Grief Therapists in Fairview, Vancouver, BC

My approach to counselling–and life–is to show up in full humanity, with warmth, curiosity, levity, and openness without judgment. Core values are based in intersectional feminism, fat liberation, queer celebration, anti-racism, and radical acceptance. I have experience working with complex grief and loss , depression/low mood, anxiety, body image/body-based oppression, self-esteem, illness diagnosis and death anxiety, various relationship structures, navigating life changes, and diverse experiences of trauma. I also have experience supporting folks with disabilities and neurodivergence through Equine-Assisted Therapy.

In our sessions, I strive to provide a non-judgmental and open space where you can express yourself and explore your inner world so that we can create change together. While it is true that counselling can be challenging, I also believe it can and should include humour, hope, and be a comfortable place for you to learn and grow. If you are in a place where you are ready to make a change, I will support you to address concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD/ADD, parenting, relationship challenges, grief & loss , trauma, psychedelic integration, & career.

By processing past material that has become stuck in the nervous system, we can come out of being either overly activated or tuned out. Our Trauma Therapists are devoted to working holistically with those who wish to free themselves from the grips of trauma or grief and return to states of safety, connection, presence and empowerment.

Do you want to change the patterns in your important relationships? Do you seek more balance in your life? Do you need a safe place to be heard? Through our conversations, you will broaden your awareness of relationships, connection, balance, family, guilt, grief and loss .

I work virtually with many individuals who are facing struggles with their day to day life including grief , stress, anxiety, depression and major life transitions. If there is an identified issue that you would like to work through we can tackle that together, though sometimes there is just a deep desire for life to be easier and to remove the obstacles that we all can find in our way from being truly happy and fully expressed. Whether there are specific concerns or general worries, I can help identify what stands in your way and together we can create a plan to lead you to your most fully expressed version of yourself.

The past few years have been particularly difficult for everyone and I firmly believe in taking care of our emotional and mental health. As a Clinical Counsellor with over 20 years experience working with folks struggling with traumatic stress, substance misuse, mood disorders (anxiety/depression/PPA-PPD), grief , parenting/family struggles, I can support you with making the changes you need and want to make. I provide individual, relationship & family counselling virtually and in person. Work Safe health & safety recommendations have been implemented at my Vancouver office so in person sessions are available.

Are you wanting to find your light, be more at peace, connect and/or feel okay? Have you recently experienced a pregnancy and/or infant loss ? Are you trying to get pregnant and struggling with infertility? Then you are at the right place. I want you to know that you are not broken, messed up, alone or whatever other script you have running in your mind. Perhaps you are looking for a little guidance or help to see a new perspective or recognize the patterns that are no longer serving you.

Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed by life transitions, losses, crises or relationship challenges? Finding that anxiety is becoming unmanageable in your life? Perhaps trying to find meaningful life goals and make changes?In my counselling work I am passionate about connecting and working with people using a "person- centred" approach, which involves listening and focusing on understanding and respecting the perspective and experience of my clients. I will use a collaborative approach to work with you to gain clarity, understanding and solutions that will support positive growth and change in your life.

I imagine you might be struggling in some way at the moment. Maybe things are not the way you thought they would be. Maybe you imagined your life would have turned out differently. Perhaps you have had some painful life experiences that are feeling difficult to heal. Our grief and loss are exactly that and need to be honoured. What I do believe is if we allow space for our emotions and give the pain the attention it needs, we can experience some relief from that pain and find where the light can seep in. We then can build a life full of meaning and happiness.

I work with individuals and couples who are struggling to communicate, and are wanting more connection, openness and intimacy in their relationships. I understand how our lives can be chaotic and how we can feel alone in that. My goal is to help you understand the root of your struggles and develop new strategies to help you find your way out of negative behaviors and thought patterns.

Life can feel complicated, messy and often doesn't go as planned. I will hold space for you to examine and explore your experience, while also providing support, insight, and tools to help you reconnect to yourself and move through whatever challenges you may be facing. I work with individuals who have experienced or are experiencing the following: Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Sexualized Violence & Abuse, Women’s Health (Endometriosis, PCOS), Chronic Pain, Body Image Issues, Relationship Issues, Addictions, Grief & Loss .

Welcome to Integrated Counselling and Somatic Therapy. A gentle question for you: if you take a little moment to gently pause... and just notice your breathing... May I ask: what is most important to you? Knowing the answer is sometimes easy, sometimes elusive. It usually lights the way forward. If you are struggling with unresolved trauma, anxiety, grief , depression, relationship or career issues or feeling dissatisfied with life, growth and healing are attainable. For in-person sessions, as I have limited availability, please inquire by email. If you'd like to know more, please go to: www.benbasscounselling.com.

I work with clients who want to find relief from their struggles with the following: depression, anxiety, anger, grief and loss , worthlessness, despair, disordered eating, life/work transitions, addiction (substances, pornography and gambling), and the negative impact of sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and poverty. Often in the beginning, people come in feeling overwhelmed and frustrated and may be clearer initially of what isn't working for them or what they no longer want in their life. I believe these feelings are a resource to reveal what you do want in your life, what's important to you, your values, hopes, dreams and commitments.

I enjoy working with a diversity of clients and/or their family members who are have both mental health and substance use issues, including trauma and PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance or behavioral addictions, life transitions ( loss , relationships, career), and mental suffering and distress.

Some people seek my help to deal with current life struggles, a significant loss , or a change or life transition. For some, past childhood and/or adult abuse have had long-lasting effects on who they are and how they feel in the world. Often, people are looking for help to manage better and flourish more in life. I offer individual adult therapy for these issues. As a professional with over 20 years of experience, I also offer consultation to other therapists; I welcome questions about this aspect of my practice.

Reaching out for help is a huge step and can be uncomfortable and I believe that building a trusting and safe environment is essential. I help my clients become empowered and active participants to work through challenges such as loss , grief , life transitions, trauma, low mood, anger, and finding meaning in their lives. My previous career as a teacher and athletic coach as well as my Masters in Counselling Psychology have helped provide me with many different perspectives. I work with individuals ranging from youth to adults of any gender and sexual orientation.

Staying awake in the middle of the night because you are feeling detached and desperate in an intimate relationship ? Highly anxious about lack of career satisfaction ? At your wits' end dealing with your children's behaviour ? Or maybe feeling lost and adrift in life wondering what your real calling and purpose is ? I am here to help you navigate through difficult circumstances and transitions ..... ..... so you can be more resilient, find new energy, and discover new steps toward a more content, purpose-driven life.