Trauma Focused Therapists in Qualicum Beach, BC

Hi, I’m Kirstin! As a Registered Nurse & Clinical Counsellor. I’m dedicated to supporting women in discovering their strengths, cultivating self-acceptance, and unlocking their capacity for lasting change. I support women in breaking free from stress, calming anxiety, and improving their overall sense of emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. In a compassionate space, we’ll develop personalized strategies to nurture your mind, body and soul. Whether you’re living with stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, or a chronic health condition, or simply seeking a more balanced lifestyle, I will help you discover your path to wellness.

Life can be complicated and difficult at times. We are not meant to navigate it alone. I believe you already have the inner-strength and wisdom needed to lead a hopeful and meaningful life. My goal is to help you access your inner resources in a safe, non-judgmental, and compassionate therapeutic space. I practice from a person-centered perspective characterized by warmth, empathy, and acceptance. Drawing on different therapeutic modalities to fit specific needs and goals, including Emotion Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Somatic approaches.

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.

Registered Social Worker in private practice supporting individuals through online video and phone counselling sessions. I have 20 years experience in the social work field helping individuals through difficult times. I am a neurodivergent, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive Social Worker providing evidence based clinical social work practices. If you are struggling and would appreciate connecting with someone who is non-judgemental, empathetic, personable therapist with a sense of humour, I may be a good fit.

Dr. Elisabeth is a Clinical Counsellor and Psychotherapist and a Clinical Supervisor. Elisabeth holds a master's degree in Counselling Psychology (MACP) and a doctoral degree in Psychology (Ph.D.). She works with individuals and couples in-person and on Zoom. Supervision to mental health professionals is provided to all practicing in Canada. Elisabeth offers individual and group competency-based clinical supervision to counselling students, interns, counselling therapists and psychotherapists who are based in Canada. The preferred way to contact me is by email.

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.

Life is challenging and we all experience difficulties coping at times. Growth often comes from crises and the taxing periods of our lives. When our resilience is overwhelmed by our life circumstances, we can feel lost and doubt ourselves. Our emotions tell us if we are living true to our needs and values...or not. Experiences can lead to healing and growth. My speciality, Soul Work is an investment that leads to a richly authentic life experience. I am dedicated to helping you navigate the difficult times and understand your journey. Together we will help you regain holistic health in a safe, confidential space.

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.

However much we may seek stability, life is a series of interconnected transitions. Sometimes we face complex changes that seem unworkable and challenges that appear impossible. Learning how to deal with the ongoing changes of our lives promotes personal growth and deepens our sense of pupose and fulfillment. With tools and support you can navigate these changes and establish a sense of safety and stability with a deeper, even more fulfilling sense of personal wholeness. Together, we can activate the internal resources that will help you to move forward with confidence. You will know when this therapy is successful.

Thinking of going for counselling can be a frightening thought. If you are at this stage you probably feel like your life could be better, your quality of interactions with other people could improve; you want more out of the life you have or are at your wits end in regards to some aspect of your life. Whatever the circumstance my goal is to meet you where you are at and to work together to work towards healing or a better quality of life.

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.

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.

In Person & Online. I help people overcome depression, anxiety, grief, and childhood trauma using my many years of experience. I welcome teens, couples, women in pregnancy, and new parents. Manage life transitions and start living your life in line with your own values and beliefs. Together we will create a safe relationship to explore looking at your life in a new way. I am always open to changing the course of therapy if it doesn’t work for you. I use empathy, relationship, insight, and unconditional positive regard as the foundation for our work together.

I provide individual counselling to adults and adolescents struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, adverse childhood experiences, grief, guilt, shame, low self-esteem, suicide ideation, relationship and attachment injuries, communication issues, sexuality and gender identity, and a desire for personal change and growth. I believe in each individual's power to heal and thrive. I'm passionate about helping clients achieve their goals through a multi-disciplinary approach providing tools and transformational therapy. I do not discriminate based on private medical decisions.

I work with families youth and adults who are struggling and wanting to find ways to make improvements. It is my role to assist you in developing clear goals and implementing practical and effective strategies for positive change.

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.

I'm all about conversation - with individuals, couples, and groups who are tired of being 'stuck'. Whether it’s working through past trauma, responding to loss or change, learning to accept and express our authentic selves, having better relationships, overcoming addictive or other unhelpful coping behaviors, or creating meaning in this crazy world – I offer a safe space and a little gentle challenging to help my clients create profound shifts for themselves.

Accepting new Clients. People seek counselling for reasons as varied as shifting tidal sands. Some want to ease stress and/or anxiety while others want help regarding past and present mistreatment of visible minorities. Others with visible and/or invisible disabilities may deal with issues regarding accessibility or navigating social interactions. Others yet are dealing with evolving sexual and/or gender identities, seeking help with their new understandings about themselves. Whether changing perspectives or navigating new territory, Inclusions Counselling can help.

I believe that you are the expert about you and that I will work together with you to find information and strategies that will help you to feel better in your life. I work from a trauma informed perspective that means when I work together with individuals, I consider past trauma and how this may impact your resulting thoughts, feelings and behaviours. I have a range of therapeutic tools that use with clients including certification as an EMDR clinician through EMDRIA, Polyvagal pactices, Mindfulness, and Deep Brain Reorientation.