Family Therapy in Nanaimo, BC

I am an adult/child/youth and family therapist and clinical consultant in private practice. As well as being a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), I am a Registered Art Therapist (ATR and BCATR), a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), and a certified Play Therapist Supervisor (CPT-S). I celebrate 45+ years experience as a counsellor psychotherapist and 35 years teaching internationally the therapeutic methods I have developed called Holistic Expressive Therapy. For 34 years, I have taught courses at the Justice Institute of British Columbia where a certificate on my approach to therapy is offered.

Over the past fourteen years I have worked with adolescents, youth, adults and families in several different settings including community mental health, hospital, crisis services, school and live in treatment homes. I have worked with people experiencing a wide range of complex needs and challenges such as developmental, cognitive, physical and mental.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia and a certified Drug and Alcohol Counsellor with over 15 years of counselling experience. I was born and raised on Vancouver Island and have a Bachelor in Child and Youth Care with extensive experience in children, youth and family counselling. Personal and professional experiences led me to complete a Master of Arts in Addiction Counselling at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation School of Addiction Studies. I have been mentored by, and worked alongside, the experts in addiction and mental health recovery. If you, or a loved one, is struggling, I can help.

I help people pleasers & perfectionists to feel confident and empowered in multiple areas of life such as with family, in relationships, and their career. My goal is to help you get clear on your values, and your strengths, so that you can honour healthy boundaries with yourself and others based on what's most important to you. I will help you to develop insight into the narrative that keep you in the comfort zone and to decide which parts are helpful and which ones are holding you back from your greatest fulfillment.

Ever feel stuck in a loop of frustrating patterns? Long for meaningful connection, but get lost in estrangement or conflict? Wonder why that joyful ease you occasionally glimpse feels buried under a sludge of anxiety, numbness, or anger? No matter how many "new leaves" we turn over — we find ourselves sinking back into the familiar muck. Here we go again! It's not just in your head. Pain and anxiety get encoded and frozen in the physical body, along with all the feelings it's not okay to feel. By adulthood, our nervous systems are hardwired to survive the situation we grew up in – and can get stuck there, replaying the same script.

My approach is tailored to the needs of each individual. I emphasize the importance of a strong, compassionate therapeutic relationship and work primarily from a trauma informed, client-centered model. I incorporate elements of emotion focused, narrative, dialectical behavioural, internal family systems, parts work, attachment, strengths/resiliency based, and somatic approaches. I primarily work from a process oriented place by working on issues brought up in the moment and spending time breaking down the beliefs, emotions, and behaviours that accompany each issue.

Life can feel overwhelming at times. And all of us can benefit from outside help at some point in our lives. It takes courage to reach out for that help and so welcome to my page. I treat each client differently because we are all different. What is common though in my counselling, is my belief in a collaborative approach. Together we can prioritize issues that you may be facing. I am trained in Family Systems and in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. In my experience, counselling can help us become more whole, more authentic and more happy!

Have you been going to therapy for a while or are the doctors stumped with a mystery illness the medical system can't explain? Do you have complicated family dynamics, or require support in your relationship? My work focuses on treatment resistant disorders, personality disorders, sexual funciton/dysfuction and chronic pain. Additionally, working as an emergency first responder and having been deployed to theatres of conflict as a pilot has helped me to understand the complexity of trauma. I work with individuals, couples and families to help when others have not been able to.

I have been working as a counsellor since 2011 and have experience supporting clients experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, PTSD, grief and loss, self-esteem, self-worth, and workplace, family and relationship issues.

Chloe McKinley, a registered clinical counsellor (RCC) and behavioural consultant, offers a unique therapeutic approach for individuals and families seeking counselling support. Chloe specializes in addressing the psychological needs of children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, embracing cultural and gender diverse LGBTQ2 communities. She is one of the few counsellors on Vancouver Island to offer both clinical counselling and behavioural consultation. Chloe also serves the neuro-diverse community as part of the multidisciplinary team known as Cowichan Autism Team Services (CATS). CATS is accepting new referrals.

Updated May 2024: I am accepting clients with daytime availability and work with couples and individuals in my practice. Using a collaborative, supportive, and non-judgemental approach, I empower clients to work towards their goals, overcome obstacles, and create new, healthier patterns in their lives. I help a wide variety of clients with anxiety, depression, body image issues, life transitions, trauma, relationship issues, grief and loss, and other challenges. Please feel free to book yourself into my schedule via emmadonaldcounselling.janeapp.com or reach out to me to ask any questions and learn more about my approach!

I use (IFS) Internal Family Systems as my primary therapeutic model. Our goal is to assist people to release the burdens that they carry and to foster access to their deeper Selves. I have experience working with individual's and couples with a vast array of Mental Health, Emotional, and Relational concerns. Often the people I see carry; anxiety, depression, complex trauma, PTSD, substance use, and OCD, relational stress, amongst others. My partner is an RCC and she also uses IFS and has experience treating complex trauma. Full details can be found on our website.

Hi I'm Leia! I have experience helping others navigate trauma or distressing life experiences that are affecting their daily life and relationships. I believe connection is key for removing barriers and working through problems. I provide a non-judgmental safe space where together we can do just this. My experience includes working with youth and young adults navigating addiction, anxiety, depression, oppression, and trauma who are diverse in culture. My education in counselling is through Adler University. Through personal identity I am familiar with injury and disability culture.

I support people in finding the sparkle, hope, and joy in life again. The weight of the world, trauma, and our personal experiences can sometimes be very heavy, which can lead to depression, anxiety, grief, loneliness, feeling numb or feeling burnt out. Counselling with me will strengthen the ways you cope, help you re-story what is going on for you (you are already the main character in your life!), and support you in changing negative or self-deprecating thought patterns.

I offer holistic, trauma informed, person-centered counselling services to children, youth, young adults, adults, parents and expectant parents (pregnancy, postpartum). My approach considers the essential role of the nervous system and is grounded in attachment theory, neuroscience, mindfulness, narrative therapy, emotion focused therapy, CBT, DBT, expressive arts and play therapy. I have over 20 years experience working with individuals and families in community based child and family services programs and 12 years as a counsellor, where I have worked for Child and Youth Mental Health and in private practice.

Navigating through the world comes with inherent challenges, and sometimes what we’re seeking for support is more than what our friends or family can provide. My goal is to create a safe, non-judgmental therapeutic space where you can show up as you are, feel seen and heard, and together, we co-create the helpful way forward. My approach is integrative, trauma-informed, and social justice oriented.

Do you want to feel confident and on purpose? Are you ready to experience deeper more fulfilling relationships? Do you want to experience more ease? When we are children, we learn how to be in connection and our beliefs about what's possible on our relationship with our caregivers and our friends. Sensitive people & people with big hearts often lean towards putting their own needs on the back burner, this can lead to burnout, anxiety, depression & general unhappiness. Work with me through a holistic model to experience wholeness, connection & joy in your life and relationships. Please reach out for a free 1/2 hour consult.

Healthy change is possible and you do not have to face challenges alone. It can be very difficult to seek help and reach out during hard times. If you are reading this then you have already taken the first step towards well being. Finding a counsellor who you feel comfortable with is an essential part of the healing process. I would be happy to talk with you. Supporting individuals, families, youth and children for over 24 years. This is the time to take the best care of ourselves and our loved ones. Triggers arise now more than ever and support is available.

I am trained to work with individuals, couples and families, and will provide support and encouragement to achieve breakthrough for emotional and relational concerns. I also support parents to enhance skills and find greater satisfaction in raising their children. I have over twenty-five years in the counselling field and can provide a supportive, caring space for clients to share their concerns, learn effective coping strategies, begin recovery and reconnect with life.