Female Therapists in Nanaimo, BC

Human beings are complicated-so often we attempt to reach out to others using words to express our thoughts, our emotions, and our behaviours. With children/youth, we see additional communication barriers because of fewer words and limited life experiences. Being part of a family system should bring safety and emotional support but sometimes this is not possible without help. My work is to enable us to become partners in the process of change- discovering strengths, new awareness and building on this. Imagine my holding up a mirror for you, so that with each session, you are able to discover and appreciate more of who you truly are.

If you are here looking for support you probably feel stuck. You may wonder why you keep doing things that cause you to suffer or why you can't seem to feel better about yourself or why you know what to do but can't take action. In other words, you may feel pushed around by the painful events in your world and prevented from doing, having or feeling what you want.

My goal is to help clients understand what they need and to reduce the stress and anxiety in their lives so they can reach their potential and feel they can manage life in a way that brings them more happiness, awareness and self acceptance.

I work with people who are feeling stuck on something in life and would like to move through it. Whether it's anxiety, low mood, challenging circumstances or anything else life has thrown at you, together we can work on it. Along with offering support and a safe space to speak, we can come up with a plan that uses your individual strengths to create and sustain positive change.

You’re a new parent whose relationship before kids is a distant memory. You don’t know how the happy vision of starting a family together turned into arguing about packing diaper bags and lunches and silent evenings on opposite sides of the couch. You don’t have energy to go on a date let alone take care of yourself. In fact, I bet you’re reading this profile during the few moments that your tiny humans are asleep.You’re exhausted, and you don’t know how you will find time to dedicate towards therapy, but you know something has to change. If it doesn’t, you’re worried about the consequences for your relationship or your children.

My focus is strongly influenced by a person-centered therapy approach to wellness through different methods such as Eco-therapy or expressive art therapy techniques and using the natural elements available to us should the sessions call for such an approach. Reducing stress and anxiety to create a more peaceful person inside who can claim their meaning and be more joyful in life is a difficult path to walk alone. I am here to help and be part of the healing journey. I have completed my diploma in April of 2023 and plan to continue my education and training to better serve the clients I take on as I evolve as a counsellor.

Are you struggling with difficult emotions or anxious thoughts? Are you experiencing changes, challenges or losses which make it difficult to function? I work with adults who are feeling overwhelmed by daily life, in their relationships or at work. Using a person-centred approach, I offer a safe space where you can feel comfortable, heard and understood. A place where we can work together on your goals at your pace, attending to your unique requirements and the situations you are responding to. I draw from various theoretical perspectives to gain insight into your life experiences and narrow the focus to what is important to you.

Addiction, eating disorder, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, phobia, and insomnia etc. are most often symptoms, but not the root of the problem. Very often, through childhood and adulthood, many traumatic experiences (such as bullying and abuse) left us with psychological injuries. And we use various above-listed symptoms to deal with experiences that made us feel sad or scared, even for short-term. The real healing/solution is, therefore, to clean the injuries, and develop new coping skills. This approach also applies to unexpected traumatic life experiences, such as accidents, natural disasters, illness, and grief.

Counselling is the art of illuminating pasts, fostering resilience, and nurturing seeds of positive change.  I weave a tapestry of care, blending the precision of nursing insight with the warmth of compassionate counselling. Your journey is a unique narrative of strength and resilience. My approach is tailored to celebrate your distinct story, guiding you toward holistic wellness and lasting transformation.  As an experienced Registered Nurse with a Master's degree in clinical counselling, my unique approach combines medical expertise and therapeutic skills. Specializing in health and wellness counselling.

Life's challenges can be overwhelming, but you don't have to face them alone. I'm dedicated to guide you through your struggles with compassion and non-judgment. My mission is to create a safe and empathetic space where you can explore your concerns and heal the pains that have led to difficulty and dissatisfaction in your life. Whether you're grappling with anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, or navigating life transitions, I'm here to support you. Embarking on therapy can feel vulnerable, yet it can be liberating step towards healing. I prioritize building trust and rapport, so you can feel heard, valued and understood.

Navigating life's challenges can be lonely, overwhelming, and exhausting. I seek to empower my clients along their path to growth and wellness through providing genuine, empathetic, caring, and skilled support. I work with a wide range of ages, from preschoolers to retirees. I offer individual counselling (youth and adults), play therapy, couples, and family therapy.

If you are struggling and faced with challenges that may be overwhelming and getting in the way of everyday life, I welcome you to reach out to me. These challenges can hold us back from reaching our goals and may negatively impact our relationships. I know reaching out for help can be difficult, but it is a great step in creating lasting change. I work collaboratively with you to explore your unique circumstances in order to overcome issues that are affecting you presently, but also those that may be more deeply ingrained and harder to understand and move on from.

Everyone has a unique approach to discovering wellness in their life. I believe we need balance between physical, mental, emotional, behavioral and spiritual health, and each of these areas requires care and attention to thrive. By reaching out to talk about stress, feelings, emotions, thoughts and other factors influencing our health, we give ourselves the ability to make necessary change, and to empower autonomous decision-making, creating happiness for ourselves. If you feel stuck, stressed, unfulfilled, or experience relationship difficulties or require support in finding happiness and health, begin your journey to health today.

Let’s work together to explore the challenges creating uneasiness, confusion and pain in your life. We will work in a comfortable, accepting space to create a meaningful, grounding experience to help you gain new awareness, explore choices and promote positive and rewarding change and self-care. Traditional talk therapies are not the only way to explore your story, and I often use sand play, art, storytelling, journaling, metaphor and imagery to reach a deeper understanding.

Accepting Clients - I am a somatic therapist supporting older youth & adults healing from symptoms of anxiety and depression, the stressors of daily living, processing trauma related to relationships and family, and navigating life transitions. The people who seek me out are often yearning for authentic living and deep connection. They may be in search of their identity or life purpose. Some may be uncovering limiting relational patterns and want to break the cycles that no longer serve them in order to live more fulfilling lives.

I firmly believe that each person has the potential to overcome the effects of their difficult life experiences. I am committed to walk alongside you on your path towards healing from depression, anxiety, (complex) trauma, abuse, and other mental health challenges. Providing a safe, non-judgmental environment, I tailor my methods to your needs. I love and have experience working with individuals and families from a variety of cultural backgrounds. My expertise is in supporting those struggling with traumatic experiences as well as difficulties related to cultural and relational contexts.

Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am grateful to have been working in the field of health and human services for 23 years. I am humbled to provide clinical counselling services to children, youth, adults, couples, and families. In my interactions I strive to meet people where they are at while centring safety, collaboration, trauma informed practice, cultural humility, compassion. I hold a Bachelor Degree in Social Work, Masters in Counselling Psychology and a PhD with a specialization in the field of substance use and addiction. I am a professor at a post- secondary university and teach in the areas of substance use, mental health.

Perhaps you are wondering how to feel more present, engaged, connected & happy in your day to day life. You may be noticing a lack of fulfillment, autopilot survival mode, lack of presence, anxiety about the future, difficulty with rest/slowing down & motivation/energy, uncertainty, challenging emotions, isolation/hyper independence, uncomfortable sensations, worry & rumination, low self confidence/self esteem & disruptive/confusing symptoms. All of these symptoms are understandable & make sense in the context of life events. It is possible to reconnect with your empowered self, respond to life challenges & enjoy simple presence.

Welcome. Connection, compassion and non-judgemental listening support my Person Centered approach. Together we find ways for you to voice your challenges, purpose and direction. One way to shine the light of attention on difficulties is through writing. Insights often reveal themselves when thoughts and feelings are put down on paper. If this approach appeals to you, I have extensive experience and belief in the healing power of the written word/journalling as a path to inner knowing.