Find a Therapist in Victoria, BC

I view every individualfamilycouple as unique and as such, utilize methods and techniques best-suited for each situation. I approach my work using a client-centered, strengths-based model. My scope of practice has included many areas, all pertaining to individuals, couples, and families. Most of my experience and passion involves working with women, teens and the LGBTQIA community. I am also interested and currently work individuals and couples around sexuality and intimacy. I was trained in Family Systems Therapy at Seattle Pacific University, which means I approach my therapy work holistically, focusing on the individual and extending beyond, to the interactions between family members and significant others. I work with clients to help them recognize how extended family, culture, and society may impact them as individuals.

Whether you are looking for counselling now because you have had to face a devastating loss or event, or because you are struggling to finally fulfill your potential and reach your dreams, I am here to help. With my training in the most current and evidence-based approaches to psychotherapy and my warm, genuine style, we will have a chance to explore any issue you may be facing and together trace a plan to get you to where you wish to be. I look forward to hearing from you for a first consultation, free of charge, when we can assess how I can support you in your path to healing, achieving, or both.

Are you in a relationship or going through a breakup that is causing stress in your life? Do you want to know once and for all if this relationship is worth investing in? You might even feel on edge or irritable and just wish you didn't feel so down or lonely. You might find yourself lying awake at night and dwelling. Sometimes we can think to ourselves, how the heck did I get here?! Are you ready to set personal goals around life and relationships and finally accomplish them? You are emotionally drained and exhausted and really are ready to reset in life. Are you wanting to understand the why and break unhealthy relationship cycles. I bet you could really use some direction finally. I know you just wish your partner cared about your feelings. You are ready to be heard and appreciated. I know, you might be terrified that it will be difficult to find a relationship that you will finally be happy in. I want to provide you with the best possible chance to succeed. It is what I do! You will experience a straightforward approach. My clients leave feeling hopeful and find themselves looking forward to possibilities for change, just after their first session. Investing in yourself is a must, as it is your life, and you deserve to live it well. I want to get to know you before, so let's do a consultation at no charge to you.

Our families are our first social environment and, consequently, are powerful in how they shape our behavior. There is nothing like a romantic relationship to put us in touch with the attachment wounds, negative patterns, or roles with which we grew up. In fact, Imago theory posits that we will actually choose a mate that is exquisitely designed to push our buttons! The idea, of course, is to propel us to grow and change. Often, however, I find that this is the gridlock in which couples find themselves when they present to therapy. My expertise comes into play in holding the space for clients to examine themselves and their relationships in such a way as to enlarge their view and their capacity for change. My experience, education, and intuition allow me a razor sharp focus to see and interrupt negative patterns of interaction and collaboratively move them in a more healthful direction.

As a therapist, I work to develop a relationship of collaboration and attunement to support clients in realizing the change they seek in their lives. I have extensive experience with adults and teens working through trauma, anxiety, and depression, as well as family and other relational issues, work stress and life transitions. I use a variety of practical, skills-based techniques nested in larger life-contexts of family and culture, to explore solutions and rediscover hope. I take an active approach giving feedback, suggesting actions, and assigning homework. I will work with you to develop more kindness and compassion for yourself in your journey towards self-discovery and wellness.

Thoughtful Counseling Group has over 12 years of experience in community mental health, working in different settings, providing mental health services to individuals and families who have suffered from domestic violence, trafficking, sexual abuse, physical abuse, substance abuse, life issues, marital conflict, child abuse, family systems, first responders, and emotional abuse. Several of our therapists are also proud military veterans. Our approach to counseling is collaborative, compassionate, respectful, and client-centered. We believe that people are unique individuals and have the capacity to grow, heal, and change, learning new ways to improve their health and well-being in all areas of life, including biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. Personal growth is facilitated by setting and working toward goals, assessing and building strengths in these areas to develop skills and resources that help them manage life challenges. As professionals, we focus on working collaboratively with our clients in a safe and open environment to identify goals and work towards positive resolutions.

I am accepting new clients. There is no question life has its ups and downs. Sometimes we all just need a little extra support. I work with people from many walks of life dealing with many different situations. I treat adolescents, adults, couples, and families with anxiety, depression, stress, grief, life changes, relationships, addiction, trauma, and many other challenges. I use an evidence-based approach to psychotherapy drawing on theories core to psychology. I use an individualized combination of cognitive behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy, and other strength-based strategies to treat clients and support them in achieving time-linked, measurable goals. I offer a free 10-minute consultation and look forward to hearing from you.

Being a person is hard. When you've spent your whole life in survival mode, living a life you love is even harder. When your soul feels like it is perpetually bleeding, it feels impossible to just be and enjoy your one short life. Emotional wounds from our past have a way of wreaking havoc on our lives and bodies in the present. It puts a deep shadow over all of life. Now, you feel like a victim of your own body and a liability to your relationships. You’re afraid that if people really got to know you, no one would be able to accept you. Believe me, you are not alone. I've been there and I know how scary and difficult it can be to change and enter into the unknown. You are in good company.

Relational in nature, my approach to therapy is rooted in witnessing rather than analysis. I believe that healing is the result of being truly seen by a compassionate other. In our time together, you can expect me to set all judgments aside in order to create space for your unique complexities to unfold. In this opened clearing, we will do the work of therapeutic integration so you can rediscover that sense of wholeness that was always there even when obscured. My background in existential-phenomenological psychology has led to my endless curiosity in the subjective experience of the suffering individual. As an existential therapist, I believe that we come into this world already burdened, and the issues that cause you to seek help are not personal pitfalls but features of existence. With this as our starting point, we will work together to reframe your struggles with a meaning-making lens, emboldening you to take over your own narrative. I look forward to accompanying you on your healing journey.

Prioritizing mental health today can be so difficult to do today, but is important now more than ever. Along with prioritizing mental health, many of us engage in school, work, relationships, family dynamics, and friendships. After a while, many of these pressures may start to affect us in different ways leading us to experience anxiety, stress, bouts of sadness, irritability, and so much more. I did not even mention any unresolved trauma or feelings that may be experienced on top of everything else! Therapy is a safe place to work through many of these issues, with undeniable positive regard and support. I have clinical experience with adolescents and adults and specialize in diverse populations. I understand the barriers that deter many, especially people of color from seeking out mental health services. Therefore, I strive to create a safe space strongly emphasizing cultural sensitivity and relevance. I also specialize and offer EMDR sessions. Ultimately, I believe that there is no "one size fits all" in therapy, and know when to use an integrative perspective to identify and harness each of my client’s individual strengths to tailor interventions based on presenting symptoms.

Feeling overwhelmed, stressed and stuck? Looking for changes in your life through therapy? I am an Art Therapist/Psychotherapist offering art therapy and counseling services to children, teens, adults and families in Bellevue, WA. Through art therapy or talk-therapy, I can guide you toward improving the problem areas of your life and bringing back happiness, conflict free family life with your children and spouse, and good problem solving skills without anger, sadness and stress.

Find Help For Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive Thoughts...More Obsessive thought patterns find you feeling socially insecure while those around you don't know it. This fuels your anxiety, which means that getting through each day can feel exhausting. It takes a lot of mental work to help you do life. The weight of this grows over time and weightiness turns to depression. It's hard to feel motivated when life feels like this much work. This cycle has it's moments of reprieve, but even those can't be trusted. It makes you nervous to feel better, wondering how long it will last. Let's Break The Cycle This cycle is all too familiar and you're ready for change. You've been working with this struggle for some time now. Maybe you've had help before, or maybe this is the first time you're looking into receiving therapy. Whether you know that trying therapy can be helpful or even if you are just beginning to consider it for the first time, you're a little discouraged that it's coming to this. You're wondering if this investment is really needed, or even worth it. After all, you're doing okay in school or work and you have relationships that are doing well with a support system around you. So you feel hesitant, you think you'll just keep trying. But that's when the cycle keeps going. When you've spent a large portion of time making life work for you it's hard to believe that going to someone for help will do much. It's hard to believe that there is someone who really gets it. Someone to help you sort out the feelings and thoughts, the overwhelm, and to help identify and tame the inner critic. Someone to help you find healing insights (that are already in you!) that will bring new, helpful, life-giving options. You're worth the time and investment of finding the life you want, the YOU that you want. Let's find out together if and how therapy could help you - call for a free consult.