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Counselling & Psychotherapy

COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY: Counselling and psychotherapy ("therapy") can support a wide range of human needs, and provides opportunities for individuals seeking more satisfying, sustainable, effective and fulfilling lives and relationships to make needed changes. Although the concerns that bring a person to seek therapy vary widely, the common thread shared by all is some element of challen... Read More

COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY: Counselling and psychotherapy ("therapy") can support a wide range of human needs, and provides opportunities for individuals seeking more satisfying, sustainable, effective and fulfilling lives and relationships to make needed changes. Although the concerns that bring a person to seek therapy vary widely, the common thread shared by all is some element of challenge over an area of significance to the individual that has become distressing to some degree, and a deeply felt desire to make changes to one’s life.

The specific challenges that prompt clients to choose therapy include concerns ranging from a lack of self-confidence, self-esteem or low self-worth, to relationship difficulties, or sexuality and intimacy concerns, to loneliness or social isolation, work-related stress and burnout, difficult transitions, or problems associated with one’s own or a loved ones' harmful behaviours; as well as bereavement, loss & grief, vague feelings of unease, feelings of emptiness, or crises of existence; or even a desire for meaningful change, the need for a renewed sense of meaning and purpose in ones life, and so much more.

The primary aim of therapy is to facilitate the development of greater self knowledge, self efficacy, and self trust, and to support individuals to discover their own unique ways to find greater wellbeing and more authentic, effective, satisfying and fulfilled ways of living. Despite the significant clinical training and skill involved in effective therapy, research has demonstrated that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is in fact the key driver of therapeutic change. Attentiveness, active listening, genuineness, clear and honest communication and open dialogue, curiosity, openness, warmth and non-judgementalism must all be present for a strong therapeutic relationship. As well as communicating through dialogue, therapy involves the use of a variety of other methods including body based practices, movement, mindfulness, and much more. Respect for the autonomy and individuality of each client is a core principle of therapy, and I approach each client with a keen interest in understanding the unique individual in front of me and their particular needs, strengths, challenges, and unique resources. I take an integrative, holistic, flexible and dynamic approach throughout the therapy process as I work together with my clients to facilitate movement towards greater authenticity, meaningful change, and - much more often than not - significant growth.

Effective therapy always begins with a commitment to deepen ones' understanding of self and attain greater self mastery. Over time, the skills and abilities developed through the process can empower individuals to illuminate, harness, and develop resources, improve skills of communication, emotional intelligence, and self regulation, and significantly increase ones' capacity for self reflection and deeper self knowledge. Not only is therapy an effective way to facilitate significant change and growth - both for individuals and those in relationships - but it can be a powerful vehicle for fostering self-awareness, developing self worth, repairing attachment injuries, and healing core wounds within a relational context that is safe, stable, contained, grounded, warm and non-judgemental.

Ultimately, therapy has the potential to bring about a metamorphosis - to facilitate a person's evolution from a life spent primarily in survival mode to a life of Thriving.

BIO

Emily is a Registered Professional Counsellor, a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and a Certified Sex & Intimacy Counsellor specializing in Couples Therapy & Relationship Counselling, Sex Therapy, and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. She holds a BA (Psych.) from Thompson Rivers University, a Diploma of Professional Counselling from Vancouver College of Counsellor Training, and a Certificate in Sex & Intimacy Counselling from Kelowna College of Professional Counselling. She holds additional credentials in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and is also currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Existential Analysis and Logotherapy at the University of Salzburg, Austria, and undergoing specialized training in Existential-Analytic Psychotherapy through the Existential Analysis Society of Canada.

APPROACH TO THERAPY

Emily has over 10 years of experience helping clients create healthier, more satisfying intimate relationships. She supports a diverse range of people with their relational and intimacy needs. Her work is truly a calling and she is passionate about helping people discover how to live more purposefully, find deeper meaning, and cultivate the satisfying lives and relationships they desire. She loves helping empower people to connect with their authentic selves, strengthen their most important relationships, and enrich their lives as a whole.

Her style is warm, genuine, and holistic. She offers a warm, non-judgemental space where clients can explore concerns, process their experiences, gain clarity and identify their paths forward. She’ll support, educate and empower her clients to better understand and navigate the intricate workings of self and other, relationship dynamics and processes, while providing a safe neutral setting in which to develop and hone new skills and strategies, and begin to experience ones’ life and relationships in new resourceful ways.

Emily’s carefully tailored approach to therapy includes a combination of support, guidance, education and just the right amount of challenge to help clients identify blind spots, develop new coping strategies, overcome obstacles, and make lasting positive changes, along with a variety of helpful take home resources based on research to bolster clients’ repertoire of tools and skills, which are further explored at home between sessions. As the therapy progresses, and new tools and resources are applied, the positive outcomes of these new approaches and the benefits of therapy are experienced as clients internalize these new ways of being and learn more effective ways to get needs met in life and relationship.

In terms of her theoretical framework, Emily’s philosophical orientation is Existential, while her approach to therapy is generally integrative, with a focus on relational, emotion focused, attachment-oriented and evidence-based therapies such as Gottman Method, EFT, Imago, CBT, DBT, Somatic/Mindfulness based practices, Existential Therapy, and more. Her practice is LGBTQIA+ Inclusive/Anti-Oppressive/Sex Positive/Kink Positive/Trauma Informed.

SERVICES

  • Couples Therapy & Marriage Counselling
  • Relationship Counselling
  • Sex Therapy
  • Individual Counselling & Psychotherapy
  • Premarital Counselling & Relationship Education
  • Dating Coaching
  • Infidelity & Affair Recovery Counselling
  • Discernment Counselling
  • Conscious Uncoupling Counselling
  • Divorce Adjustment

CONCERNS ADDRESSED

Whether through individual or relationship counselling, you may address issues around communication, trust, infidelity & affairs, sexual difficulties (e.g. around desire, satisfaction, libido, arousal, sexual pain, vaginismus, sex addiction, porn use, out of control behaviours, kinks/fetishes, PE, ED, performance, sexual abuse & trauma, etc.), LGBTQIA+ specific concerns, addictions, loneliness, blended families, non-traditional relationships (e.g. ENM, D/s, kink), life transitions, grief & loss, stress, anxiety/depression/other mental health issues, social skills & assertiveness training, confidence, self esteem & self-worth, career, finding meaning and purpose, personal growth, family of origin, and much more…

ON A PERSONAL LEVEL

When not wearing her therapist hat, Emily is a genuine, kind and caring human being, a solid and fiercely loyal friend and family member, and a loving and dedicated partner, daughter, sister and aunt. She is a true ‘life enthusiast’ with a strong connection to all things nature and a certain special affinity for trees. When getting active outdoors she is 1000% in her element.

As someone who places a high value on meaningful relationships with family and friends, Emily is energized by authentic, vital connections with other curious, growth-oriented humans. Emily prioritizes learning, play, vitality, the arts, travel and adventure, stimulating, thought provoking conversation, hard work, laughter, curiosity, pleasure, sensuality and eroticism…and anything that encourages growth, expansion, aliveness, and the healthy flow of life force energy. Although she has travelled extensively, her curiosity and thirst for experience and discovery, travel and adventure, and her keen interest in exploring diverse cultures and different ways of living remains ever present.

A person who loves a good challenge generally, Emily’s spirit is deeply nourished through movement - and she thrives on challenging herself in mind and body, through physical fitness (hiking, running, strength training, Yoga, Pilates) and solid type 2 fun scenarios, or letting loose through ecstatic or free-form dance, etc. She is a firm believer in the transformative power of living purposefully and moving through the world with intentionality, awareness, attunement with nature, sensitivity, a keen sense of aliveness, and openness to possibility. Emily strives to cultivate a life of authenticity, integrity and alignment with core values, and approaches life with an attitude of gratitude, presence and abundance - a true growth mindset.

BIO Emily is a Registered Professional Counsellor, a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and a Cer... Read More

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Located at: 805 W Broadway, 1709, Vancouver
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