Find a Therapist in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Psychotherapy is a fancy word for "talk therapy." Within a safe, therapeutic relationship psychotherapy can help clients explore and gain an understanding of how their past may be influencing the present and how behavioural and relationship patterns may be getting in the way of reaching goals. Heather is familiar with all of the major approaches to psychotherapy and may incorporate other forms of therapy, including somatic therapies, to respond to the unique needs of each client.

A major focus for me is the body-mind relationship and attuning to the wisdom within the person. Besides "talk therapy", I often incorporate tools such as dreamwork and creative expression. Having over twenty years experience as a psychotherapist and having been an instructor of counsellors for many years as well, I am familiar with all of the major approaches to psychotherapy and am therefore able to work with each client according to their individual needs. For those exploring spiritual issues such as meaning, direction, and deeper connection, I bring my training in Interfaith Spiritual Guidance and many years exploring Jungian psychology.

You may be wondering what counselling and psychotherapy looks like. Typically, I will spend some time, perhaps a session or two, getting to know you and your concern in some depth. Then together we decide on a goal and the best way for us to spend our time together. This may involve exploring thoughts, behaviours, and emotions, solving problems, working on skills, or making sense of past experiences. My hope is that, through our work together, you will feel clearer, more focused, and connected with your life and the people in it.

Feelings need to be felt. Stories need to be told. Sometimes, a therapist takes the role of a highly trained audience. I know how to listen, with the curiosity and earnestness of someone newly in love. Listening is not the entire treatment, but it is definitely a necessary part of it. I'll quote Lou Reed here: "I'll be your mirror, reflect what you are, in case you don't know."

Patterns of self-sabotaging behavioural, disorganized thinking and overwhelming emotion make life very difficult. How can we move forward when our bodies seem to betray us and we just need a break from the buzzing anxiety or the numbing of depression? What you may not know is all these symptoms are the imprint of our unfinished business, stuck in the body and just begging to be seen, cared for and accepted. Working with me means looking with curiosity, compassion and an educated-eye at how old wounds of betrayal, abandonment and rejection show up to block living your best life. You are not alone and there is hope.

Psychotherapy or talk therapy can be a helpful way to address problems and create meaningful change in your life. Utilizing a number of therapeutic models I hope to provide an empathetic and non-judgemental experience to explore "problems". Sessions are typically one hour and can be a safe and confidential space to share concerns, worries, fears, hopes, and needs. We will collaborate on goals for our work together. Therapeutic approaches include: Response-Based Practice, Attachment Theory, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, CBT, and Systemic Family Therapy.

Psychotherapy (or counselling) is ‘talk therapy’ – where you, as the client, share: your experiences, goals, challenges, presenting concerns, both verbally and nonverbally. Through this communication a therapeutic relationship (or alliance) is formed. This relationship acts a safe space for you to explore, excavate, evaluate, take new risks, etc. In a large way, engaging in the therapeutic relationship is ‘practise’ for the real world. I, as the therapist, will work with multiple modalities (or theoretical orientations) within our dialogue and engagement, which will serve to help us reflect, challenge, bear to light, collaborate, as well as model things (such as security, compassion, etc.).

Counselling is my life's work. I am in love with learning and do not believe in a "one size fits all" approach to therapy. My first priority is to establish a good relationship with my client(s), to listen and create a safe space for them. I use my instincts, my years of experience and wisdom to customize treatment for each of my clients. I respect the wisdom of each person and believe that counselling can be a collaborative process between therapist and client. I am there to support, encourage, listen with compassion and to guide clients to find their own direction and empowerment. I also teach specific skills for communication, managing depression and anxiety and trauma symptoms.

Whether you are suffering with long standing anxiety and depression, facing a difficult transition, or frustrated with a current relationship, psychotherapy can help get to the root of your struggles. Psychotherapy differs from advice: as a therapist, I won't offer quick fixes or inspirational sounding platitudes. What I will do is join you in thoroughly exploring your current problems. This helps you tune into with your emotions, needs and desires in a way that can clarify purpose, improve your connection with others, and help you make important decisions. I have extensive training in psychotherapy - please get in touch to discuss how psychotherapy can be helpful to you right now.

I strongly believe that psychotherapy is an art. This is the reason I integrate different approaches and modalities when working with clients based on their goals and their current situation. In other words, I use my years of training and my clinical experience to make sure what we do is helpful to you. I have done training in approaches that focus on thoughts and cognitions such as CBT, approaches that are more emotionally focused such as AEDP and approaches that are more body focused such as SP. This helps us to give equal attention to all parts of your experience such as your feelings, your thoughts and your body. You will feel more integrated and whole as a result.