Addiction Therapists in Nanaimo, BC

I am a Registered Psychologist, and have been working in the field of mental health for over 20 years. I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a Depth-oriented focus, and a Master's degree in Counselling and Creative Arts Therapies. I provide psychotherapy, crisis intervention, pychoeducation, & group facilitation. I have years of experience working with sexual assault & incest, trauma, addictions, eating disorders and mood disorders. My therapeutic approach is integrative, and I combine CBT, DBT, somatic, psychodynamic, humanistic, depth-oriented, insight-oriented, interpersonal, and existential philosophies into my practice.

Wanting to create a better life rather than settling for status quo, just getting by while filled with anxiety and feelings of hopeless; coping with excess food, drugs or alcohol. It takes courage and tremendous willingness to begin a path of change and it is an honour and a joy to walk with people on their journey toward wholeness. My work with people often leaves me in awe of the strength of the human spirit as I witness them overcome trauma and self-destructive behaviours and move toward their dreams while embracing their authentic self.

Professional Counselling, Integrated Therapies, and Heart-Centred Hypnotherapy for couples, groups, and individuals 16 and up. Integrated Therapies create an embodied, trauma-informed space of exploration and connection, for the resolution of trauma, life and relationship patterns, and interpersonal conflict. Sessions seek to reflect, witness and support what is new, emerging and most needed for resolution and growth. As we discover + embrace our own inner 'coding' of language, symbols, meaning and emotion, we find a new engagement with life, ourselves, and those around us, becoming more aware, responsive, and connected from within.

Ever feel like saying F#CK My Life? I sure do, especially with therapy being one of the toughest things in the world to sell to guys! Not only do you have to ask for help, which is hard enough, but then there's the ridiculous stigma that getting therapy is admitting weakness instead of an act of strength. On top of that, therapy can be time consuming, results aren't guaranteed and it isn't cheap either. So why bother? As the renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung once said “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

Although I am also a couples counsellor, I work primarily with those who have experienced trauma. Trauma is the experience of being emotionally and psychologically overwhelmed and overcome for weeks, months, or years by adverse childhood experiences and adult traumatic events. My focus is always on the present and a hopeful future - how can those debilitated by anxiety, shame, poor self-worth, child sexual abuse, c-PTSD and PTSD, and dissociative disorders including Dissociative Identity Disorder, become healthy enough to meet their own needs for income, housing, affirming relationships, and wellness - physical, emotional AND mental

People with ADHD are bright, empathetic, and creative. We often struggle with harnessing our uniquely wired brains to fit into a world built for neurotypicals. We know we are capable of so much more, but we're functioning well under that capacity. Examples of the issues we experience include time management, organization, remembering things and motivating ourselves to do things. Other forms of mental illness may accompany our ADHD. However, with some support, we can improve our systems for functioning in ways that are actually fun. We can also improve our intimate relationships, which makes life better all-round.

If you are struggling with stress of any kind ie. work stress, family stress, relationship or personal stress or simply trying to cope with the overwhelming demands of modern life, please feel free to give me a call. I have 20 years experience treating Depression, Anxiety, Burnout, Addictions and Trauma of all kinds. I also provide family and couples counselling. In addition to offering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused interventions, I teach Mindful Self Compassion and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction to all my clients, including older children and teens.

Whether you think you had a 'normal' childhood or know the dysfunction you experienced, we are all wounded by not 'good enough' parenting and thus, develop coping mechanisms which do not always serve us. These adaptations result in depression, addictions, and a feeling of 'stuckness' or 'blah.' I help clients see these adaptations and underlying falsities that many of us continue to live by. As we work, meaningful insights occur and hope returns. You will gain better control of situations and learn to make more meaningful decisions in your life.

Emilie Kemlo, Psychologist is a dedicated specialist in emotionally based trauma release work for 36 years with all ages,nationalities, and income levels, using a sliding scale fee, low rates and immediate availability. She is registered with College of Psychologists of BC, worked at Counseling Center of Tokyo, Tokyo International University, and in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. with a deep understanding of all psychological issues, both Western, First Nations and multicultural Asian issues in health, sex, work and relationships. She was a founding teacher of BC School of Art Therapy, Victoria, and uses Bioenergetic Analysis, visual language and various psychotherapeutic approaches.

Thank you for stopping by. I am currently accepting new clients. I work from where the client is at - essentially you are in the driver's seat of where you want your counselling sessions to go. I have extreme empathy for people's situations and issues they find themselves in. Who hasn't struggled to find ways to deal with things that life throws out at you? I know you are doing the best you can at this moment in time.

Life can feel overwhelming at times. And all of us can benefit from outside help at some point in our lives. It takes courage to reach out for that help and so welcome to my page. I treat each client differently because we are all different. What is common though in my counselling, is my belief in a collaborative approach. Together we can prioritize issues that you may be facing. I am trained in Family Systems and in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. In my experience, counselling can help us become more whole, more authentic and more happy!

Ever feel stuck in a loop of frustrating patterns? Long for meaningful connection, but get lost in estrangement or conflict? Wonder why that joyful ease you occasionally glimpse feels buried under a sludge of anxiety, numbness, or anger? No matter how many "new leaves" we turn over — we find ourselves sinking back into the familiar muck. Here we go again! It's not just in your head. Pain and anxiety get encoded and frozen in the physical body, along with all the feelings it's not okay to feel. By adulthood, our nervous systems are hardwired to survive the situation we grew up in – and can get stuck there, replaying the same script.

Have you been going to therapy for a while or are the doctors stumped with a mystery illness the medical system can't explain? Do you have complicated family dynamics, or require support in your relationship? My work focuses on treatment resistant disorders, personality disorders, sexual funciton/dysfuction and chronic pain. Additionally, working as an emergency first responder and having been deployed to theatres of conflict as a pilot has helped me to understand the complexity of trauma. I work with individuals, couples and families to help when others have not been able to.

Chloe McKinley, a registered clinical counsellor (RCC) and behavioural consultant, offers a unique therapeutic approach for individuals and families seeking counselling support. Chloe specializes in addressing the psychological needs of children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, embracing cultural and gender diverse LGBTQ2 communities. She is one of the few counsellors on Vancouver Island to offer both clinical counselling and behavioural consultation. Chloe also serves the neuro-diverse community as part of the multidisciplinary team known as Cowichan Autism Team Services (CATS). CATS is accepting new referrals.

Are you looking for an Online Therapist? Do you have problems that are not getting better no matter how hard you try? Have you looked for help but not sure where to go and you do not want to burden your friends and family? Well, I can help you. You do not have to stay stuck because you do not know what to do or believe there is no hope for change. I can help you find the hope and learn how to overcome your challenges and difficulties.

My approach is tailored to the needs of each individual. I emphasize the importance of a strong, compassionate therapeutic relationship and work primarily from a trauma informed, client-centered model. I incorporate elements of emotion focused, narrative, dialectical behavioural, internal family systems, parts work, attachment, strengths/resiliency based, and somatic approaches. I primarily work from a process oriented place by working on issues brought up in the moment and spending time breaking down the beliefs, emotions, and behaviours that accompany each issue.

Over the past fourteen years I have worked with adolescents, youth, adults and families in several different settings including community mental health, hospital, crisis services, school and live in treatment homes. I have worked with people experiencing a wide range of complex needs and challenges such as developmental, cognitive, physical and mental. I am a registered social worker in both Ontario and British Columbia.

I help people pleasers & perfectionists to feel confident and empowered in multiple areas of life such as with family, in relationships, and their career. My goal is to help you get clear on your values, and your strengths, so that you can honour healthy boundaries with yourself and others based on what's most important to you. I will help you to develop insight into the narrative that keep you in the comfort zone and to decide which parts are helpful and which ones are holding you back from your greatest fulfillment.

My clients want to feel more comfortable in their own skin. Something has shaken their ability to connect to themselves, and we work together in a strengths-based way to allow them to trust their own judgement, and find ways to feel comfort in their lives. This might look like wanting to decrease anxiety, work with trauma triggers, or increase emotional regulation strategies to give them more control over their experience in life.

Sometimes in life we can feel stuck in patterns that don’t make sense but that we just can’t seem to change. Do you feel like you're on high alert for signs of danger, feeling anxious? Or do you feel emotionally flat, only half alive? When you feel upset, do you find yourself with your back up, ready to fight? Do you feel like running away, escaping the situation? Do you find yourself frozen and collapsing, not able to act? You know you’re capable of overcoming these patterns, but how do you get there? The fight, flight, & freeze are survival states, hardwired into our nervous system through childhood trauma or overwhelming events.

Why hello! If you're here, you might be seeking therapy feeling a strange mixture of despair and hope. Maybe you're struggling with repeating patterns of behaviour, past traumas, a diminished sense of self, difficult relationships, or painful emotions, but you also sense that change is possible and you're willing to try something new. Together we can establish safety, understand and shift your presenting symptoms, and harness your inherent capacity to heal and evolve. I aim to be a compassionate partner in your journey. I am also a fierce advocate for the self inside you that longs to emerge and thrive.

Updated July '24: I am accepting new clients with daytime availability and work with couples and individuals in my practice. Using a collaborative, supportive, and non-judgemental approach, I empower clients to work towards their goals, overcome obstacles, and create new, healthier patterns in their lives. I help a wide variety of clients with anxiety, depression, body image issues, life transitions, trauma, relationship issues, grief and loss, and other challenges. Please feel free to book yourself into my schedule via emmadonaldcounselling.janeapp.com or reach out to me to ask any questions and learn more about my approach!

In over thirty years working as a psychologist, I have become convinced that the most effective way to help others is through a collaborative approach. When the client and therapist work together to find solutions, the emphasis is placed on the client’s individual perspective and the strengths and successes they have already achieved. At the core of therapy, I believe, is a non-judgemental and compassionate view of how everyone’s personal journey involves overcoming suffering and moving towards self-acceptance, empowerment and emotional well- being.

Hey, how are you? I am so honored to work together with you on your journey to building a life you want, what ever that may look like to you. Whether it be struggling with issues of anxiety and panic, depression and low moods or you are unsure why you have the feelings that you do, reach out. I am a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor who is passionate about the helping profession and to make my clients feel safe and to be heard. My only interest is to be here for you and help you create a plan to get the tools you need to move forward and challenge life in your own way.