on-one sessions, group circles, or community events.
Our Impact & Reach
Northern Roots, Growing Together
Since reimagining in 2021, Aurora Wellness Group has supported over 1,300 clients through counselling, workshops, and community-based programs. What began as a small team in Whitehorse has grown into a wide-reaching network of professionals and collaborators across the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
We currently:
Support six NWT communities through virtual and travel-based care
Deliver in-clinic, in-school, and land-based programs across the Yukon
Co-design culturally safe services with First Nations, nonprofits, and corporate partners
Mentor early-career counsellors and practicum students
Offer Pay-What-You-Can counselling to reduce barriers to access
Our impact is grounded in relationships. Every session, circle, and conversation contributes to healing and connection across the North.
Recent Highlights:
Practitioner of the Year – Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (2025, to be announced May 31)
Greatest Community Impact Award – Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards (2025)
Health & Wellness Category Winner – Canadian Choice Awards (2025)
New Business of the Year – Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce (2023)
Woman Identifying Business Owner Micro-Grant – CANIE Awards (2022/23), presented by the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation and TD
We’re proud to be recognized for our contributions to mental health, innovation, and community wellness in the North. These acknowledgements reflect the collective efforts of our team, our partners, and the communities who trust us to walk alongside them in healing.
Awards & Recognition
Honouring the Work, Celebrating the Vision
Let’s Work Together
We believe mental wellness is a collective responsibility. Whether you're looking for counselling support, interested in partnering with us, or simply want to learn more—there’s a place for you here.