Find a Therapist in Bowen Island, British Columbia.

Many people grow up feeling not good enough in themeselves. Their family of origins have taught them that who they were was not acceptable as they were, or not what their parents wanted them to be. As a result, many clients have buried parts of themselves in order to fit in and survive emotionally in their families. People are often fragmented when they come in for psychotherapy. I help clients uncover and reclaim the parts of themselves that they left behind, helping them to feel whole again and resdiscover their true essences and their core selves.

Life can be very challenging and confusing at times. No matter how much our friends and family try and help, sometimes it's just not enough. Everyone goes through hard times and sometimes you just need someone you can trust to talk to about the things that may have happened in your life. I provide a safe place for you to explore what isn't working in your life and help you to find balance again.

In my practice as a psychotherapist I assist individuals to understand forces within that cause suffering & confusion. My approach is engaging, compassionate and expansive. I have over 25 years of experience with many types of people from different cultures & backgrounds. I believe most people have a mixture of complex emotions & complicated life experiences. But most everyone is trying to live a better life. People often have ‘scripts’ of who they are & why they came to be living the way they are. I help people develop ways of reflecting on what has been, what is, and what might be. This opens the possibilities for more choices in life. Your life can be different if you want it to be.

My professional credential is Registered Therapeutic Counsellor not psychotherapist. However I have extensive experience with the tools of psychotherapy including: attachment healing, somatic attunement, object relations, ego state therapy, and depth psychology. I integrate the Diamond Approach, a system for spiritual and psychological maturation, into my work with clients. A core tenet I experience daily is: we each have an individual soul with unlimited potential to free ourselves from limiting aspects of personality, inherited trauma and old beliefs. I've been a student of the Diamond Approach since 1989 and am grateful to the teachers, teachings, and our community of lovers of truth.

Psychotherapy is a big word, that really just means talking through your thoughts, feelings and behaviours with someone that is trained in helping you understand them and then how you can change them to live the life you desire. Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of individuals who have shared with me their thoughts, feelings and behaviours and together we worked on individualized steps to create a new, more desired future. It takes honesty and a desire to make small steps and the results are amazing.

My counselling approach always begins with building a trusting working relationship. I believe in being genuine, open-minded, non-judgmental and empathic. I understand that it takes courage to reach out for help. By doing so, you are half way there! My goal as a Counsellor is to begin working with clients where they presently are in their lives, listening to their life stories and processing with them any trauma or stress they might have experienced. Moving forward from there, we address current issues and work together to outline what clients want to change. Both intrapersonal and interpersonal difficulties are addressed. I am open to using a variety of different therapeutic approaches.

The circumstances and issues that you are dealing with are unique to you, but you don't have to face them alone. Every individual has different experiences, perceptions, feelings, thoughts, beliefs, values, attitudes, cultural backgrounds and "upbringings". Counselling sessions are private and confidential, and can provide a way for you to explore your problems and really tune in to your feelings. This is an opportunity to speak freely about your circumstances and release pent up feelings, without having to worry about what others think or feel, and without receiving unwanted advise from family, friends or coworkers. At the root of the problem, there are very real, legitimate and understandable reasons for feeling the way you feel, thinking the way...(view profile to read more)

Through a warm and compassionate lens, I aim to provide a safe place where you can tell your story. I will partner with you to sort through what is going on in a way that allows for you to feel seen, heard and understood, and in a way that helps you see how much sense your thoughts, feelings and actions make. Using methods such as Emotion Focused Individual Therapy, Attachment, Mindfulness, Self-compassion, CBT and psychoeducation, I will act as a guide as to help you become unstuck and move forward. It can be challenging to reach out. Doing so gives you the opportunity to learn new tools, develop life skills and find healing. It would be privilege to meet with you.

I use a neurobiologically informed approach to treating trauma. That means I'll use the lenses of the nervous system and brain science to help make sense of how you're feeling stuck or repeating patterns you'd like to grow beyond. Most trauma experts agree that our body stores the residue of traumatic experiences and that it is necessary to include the body in the healing process to experience real and lasting change. I always bring the body into therapy by inviting you to become aware of your sensory experience and nervous system states.

Psychotherapy encompasses many different approaches to helping people heal. EMDR, body-based strategies, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), meditation, hypnotherapy and other modalities are part of the change process. Building the therapeutic alliance is essential, however, to ensure the client feels safe and secure within the counselling environment. Acceptance, counsellor-client alignment and unconditional positive regard are essential.

Take the courageous step towards personal growth and lasting change by engaging in my unique style of psychotherapy. I've been a psychotherapist for over 30 years and learned what's most effective from the clients I've worked with in the past. Through collaborative sessions tailored to meet your needs we will explore challenges, uncover insights, determine a path to healing, and develop effective strategies for a more fulfilling life. Unlock your resilience and your potential for happiness!

In therapy with me, you’re stepping into a space where you don’t have to perform or hold anything together. We explore the raw, unfiltered parts of your story—the hurts, hopes, questions, and contradictions—trusting that they all carry wisdom worth hearing. I guide you to reflect deeply on your patterns and choices, helping you make thoughtful changes that align with your values. Clients often leave feeling more centered, more compassionate toward themselves, and more intentional in how they live, equipped to move through life with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

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.

Our thoughts have a huge impact on how we view and act in the world. I will work with you to explore how your thoughts have been influenced by your experiences growing up, as well as by significant life events, loss and/or trauma. I use approaches from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you calm your mind and invite you to consider the possibilty of expanding your perceptions of life experiences as a way of creating changes in yourself and in relationships.

For 20 years I have worked as a psychotherapist, helping people learn new communication skills, deal with difficult relationships, resolve issues from childhood, find ways to cope with anxiety and stress. In the past psychotherapy was done face to face but this is not always possible due to remote location, high cost and simply finding the time in a busy schedule (young children, work etc.). Counseling by telephone or video is convenient and at a more reasonable cost. Studies have shown also that it can be very effective in helping people through difficult times.

Sometimes the problem isn't one thing you can point to. It's more like a greatest hits album of the same not-so-great songs: conflict that keeps finding you, a tendency to say yes when you mean no, self-criticism that's been running in the background so long you've stopped noticing it. You've probably tried to change some of this. For a while, at least. Psychotherapy gets curious about why these songs keep playing. Most patterns have a reason. And once you hear it, you can't quite un-hear it. This, it turns out, can end up being sweet relief.

My approach to Psychotherapy incorporates mind, body, spirit and emotions. It goes much deeper than talk therapy alone. While talk therapy is an essential component, a somatic approach to Psychotherapy allows for the possibility of deeper healing and more permanent change, as the body holds the information we need to heal. Therefore I take a body centred approach to healing while drawing on an extensive range of other psychotherapeutic approaches. Each session is tailored to where the client is at in the moment and from the belief that somewhere in all of us, no matter how deeply we have been wounded, we have the resources we need to heal.

My approach is rooted in creating a collaborative and empathetic space where clients can explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I believe in the power of a therapeutic relationship built on trust and respect, serving as a foundation for the transformative process of self-discovery and healing. Drawing from various therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic, and Humanistic approaches, I tailor my methods to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual. By fostering a non-judgmental environment, I aim to empower clients to openly express themselves and work towards understanding the underlying factors influencing their behaviours.

My qualifications include a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. My trauma-informed theoretical framework is anchored in Internal Family Systems (IFS), while integrating the attachment principles and relational lens of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Both of these methodologies are evidence-based practices that have been demonstrated to be effective with a variety of situations and symptoms. I recognize that each individual has a unique set of circumstances and perspectives, so with this in mind, I will work collaboratively with you to determine your strengths, needs, areas of growth, and go

Diving in to our selves and our unconscious minds can yield unexpected gifts. Sometimes individuals are called to do so because of problems in their lives or symptoms that cause them discomfort, and at other times for personal growth and self-innovation. Through guided self-exploration, you can heal and grow. You can experience increased life satisfaction, a greater sense of meaning and purpose, and a broadened awareness of your past and present choices so that you can improve the ones you make in the future.

You don’t have to keep feeling this way. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, past trauma, self-doubt, or relationship challenges, therapy can help you break free from the patterns holding you back. My approach is warm, collaborative, and results-focused—helping you uncover deep insights while also giving you practical tools to create real change. This is your time. Let’s build the life you deserve, one step at a time.

While my approach is tailored to each client's needs, I predominantly use CBT with a neurobiological lens as my main approach in psychotherapy. I aim to help individuals identify the interconnection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and environment. Evidence-based therapies such as CBT have shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, anger management, OCD, personality disorders, and ADHD.

Psychotherapy can empower you to create lasting positive change. Creating a safe, compassionate space for your own inner journey is in itself often a meaningful contradiction to how we have been alone with our pain. Through my guidance and gentle support, you will begin to examine and move through the places of pain and confusion that trouble you. Your path toward personal growth and expansion will reveal new possibilities and ways to achieve a life of joy and the connection you want. Call me or email for a free 15 minute consultation.

Socrates used a question and answer method of teaching --MAIEUTIC TEACHING to help his students find truths within themselves. Psychotherapy, similarly, seeks to help individuals find certain "truths" about themselves. I gently push individuals to explore the various ways they have of knowing and understanding themselves. I will discuss past experiences and explore how the "truths" we have of these experiences influence our present circumstances (work, study, relationships, goals, etc.). Once an individual starts to become aware of how and why they are making the choices they make, they become free to make new, more positive, choices about their future.

Throughout my life and educational career, I have learned the benefits of understanding how our brain and body develop and impact each other. The brain is like any other body part - when injured or not functioning properly, it requires proper attention and care to heal and strengthen it back to a higher functioning state. It is with this knowledge that we can begin to understand ourselves and our own reactions more. My goal is to help you find a path towards self-compassion and a clearer sense of self, while also working together to seek out alternative solutions to create a healthier mindset.