Find a Therapist in Chemainus, British Columbia.

Psychotherapy is a fancy word for having someone truly, sincerely, empathetically and without preconceptions or judgements, share your truth with you. It is the greatest honor and also responsibility to hold precious, with respect, everything you bring to the counselling experience. Sometimes that is trauma, shame or guilt. Sometimes psychotherapy includes delving into your past but this is not always the case. If you are wanting to focus on the present, and explore how to make a life more worth living, psychotherapy can provide you the insights you need to make positive change in your life. What is important to know is that regardless of where you are or want to go, you are safe with me.

Psychotherapy with me will offer you a secure non-judgmental relationship to grow in your goals. Together we will explore what is bringing you into therapy and with compassion and curiousity notice what comes up for you when you seek to make change. As we explore what comes up, we will use tools to get to the roots of those blocks and discover deeper part of you that can provide you with that felt sense of relief and new found energy.

I offer a multidisciplinary and relational approach to psychotherapy that includes early attachment work and a sensitivity to intergenerational dynamics and trauma, with a holistic orientation and evidence-based techniques. The role of the body in healing is central to my work, as I draw on many somatic practices. I also work with the arts as a healing modality. On the part of my clients, no experience in the arts is necessary. Whichever therapeutic modality we choose as best suited to your current journey, we work with the fundamental creative drive that is present in all of us to encounter the many facets of your healing pilgrimage necessary for growth and lasting change.

Psychotherapy is often used to treat a wide range of challenges, some of which include: poor self confidence, depression, anxiety, career problems, impaired relationships, addictions, etc. As your therapist I will assist you in identifying the key areas you would like to work on. Sometimes people feel so overwhelmed they do not know where to start. Together, we can determine which issues are of top priority. I will assist you in looking at the 'big picture', while initially setting small measurable goals. I will provide you with the support you need to tackle each obstacle head on. Small successes lead to great accomplishments.

We all go through challenges in life, in our past, present, and thoughts for our future. Sometimes we experience, stress, have family struggles, go through loss, or experience mental health challenges. It is during these times that a Clinical Counsellor can provide support and tools to navigate these situations. Individual counselling begins with building a collaborative relationship between you and your counsellor. The relationship can develop in person or virtually. Some clients prefer to have their sessions outdoors or engage in walk and talk therapy. Whatever the setting, therapy is a non-judgmental and confidential space for you to share safely and receive feedback and support.

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 is commonly used for both short-term and long-term therapy to help clients come to a harmonious state of being. Using many different types of psychotherapy techniques, as a therapist, we can target a clients thoughts, emotions and behaviours that are causing them problems. A focus of psychotherapy is to create positive change and a better quality of life for clients. This includes improved relationships, creating self-awareness and understanding of oneself, and overall better functioning in day-to-day life.

I provide a strong sense of safe space for client's to open up. Even though I'm non-judgmental and believe the client should be in the driver's seat, I'm not afraid to grab the wheel when needed! Expert direction is sometimes called for in the therapeutic relationship. I'm a confident therapist who brings over 20 years of experience to therapeutic work. I am fluent in various modalities of therapy, including DBT, ACT and CBT. My goal to support (and gently guide) my clients to live their best lives.

Psychotherapy involves several types of therapy some of which are Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Focused Integrative Short Term Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. All have positives and negatives as they have tiy work through isssues that have been burried due to emotional pain. The most important component of any therapy is the relationship developed with the therapist who provides a safe caring and nurturing environment in order for you to challenge your fears and work through you issues.

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.

Clients who receive psychotherapy from me will learn about the root of their issues and how to heal these wounds. Many issues we face in life are deep rooted in our childhood or resulting from traumas we have survived and need to be addressed to be truly free and achieve peace and serenity. I will help you learn to live a vital, rich meaningful life and overcome any mental health issues.