Female Therapists in Port Alberni, BC

As a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Creative Arts Therapist, my main goal is to be present with you and support your innate capacity for healing. As a somatic-based practitioner, I support clients to connect with the wisdom of their body and their creativity within the counselling space to help manage stress, trauma and mental health challenges. I see therapeutic work as a collaboration, where you can feel empowered as an active partner in your process, while building upon your strengths, resources and resiliency from the start.

Looking for a counsellor or trauma therapist? Not sure where to start? Are you wanting to make changes, feel more at ease or comfortable in your body? Many of the people I work with have experienced painful things, either in childhood, adolescence, adulthood or throughout their life and it’s affected how they feel now. Sometimes it is numbing or quick to anger. The journey of becoming whole and healing can be started in a caring, safe space that is created in counselling.

I work from a humanistic perspective which takes a positive view of human nature and emphasizes the uniqueness of the individual. The humanistic approach supports individuals to realize their potential through self-directed growth and by exploring meaning, values, and personal responsibility. I will support you to find, within yourself, the choices, behaviors, and directions that have integrity for you and; to explore the steps and tools to help you with your goals.

As a counsellor my goal is to help guide you towards a more joy filled and authentic life through a trauma informed lens and somatic counselling approach. Is disordered eating or a preoccupation with body image getting in the way of your connection to self and others? Are your current coping strategies no longer serving you? Do you have a past trauma or wound which is adversely affecting your quality of life? Or, perhaps you just feel like "something is wrong" and you want change. I offer a warm, authentic, collaborative approach for you to do this work.

I have a unique blend of educational and counselling experience within K-12, postsecondary, and private practice arenas. My areas of focus are assessment, evaluation, and counselling therapy. Offering mobile and teleservices, my philosophy is ever changing, but is grounded in the belief that perceptions precipitate behaviour. My goal is to guide you in a respectful and collaborative manner, as you work to gain the knowledge and skills for solutions that will allow you to lead a more balanced and fulfilling life.

I specialize in offering individual and couples counselling, where I strive to create a safe and non-judgmental space for exploration and healing. I believe in taking a holistic approach to therapy, understanding that mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing are interconnected. This means that I consider various aspects of your life and experiences.

I provide compassionate and personalized support for children, youth, and adults. Specializing in anxiety, depression, grief, sensory issues, and more, I celebrate individual strengths and teach vital coping skills. My holistic approach extends to addiction support, parenting guidance, trauma recovery, and LGBTQ+ issues. Utilizing a variety of therapeutic modalities, I am committed to fostering healing and growth. As a dedicated registered social worker, I am your partner on the journey towards a healthier, thriving life.

A positive connection between the client and counsellor is imperative to the therapeutic process. My professional values and clinical approach provide a strong foundation built on collaboration, warmth, and empathy. My authenticity and compassion combine to create a trusting and safe counselling environment to support you as you discover coping, clarity, and healing. My approach to therapy is individualized to your unique circumstances and together we will collaborate to find a direction that suits your needs.

Hello. Welcome, I am keen to join you in your journey to reclaim and reconnect with your authentic self. My purpose is to create the space for you to uncover your core self, what is authentic and right for you. My work is based on a relationship of trust, safety and warmth with whom I work. At times the work of therapy is challenging and it may include vulnerable terrain. I believe the drive toward growth and healing is present within each of us and that counselling helps this innate drive to emerge. Therapy acts as a positive space, helping us to regain our resilience and ability to shine in our own unique way.

I truly believe treatment is a partnership between counsellor and client and will work with you to design an effective plan that recognizes your personal strengths and challenges. I use warmth, humour, and authenticity in my approach to make each client feel comfortable and to build a strong, positive therapeutic connection. I have experience using creative methods, such as games and movement activities, to connect with younger clients and spark their interest in the counselling process. I also support individuals with neurodiversity and their families.

Life can be full of ups and downs and many unexpected experiences. It can sometimes be difficult to navigate through these challenges. Wellnest Counselling was created so that individuals and families have a safe place, the nest, to deepen their understanding of self and move forward in a way where they can live, grow, and thrive. My goal is to walk alongside you or your child/teen on your healing and wellness journey. I see people as the expert in their own life, and I am here to support you through this process with evidence-based interventions and strategies.

I presently exclusively offer online sessions while working closely with a dedicated team at Strength Counselling Services. I'm dedicated to championing transformative change for those seeking a richer quality of life. Navigating life's challenges, be it with youth or adults, CNM relationships, family dynamics, or facing grief, trauma, anxiety, or depression, demands expertise. If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or grappling with personal or relational difficulties, know that you're not alone. I bring empathy, understanding every journey's uniqueness. My approach is rooted in nonjudgmental, social justice, and equity principles.

I have been working as a counsellor for 28 years and my work focuses on addiction and trauma issues. They often go hand in hand but not always as each person is unique. The focus of my counselling work is very respectful as I acknowledge that you know yourself best. Most people seek out counselling because they are stuck in old patterns that they have outgrown yet need help to move forward in a new, more helpful way. I appreciate the courage it takes to reach out and I will work hard to help you make the changes you need.

I enjoy helping clients with a variety of challenges including: Anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, relationship issues, communication issues, grief and loss, loneliness, anger, parenting, family issues, addictions, body image issues, disordered eating, life transitions, spiritual issues. I take a client-centered approach to my practice. I strive to tune in to the individual needs of each client and find out what works best for them to achieve positive growth and change. I often use techniques from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Psycho-Spiritual Therapy and Hypnotherapy.

Looking within ourselves is a powerful tool for change. If you are looking for a safe place to explore different ways of dealing with stressors in your life and improve your mental health, we are here for you. Our individualized approach will ensure that counselling is tailored to your needs to ensure you can meet your goals.

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.

I am an adult/child/youth and family therapist and clinical consultant in private practice. As well as being a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), I am a Registered Art Therapist (ATR and BCATR), a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), and a certified Play Therapist Supervisor (CPT-S). I celebrate 45+ years experience as a counsellor psychotherapist and 35 years teaching internationally the therapeutic methods I have developed called Holistic Expressive Therapy. For 34 years, I have taught courses at the Justice Institute of British Columbia where a certificate on my approach to therapy is offered.

Working with others is my life's passion. It stems from my sincere desire to help people develop insight into their lives and the relationships they are connected through. Culturally sensitive, empathetic, compassionate but direct, I am regarded as non-judgmental and accepting. My professional background is in mental health, addictions, as well as working with couples/families affected by systemic issues. Together we will foster effective communication skills, self-care, health, future goals and building of respectful relationships. It is my sincere pleasure to be part of someone's journey to find deeper meaning in their lives

Sometimes we all feel stuck. Our go-to methods of coping aren't working anymore, or we aren't getting what we need from those we usually turn to. Sometimes we need a space to be heard and other times we want someone to help us set some goals and take those first steps. In working with youth, individuals and families I bring curiosity, gentleness, humour and compassion along with knowledge of many therapeutic modalities which allows me to be flexible and tailor our work together to your specific needs.

It is common for certain life events or patterns to prevent you from thriving in the present and setting goals for the future. Through guided self-exploration in counselling, you can find direction and confidently move toward a place of deepened awareness and healing. To help you with this pursuit, I have created a safe, compassionate, and non-judgemental space to support your personal growth. My specialties include trauma, anxiety, depression, and support through change/transition.

My approach to clients is always strength based, as I believe that every individual has unique strengths that can serve as a foundation for their personal growth. My style is to be warm, open, and nonjudgmental. There are many modes of therapy. I am not limited to, but use cognitive behavior therapy, solution-focused therapy, mindfulness based cognitive therapy and motivational interviewing.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with over 30 years of experience providing counselling services to individuals (all ages), couples, families and first responders. I offer respectful, collaborative, holistic, compassionate and goal focused counselling in a safe and supportive environment. I offer a broad spectrum of services ranging from brief solution focused support to intensive psychotherapeutic support, including CBT & EMDR. I believe in the value of working collaboratively with my clients, and I have a deep respect and appreciation for diversity.

I believe strongly that every person has the innate ability to enact the changes they wish to see in their lives, and I strive to be a support and guide during that growth. Often when we are feeling depressed, anxious, or out of sync with our loved ones we feel like there is something wrong with us; we struggle to connect our current feelings with our previous experiences. Or perhaps we make the connection on a thinking level but are unable to gain a felt sense of wellness. I will help you make sense of your history and your current experiences, allowing for a deep connection to the self and, in turn, deep connection to others.

I am trained to work with individuals, couples and families, and will provide support and encouragement to achieve breakthrough for emotional and relational concerns. I also support parents to enhance skills and find greater satisfaction in raising their children. I have over twenty-five years in the counselling field and can provide a supportive, caring space for clients to share their concerns, learn effective coping strategies, begin recovery and reconnect with life.