About Shirley Selski

I am a registered social worker with  20 + years of child welfare experience.
I am passionate about helping families and making a positive impact through mediation.
Contact Shirley

Social Worker & Certified Mediator

Registered Social Worker

I  became a social worker in 2004 and registered with the BC College of Social Workers in 2015.  This College regulates all Social Workers in BC and ensures each member completes yearly professional development to increase skills and abilities.  I am  very passionate about the process of mediation and studied at the Justice Institute of BC where I received a certificate in Family Mediation.  I’m a Registered Roster Member for Mediate BC Family Roster and am fully qualified to mediate all aspects of separation and divorce.  I am also qualified with Mediate BC to mediate child welfare disputes when the Ministry of Child and Family Development is involved.

20+ Years Of
Professional Experience

I have over 20 years of child protection experience working for Indigenous families and I’m very aware of intergenerational trauma and the impact of colonization and  I work hard to decolonize my practice. 

Child Interviewer

I am also a child interviewer for Hear the Child Society and have met all the requirements to be called upon to interview children of all ages and then complete a written report for the courts in highly conflicted family disputes.  

Why I Decided To Become A Mediator



During my child welfare work, I heard from various clients that no matter what the conflict was, they each wanted to be able to still have respect for their family members whom they disagreed with. I worked hard at listening to everyone’s perspectives, without judgment, so everyone’s opinion was heard and validated. This allowed my own practice to evolve into a bit of a mediator role and my clients would often tell me that I was good at “refereeing” their disputes.

I began to take courses from the Justice Institute of BC and really enjoyed it. I became certified as a Family Mediator in 2012 and opened Kamloops Family Mediation in 2013. I love being able to find the common ground between people who are in conflict. I ask really good questions to each party to help them move from their positions to more of a flexible perspective. I continue to help clients in the child welfare system understand each other so they can move on to create solid plans that can be measured over time.


Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations

BC Association Of Social Workers

The Association supports and promotes social work services in BC and they advocate for social justice. They offer various workshops and conferences annually for social workers to become educated on social issues that are impacting BC.

BC College of Social Workers

The British Columbia College of Social Workers regulates the social work profession in British Columbia. The duty and objects of the College are to serve and protect the public by superintending the practice of social work in British Columbia. The College maintains an online registry of all social workers authorized to practice as Registered Social Workers.

BC Hear The Child Society

A non-profit organization that aims to give every child the opportunity to share their views and have them heard when their best interests are decided in the family justice system. Members of our Child Interviewer Roster of trained, neutral professionals listen to children and provide written reports of their views to decision-makers and others involved in family law cases where the child’s best interests are being determined. The interviewer does not assess the child or the parents, but rather reports the child’s views, usually verbatim, so that the views can be heard and considered by the adults making decisions about the child’s best interests.

Mediate BC

Mediate BC is a not-for-profit organization that protects the public by managing the provincial Child Protection Mediation Program, as well as rosters of mediators and med-arb practitioners across BC. Mediate BC also educates the public by raising awareness of mediation and other collaborative conflict resolution processes. In addition, we are involved in many justice services sector discussions and innovative programs to advance access to justice for all British Columbians. We receive program funding from the Government of BC and the Law Foundation of BC.

Why Choosing A Social Worker Is Your Best Choice For Mediation?

Social Workers are educated on many aspects of family dynamics. We take training in family systems and understand how your own upbringing can impact how you are as an adult in intimate relationships and how it may impact how you parent. We also take lots of courses on addiction, family violence, intergenerational trauma, grief and loss, mental wellness, childhood development, risk assessments and psychology. This training allows Social Workers to work with clients in a more holistic way so relationships are maintained and supported. Social Workers are skilled at creating goals and listening to clients’ ideas about how to reach those goals. We are trained to assess for violence, child or elder abuse, and mental health issues and can help clients obtain the resources they need. We value the voice of children and strive hard to include their input when important decisions are being made.

We understand families experience many crises, such as separation/divorce, and sometimes that cannot be prevented. However, how you manage it will make a difference in your overall health as well as your loved ones. Social Workers get the whole picture…not just one side of the argument.

Expanding My Expertise: Ongoing Education
& Training In Mediation

According to the Family Law Act Regulations, Part Two under s. 4 “only a mediator who is qualified as a family dispute resolution professional may conduct a mediation in relation to a family law dispute”. It continues to say that each year 10 hours of continuing professional development in the field of mediation must be completed. I must also complete 40 hours of professional development to continue to be Registered with the College of Social Workers.

I have completed many courses in dispute resolution and aspects of separation and divorce. I continue to learn more about child interviewing and risk assessments and attends conferences through Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of BC. I continue to learn about how clients can create their own solutions by staying up to date in Solution Focused Brief Therapy modules.

a woman working on her laptop in a coffee shop.