The difficult experiences of life can add up weighing you down and making life hard. If you are tired of carrying the burdens of the past but don't know how to lighten the load I can help. I start by listening to you and understanding your story. With genuine warmth I provide a safe space to explore your discomfort and help relieve the burdens that you carry. The best counsellors are merchants of hope.

Life is busy and demanding, often throwing unexpected curve balls our way. Finding a safe and supportive place to discuss these unexpected occurrences and ground yourself is a great first step towards achieving balance and working through unresolved issues and traumas. I am a firm believer that you are the expert of your self and your journey; I am here to meet you where you are at and help you to navigate, to slow down, and to bring awareness to those hidden details that often go unnoticed. I do not believe in rushing toward an end goal, but rather taking time and space to understand what it is that has occurred and moving forward.

We never really know what life will throw at us. Negative circumstances will try to silence you and shut you down, stealing the joy and peace in your life. Finding a place to share that struggle can open the door to new ways of looking at things which can change the way you feel and how you respond to those circumstances. Restoring hope. Rebuilding the broken. Rewriting possibilities.

Pause. Exhale. Are you tired of talking but still feel stuck? Have you hit a dead end and still experience unresolved or unexplained thoughts, feelings, pain or other symptoms? I help people improve mental and physical health and performance through the application of behavioral learning principles to breathing physiology. This is not yoga. This is not meditation. This is applied psychophysiology. Breath Behavioral Analysis with biofeedback assisted breathing retraining, combined with Somatic Breath Therapy give you the tools to completely shift your breath and life. What if it could be as easy as adjusting your exhale?

I have over 15 years experience in counselling, therapy and developing psycho-educational workshops. I use a trauma-informed lens and love working with both individuals and couples. My space is LGBTQI+ allied and I work with non-traditional relationship structures (eg. polyamory). I have a gift for creating a safe and healing space for you to be fully heard and supported to address important issues at a pace that feels right for you. I bring together cutting edge strategies designed to help you with get to the core of what is holding you back and I look forward to helping you express, connect and thrive!

NOT TAKING NEW CLIENTS UNTIL APRIL 2021. I am passionate about helping people work through past trauma and chronic stress. I believe that we each have the answers and capacity to heal within ourselves; within our own bodies and minds. I work to guide and facilitate each client back to themselves, back to their bodies, and back to a place of healing. Trauma work is deep work and requires a great deal of commitment and dedication. I hope to support clients who are ready to dig in and truly do real work to turn their lives in a new direction where they can utilize the skills and tools that I offer in their sessions with me.

We can all feel lost and overwhelmed by our emotions, creating a disconnect from ourselves and others. Our anxiety can take over and we can start turning to self-sabotaging behaviors. It can feel as if it has taken over our lives and all that we are really craving is connection, support, and tools that can help us show up differently creating more peace with ourselves and others.

As a Certified Canadian Counsellor, my focus is on providing the necessary tools to assist individuals and couples in moving towards optimal health and wellness. I believe that everyone has the innate capacity for healing. My role is to assist clients in discovering inner wisdom and identifying personal strengths that support resiliency. I implement various treatment methods as I believe each client's needs are specific. I have been fortunate to be able to receive training from leading experts in some of the best research based trauma therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) from UBC, and Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI) from Yale University. I am also trained in the research based Gottman Method for Couples from Washington. I am relationship orientated and passionate about helping others. My goal is to create a safe and caring environment for clients.

Death. Illness. Caregiving. Job Loss. Divorce. Life Transitions. When your latest chapter has involved grief and loss, I can walk beside you. I listen carefully to hear and to understand you. I will remind you of your strengths, as you find meaning and a new identity. You will learn how to expand your capacity to hold this sorrow and regain your balance to move forward. It can only be done in your own way in your own time.

What keeps us feeling like we are in limbo/stuck? Unresolved issues and traumas can keep us feeling and/or thinking that we are not progressing as we'd like, resulting in many feelings of being overwhelmed, burned out, and experiencing physical/emotional pains. Over 16 years of clinical experience, I can help you to discover and identify the core issues/patterns/beliefs, while inspiring hope and courage while you walk a more integrated path living life with more joy and abundance; with feelings of rejuvenation and release; and with an expanded self-awareness, emotional balance, and clearer thinking.

Pain, heartache and suffering is not something anyone anticipates experiencing. When it comes out of no-where it may seem too unbearable to handle. Individuals may suppress what they are feeling, behave in ways they never thought they would, and/or experience secondary symptoms that mask what is truly going on! Whether it is the initial pain you are experiencing and/or years of wear and tear, please know that there is help available to you! I would be honoured to help you make sense of your experiences and take back control.

I approach therapy with an open mind that is free of judgement and full of genuine care. I use a variety of theoretical frameworks and techniques that benefit individual clients; I believe in being adaptable because everyone is unique in their perspectives, experiences, and needs. My main theoretical framework is grounded in attachment theory, while sessions are client-centred; the methods and motivation to develop positive change comes from within oneself. I naturally gravitate towards developing an empathetic understanding of my clients, which promotes strong therapeutic relationships and positive client expectations.

I provide a safe place for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, values, and life experiences that contributed to them. I can help you discover the underlying issues that interfere with your sense of wholeness and inner peace, build your strengths, and develop healthier coping strategies. We'll create a sense of balance in your life so that you can continue to face life's challenges more confidently. Attachment theory is foundational in my understanding of the human person as a relational being that is meant to be thriving in a healthy, secure relationships at every stage of life.

I am a counsellor with over 30 years of experience. I was trained in counselling psychology through the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and gained experience in the fields of personal counselling, marriage counselling, sex therapy, family therapy, grief and loss therapy. My training and experience were established in a variety of settings. I was involved as a counsellor in Pastoral and Congregational settings, doing extensive marriage counselling and family system therapy. I also became well experienced in working with challenges relating to stress, anxiety, depression, anger, self esteem and recovering from past abuse.

I specifically work with individuals and families experiencing results of trauma, relationship problems, and mental health issues. My treatment approach is unique and life changing. I combine the latest research in neuroscience with the "whole person" approach. This allows my clients to understand themselves better and to gain insight into why they are the way they are. It is intended to bring hope and discover power within that will help them heal emotionally, physically and spiritually. I am dedicated to empower my clients to experience healing and freedom in relationship to self and others.

I specialize in providing therapeutic support to children and adolescents, as well as adults and family counselling. Everyone comes to counselling with unique life experiences. The therapeutic approaches I use are well suited to working with many ages, providing ways to process and communicate your experiences, work through difficulties and learn skills to better navigate your world.

ARE YOU STRUGGLING with Anxiety and Panic Attacks, Addiction, Chronic Stress, Post-Traumatic Stress, Depression and Mood Disorders, Major Life Events, Your Sexuality and Identity, or Family and Relationship Concerns? Maybe a mix of issues? FEELING OVERWHELMED? If so...a therapeutic relationship can set you on the path to wellness quickly - once you've given yourself the opportunity to be heard with empathy and compassion. Within the space of a therapeutic alliance, healing and growth really are possible.

Are you someone who is having difficulty balancing everything in this busy world? Are you struggling to maintain healthy relationships and healthy boundaries? I work with individuals and couples through difficult times. These can include family planning through infertility and loss. Do you have new or enhanced feelings since becoming pregnant or giving birth? Perinatal anxiety and depression are very common and we can work through those together. These big feelings can be debilitating and appear to change your whole life, including your closest relationships. Reach out. You are not alone.

Support for children, teens, adults, and families to Bee Free of past hurt, negative thoughts and emotions, harmful behaviours, abuse, addiction, trauma, and stress. I have the ability to help individuals and families with a range of relational and emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, grief, anger, and shame so you can Bee Free to experience joy, peace and happiness.

Lauren is client centered and straight forward. She understands and recognizes the way that trauma can effect one's life through their safety and wellbeing. Trauma changes how a person regulates their thoughts and feelings, and their ability to care for themselves emotionally and psychologically. Our body's way of coping is immediate and if we have never knows how to cope, we need to learn. As an expert in guiding one to learn how to take their power back at your darkest hour and at your pace, is freeing. Lauren is always willing to meet you where you are. Guiding you through the changes you will have.