Find a Therapist in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

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 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.

Struggling with anxiety, anger, addiction, or trauma? You’re not alone. Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or hopeless is tough, but it doesn't have to be permanent. I'm here to help. With specialized techniques and a compassionate approach, we can work together to find relief, gain control, and rediscover joy. Imagine a life where you feel calm, empowered, and in control. Book your free 15-minute consultation today to take the first step towards healing. Let’s turn your pain into strength and reclaim the life you deserve. Schedule now and start your journey to a better tomorrow.

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.

Sometimes just the idea of self-exploration in counselling can seem daunting. We can make this process more comfortable and accessible, not just through our compassion for others, but also by offering a variety of counselling strategies from traditional talk therapies to expressive and creative options. Having choices in therapy allows the safety and flexibility to learn about ourselves and others. Let us help to open the door to the real, practical and long term changes you are seeking. We encourage the intra-personal and interpersonal connections that bring greater harmony to the individuals and families we serve.

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.

I provide psychotherapy for children, youth and adults at The Centre For Expressive Therapy, a warm, nurturing atmosphere that reflects and supports healing. The therapeutic methods used during the course of psychotherapy are carefully chosen according to age, natural inclination and life circumstances to meet a client's unique needs. We will work together to explore and change the thought and behaviour patterns that are keeping you from being the best you can be. Building on your inner strengths, you will learn new skills to better cope with life's obstacles and challenges. Ongoing support is offered as suitable.

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.

My approach to therapy is inspired by the teachings of Carl Rogers, who believed that the most effective way to help individuals was through a warm, empathetic, and understanding relationship. I create a safe space for my clients to be open, honest, and vulnerable, allowing them to work through their challenges and find their own answers within themselves.  I use a holistic and integrative approach, drawing from a range of therapies, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), ego states theory, somatic approaches, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, resonance and more.

In psychotherapy I can help you explore the deeper roots of issues--the hidden facets of yourself and how they play out in your life. This exploration includes insight-oriented work, reflection, and specific strategies to address issues. Psychotherapy is an evidence-based therapy approach, and research has shown it to be the most effective approach for long-term resolution of issues. In our lives there are underground streams of feeling and meaning. I can help you access these deeper currents, bringing hidden dreams, unexplored life meaning, and unresolved conflicts (which may be underscoring relationship issues) to the surface.

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)

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.

My approach is to work collaboratively with clients using a holistic model of therapy which entails a blending of Eastern and Western modalities. For example, training in meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, proper exercise, a nutritious, science-based diet and maintaining proper sleep hygiene. Also, including talk therapy can then help to reveal core values and issues. Mindfulness training benefits clients in observing clearly thoughts and behaviours. Clients benefit greatly through the use of evidence based interventions by developing the skills needed to evaluate thought patterns and overcome destructive patterns.