Find a Therapist in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia.

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.

Psychotherapy is its own unique journey , and so much of the work we would do together may be that as well, unique to your needs, and utilizing tools from various modalities. Using attachment based work and psychotherapy models, as well as experiential work we will discover a healthier, braver self and cultivate increased self awareness, compassion and sometimes forgiveness.

Exploring your past and present experiences with a compassionate professional can provide a safe atmosphere for intrapersonal exploration, allowing you to understand yourself better. When we understand ourselves, our relationships and habits become clearer, leading to new possibilities for the future. Self-awareness brings increased satisfaction in relationships with self and others, as well as enhancing our ability to make confident decisions and move toward our goals.

I believe the main function of psychotherapy is to be a reflective tool. Like a mirror I can reflect what you show me exactly as it is, but I can also magnify and expand the image for you. Sometimes we can narrow in on an issue, and observe the smallest details; sometimes getting so close that they don't look small anymore, in all their complexity. Other times an expansive view is is more beneficial, so we can see the overall connections a single issue can have with other various parts of life.

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.

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 provides an opportunity to take a step back from your life and reflect on what matters to you. It used to be thought that if you need a "shrink" i.e. head shrinker, there's something wrong with you! These days, we know that the demands of our fast paced lives can get us down and we may not be aware of the reasons. We may be too close to our own issues. In psychotherapy, we can slow down and have help to examine what comes up in the context of our difficulties. Our bodies and emotions register reactions that we may not understand. Psychotherapy can help open a space to let new realities unfold through honouring small reactions that can be understood in the larger context.

Given the widespread adaptability of CBT, I am able to work with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds. CBT can be utilized to remedy various mental health concerns including, but not limited to the following: depression; anxiety; trauma; relationship concerns; personality disorders; grief; life transitions; & self-worth. Treatment goals are collaboratively selected based upon the individuals’ unique needs, background, experiences & strengths. Namely, unhelpful thoughts, behaviours & feelings can be substituted for more adaptive ones. Though you are the expert on your life, I can offer a nonjudgmental place to better understand yourself; therefore, allowing for personal growth.

Psychotherapy is another word for counselling. The main feature of counselling is that clients tell their story, and are validated and not judged by the counsellor.In all of my professional development courses I have heard over and over again that the counselling relationship is the healing tool for the client. Being heard and not being judged are what helps clients heal.Counselling/psychotherapy can be absolutely life changing!!

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a way to help people with a broad variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. Psychotherapy can help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase well-being and healing Psychotherapy is a general term for treating mental health problems by talking with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health provider. During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your moods, feelings, thoughts and behaviors.

I am a trauma counsellor working out of Surrey and White Rock BC and have taken specialized courses in this area. As a trauma therapist, I help clients heal from the underlying wound (s) that are getting in the way of their ability to thrive in everyday life. I work at a pace that is tailored to each client for the best results. I focus on connecting with clients on a deep level so that they feel safe, seen and secure while working with me.

My belief is that human beings often forget to put themselves as important. We ensure that our car has regular maintenance, that our teeth have regular check ups, that our physical health is on track; but we don't put the necessary care and check up to our mental health. It is so important in this fast paced, jam packed world we live in that we take the time to work on ourselves as well. This is the way that we can maintain balance within our lives. This is about personal empowerment.

When I think of the hundreds of women/men I have assisted in making changes and in healing, they have been creative, intelligent, capable people who usually did not know these things about themselves because their pain story kept them from seeing this. You might think this could not be you because you believe no one would describe you in this way, but pain has a way of blinding us to the truth of our good points. And you do have good points, many more than you believe right now. Therapy is a means to help you discover what they are. It can help you find your strengths, what is incredible about the way you have been made and give you a place to be heard, supported and guided as you 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.

Psychotherapy or counselling is helpful to address whatever issues you may be facing in your life in a supportive, non-judgemental environment. At West Coast Counselling, we use your goals as a framework from which to build therapy around. We may use cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative or solution-focused therapy, to name a few, in which to help you manage your issues.

Sometimes it is necessary to take a journey into the past. So much of what our brain takes in, and accepts as truth, enters the brain subconsciously. Exploring past life experiencing and allowing oneself to fully chew them up (so they can be properly stored and not triggered at in opportune times), is often essential to moving on. This is often a particular issue with childhood trauma. Nothing is as rewarding as seeing one of my clients push through an unconscious block and be able to get on with their life again.

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.

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.

Angela supports individuals and families through the use of expressive & supportive psychotherapy. She is a Registered BC & Canadian Art Therapist and provides art, play & sandtray therapy, phototherapy, journalling, walking the labyrinth & SoulCollage that support children, youth & adults to gain insight/awareness of thoughts, feelings & choices available to address challenges and transitions. Traditional psychotherapy is also available. Angela supports her clients cope with grief & loss, depression, anxiety, anger, relationship difficulties & life transitions such as birth, death, empty-nest, menopause/fertility issues, job retirement/loss & end of life stage & personal transformation

Life can be hard. Help is here for you. Challenges and problems are part of life. It's good to reach out for help. You are the expert in your life, in your goals, values and aspirations. I am here to provide tools, accountability, support, encouragement and help in revealing to you all your inner awesomeness. I have unwavering confidence in your capabilities and potential, even when you find it hard to see them. Together we create a place to step back and gain perspective, test ideas, create solutions and move towards a life that is fulfilling, meaningful and connected.

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.

Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods to help a person change behavior and overcome problems in a positive manner. Its aim is to help people understand the thoughts behind feeling anxious or depressed and addressing these thinking patterns. Psychotherapy will help you change behaviors and habits that are limiting you, to experiencing your fullest potential.

Psychotherapy can be beneficial for everyone. Whether you would like to further self-exploration, break old patterns keeping you from reaching your full potential, work through past trauma, gain more clarity on a specific issue, or repair ruptures in your relationship, psychotherapy can help you reach your goals. Psychotherapy can provide a safe and supportive environment while giving you the tools and psychoeducation to create sustainable change.

It is my hope that through the process of exploring personal and relationship issues, clients will develop a greater self-awareness and understanding of their potential and capabilities. Clients will identify any limiting beliefs and thought patterns that may have blocked them from attaining goals in their personal relationships and/or professional lives. Clients will also address and work on any unhealed past experiences of emotional and/or physical trauma that may be negatively affecting their lives today. Clients will benefit from building effective communication skills to promote healthy relationships. It is my hope that clients will develop a loving acceptance of Self.

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.