Meet Our Counsellors
Our Counselling program is run by a dedicated team of kind, caring, dedicated, and professional counsellors. Read on to meet Kay, Chrystal, Mateo, and Tia.
Kaylen (Kay) Lamb (he/they)
Hi! I'm Kay (he/they), one of the counsellors at Rainbow. I am a proud queer and transgender man, and a registered social worker. I started with Rainbow as a practicum student when I was finishing my bachelor's degree in social work, and spent time working with our youth program. In December 2018, I was hired as a counsellor, and have been providing mental health supports and advocacy to 2SLGBTQ+ youth and adults through short-term counselling ever since. I approach my work from the perspective of having lived experience navigating the mental health care system as a queer person, and believe strongly in the value of being visibly queer as a provider. I also believe individual healing and wellbeing are inherently tied to the collective liberation of all marginalized peoples, and this is why advocacy is a central part of my counselling work.
Outside of my work at Rainbow, I enjoy playing in a long-running Dungeons & Dragons campaign with friends, as well as reading fantasy novels, and playing video games.
Chrystal Neault-Lount (she/her)
Hello! My name is Chrystal Neault-Lount, and I am one of the counsellors here at Rainbow. I joined the team in 2021, at a time when we were still living under some pandemic restrictions in Manitoba. At that time, my primary role was to work mainly as the Older Adult Counsellor, but I do work with folks of all ages. I am also a certified Protection Order Designate. It has been one of the greatest honours of my life to be a part of Rainbow’s team, and to work with and alongside so many great members of the community, coworkers, and RRC participants alike. Before starting at Rainbow, I had been busy raising my kiddos for seven years, the first greatest honour of my life! Prior to having kiddos, I worked as a Social Worker at Villa Rosa, providing support to parents and expectant parents.
Outside of work, I enjoy staying active, being in nature, eating good food, and finding time to be creative.
Mateo Llanillos (he/him)
I was hired as Rainbow Resource Centre’s Youth Program Coordinator in 2019 and later moved into the counselling role in 2021. Aside from my experience as a Rainbow staff member, I originally became acquainted with Rainbow Resource Centre as a community member, I accessed counselling services and attended social support groups. My positive experiences accessing services at Rainbow Resource Centre motivated me to volunteer at the Centre. My volunteer experience at Rainbow Resource Centre includes facilitating discussion nights in the Youth Program and facilitating the Trans. Masculine support group. Facilitating the Trans. Masculine support group has been a labor of love, and I’m proud to be in the role of facilitator for over a decade.
The role of facilitator offered me insight on the value of community connection, and I found myself supporting participants outside of group settings. Support included meeting one-on-one, connecting folks to resources, advocating on their behalf, and occasionally accompanying them to appointments. Overall, my experiences in this support role motivated me to pursue a degree in Social Work. In my role as a counsellor, I focus on the person within their environment(s), this includes relationships and factors that contribute to our world view and self-perceptions. Within the social work code of ethics there are embedded values that align with my personal values, such as principles of respect for the inherent dignity and worth of persons.
As a BIPOC individual in a counselling role, I have a personal investment in supporting other BIPOC individuals. I use a variety of modalities in the work I do with clients, however, it’s essential to highlight and critique structural power imbalances and to consider how systems and structures that we work within negatively impact mental health. My goal is to allow space for clients to simply exist without judgement, honor challenging experiences, acknowledge personal strengths and to empower clients to set and reach their goals.
On a personal note, I love to laugh and when appropriate, I try not to take life too seriously. I have a variety of hobbies that I tend to cycle through. I identify as an introvert, and my favourite place to be is my home where I can laugh and craft with the people I love most.
Tia Oberoi (they/them)
Hi! I’m Tia (they/them). I have been working at Rainbow Resource Centre since May 2022 as the Youth Support Counsellor. My previous involvement with Rainbow includes being a Cabin Leader for Camp Aurora in 2019, a BIPOC Advisory Board Member, and a Summer Student in 2020. I am a registered Social Worker and have been working with youth in different capacities since 2016. My professional approach is grounded in trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and harm-reduction frameworks.
Outside of work, you’ll often find me creating art or spending time in nature. Whether it's knitting, cross-stitching, or engaging in various DIY projects, creating art reflects my belief in the power of self-expression.
I believe that it is a joy and a privilege to walk alongside 2SLGBTQ+ youth in their journeys.