Online Counselling for Nanaimo

Life's challenges can be overwhelming, but you don't have to face them alone. I'm dedicated to guide you through your struggles with compassion and non-judgment. My mission is to create a safe and empathetic space where you can explore your concerns and heal the pains that have led to difficulty and dissatisfaction in your life. Whether you're grappling with anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, or navigating life transitions, I'm here to support you. Embarking on therapy can feel vulnerable, yet it can be liberating step towards healing. I prioritize building trust and rapport, so you can feel heard, valued and understood.

Hello, my name is Dean Laviolette and this is a counselling practice in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. As a proud Metis, life is both precious and beautiful, just like you. Seeking counselling is an opportunity to unearth and rediscover who you really are. My approach is to build a therapeutic relationship based on trust and respect in a safe environment. Being empathetic and genuine is my commitment to quality of care to clients without being judgmental. The use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches seem to help clients self-explore, become self-aware, and learn self-care.

You’re a new parent whose relationship before kids is a distant memory. You don’t know how the happy vision of starting a family together turned into arguing about packing diaper bags and lunches and silent evenings on opposite sides of the couch. You don’t have energy to go on a date let alone take care of yourself. In fact, I bet you’re reading this profile during the few moments that your tiny humans are asleep.You’re exhausted, and you don’t know how you will find time to dedicate towards therapy, but you know something has to change. If it doesn’t, you’re worried about the consequences for your relationship or your children.

Everyone has a unique approach to discovering wellness in their life. I believe we need balance between physical, mental, emotional, behavioral and spiritual health, and each of these areas requires care and attention to thrive. By reaching out to talk about stress, feelings, emotions, thoughts and other factors influencing our health, we give ourselves the ability to make necessary change, and to empower autonomous decision-making, creating happiness for ourselves. If you feel stuck, stressed, unfulfilled, or experience relationship difficulties or require support in finding happiness and health, begin your journey to health today.

Feeling stuck and disconnected from ourselves and our loved ones is a common human experience in this day in age. Yet, all of us have a deep longing to feel empowered and engaged, to love and be loved, and to experience a deep and meaningful life. Relationships are the core of our fulfillment, and they all start with our relationship to ourselves. However struggles are manifesting, uncovering the layers of our defenses and opening to our inner world and true selves is a courageous journey worth travelling.

Struggling with self-criticism, shame, low self-esteem, stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic illness, eating disorders, family conflict, relationship struggles, life changes or grief? Needing support, new skills or help for moving forward? You deserve to find more peace and well-being. I can help. Together we will explore what is getting the way, heal what needs to be healed, feel what needs to be felt and learn what needs to be learned.

I provide individual counselling to adults and adolescents struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, adverse childhood experiences, grief, guilt, shame, low self-esteem, suicide ideation, relationship and attachment injuries, communication issues, sexuality and gender identity, and a desire for personal change and growth. I believe in each individual's power to heal and thrive. I'm passionate about helping clients achieve their goals through a multi-disciplinary approach providing tools and transformational therapy. I do not discriminate based on private medical decisions.

Providing help for: Relationship Issues, Depression, Anxiety, Grief & Loss, Addictions, Personal Growth, Abuse, Parenting, Anger Management, Stress, Guilt, Insomnia, Family, Trauma, Spiritual...

When life is difficult the resulting symptoms usually include depression, anxiety, fear, anger and/or withdrawal. Rather than avoiding these states I have helped hundreds of clients turn them into resources, significantly improving their lives --usually after only a few sessions. I have 25+ years experience working with couples, individuals, families and groups, and have supervised 20+ new therapists. I specialize with couples, helping them to move beyond arguing, tension, anger, resentment and distancing into happy couples. My clients turn their problems into workable solutions. Free tips: www.shorecounselling.ca.

Are you struggling in your relationship? Do you get frustrated at your partner, your mother, your co-workers or your boss? Have you thought that if you moved jobs, or countries, or changed your relationship that life would change; only to realize that you are having the same experience all over again? Sometimes we wish that people would just do what we want them to or be a certain way so that we can feel better. Often we think our relationships need to change when change must really begin within ourselves. If you are ready to look at who you are in your relationships, I'm here to help you discover who that is and why!

My goal as a counselor is to create a safe environment and a trusting relationship so that you the client can explore and be curious about yourself even at those times when it is painful. When we grow we are going to be out of our comfort zone but when we feel safe and trusting we are more than capable to do the work to create a more fulfilling life. I use inner child work as the foundation for the work we do together.Instagram page: innerchildworkwithmia

It is part of being human to at times feel stressed, stuck, overwhelmed, or discouraged - wanting some kind of change but finding that things stay the same in spite of our efforts. There are understandable reasons for this. We have a human mind that tries to keep us safe but can limit us to seeing things in the same old ways. We inhabit a human body with a complex nervous system. We live in relationship with other people and have developed patterns of relating. We may have had difficult experiences that have put our mind and body into a “protective mode”. And with support, we have great capacity for healing and growth.

I firmly believe that each person has the potential to overcome the effects of their difficult life experiences. I am committed to walk alongside you on your path towards healing from depression, anxiety, (complex) trauma, abuse, and other mental health challenges. Providing a safe, non-judgmental environment, I tailor my methods to your needs. I love and have experience working with individuals and families from a variety of cultural backgrounds. My expertise is in supporting those struggling with traumatic experiences as well as difficulties related to cultural and relational contexts.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the stress of anxiety, overthinking, workplace burnout, lack of confidence, life transitions, relationship conflict, family dysfunction, etc., get in touch and we can make a care plan to match your specific needs. Talk therapy can help you untangle your thoughts and clear your mind. You can also receive feedback and talk out options and possible solutions to your problems with someone who does not have a personal stake in your choices. I am here for you so we will focus on what is important to you. You might decide to incorporate some new tools and practices to make positive changes going forward.

I have had the honour throughout the past 20 years of my career to witness the power of individuals and families to make positive changes in their lives. My past experience includes work within counselling agencies, health centres, and with the government, supporting children, youth, and adults. My primary areas of therapy include anxiety, depression, stress, self esteem and interpersonal issues. I have specific training in cognitive-behavioural therapy and trauma focused CBT. I believe the relationship between myself and those I work with is integral, where your preferences inform our time together.

Many young women seek counselling because they have experienced traumatic or difficult situations. I know how these deeply felt experiences can leave us feeling alone, unable to verbalize our distress to those close to us. The lasting impact of past experiences and traumas on current relationships, beliefs and behaviours can keep us feeling stuck in painful patterns. I work with individuals experiencing a range of symptoms including anxiety that impacts daily functioning, disordered eating, body image issues and the impact of sexual trauma. I also specialize in working with those experiencing the impact of complex trauma.

If you are feeling overwhelmed in your life or relationship, I am here to inspire hope and to help empower you to navigate life with calm confidence. It is normal to need support; sometimes help is required to understand why you are feeling stuck so that a perspective shift can take place, ultimately leading to a more meaningful life experience. Through a deeper understanding of self, the architecture of change can be built, new skills can be learned, enabling the potential for personal and relational transformation.

I work with humans around issues such as anxiety, relational trauma, self-criticism, low self-worth, and struggles navigating connection and conflict, as well as the tension between self-protection and growth. Common concerns that bring people to me include social and other forms of anxiety, low mood, eating and body image concerns, parenting challenges, and communication/relationship issues. I see teens, adults, and couples in my practice.

Counselling can help individuals and couples in times of challenge by offering a judgement free space to be heard, explore solutions, and to expand perspectives and create the space for healing to occur. Clients seek counselling when they are struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, chronic pain, relationship challenges, issues with trust and communication, infidelity and or conflict management. I believe effective therapy is relationship-driven. I invite you to start on a journey where together we face the challenges or struggles you encounter.