Therapists in Vancouver, BC

In the world of problems, maybe none are more worth solving than those that plague children and families. Over 20 years, I have dedicated my practice to solving these problems by counselling parents, children & families and assisting them through high-conflict challenges. In March 2013, the Family Law Act changed whereby it now is rightly focused on the best interests of the child and makes it possible for families to work with a parental coordinator who has judicial authority to make legally binding decisions. This alternate dispute resolution allows for a more effective process so that children of high-conflict families are not stale mated.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master's Degree in Counselling, with over 30 years of experience as a social worker serving clients from all cultural backgrounds. In additions, I am an approved service provider for the Crime Victim Assistance program and ICBC clients. For the past 20 years, I have been working as a settlement counsellor and parent educator helping immigrants, refugees, and international students who are adjusting to life in Canada. I worked at The Canadian Red Cross and managed a team of volunteers that provided emotional support to parents and caregivers dealing with critically ill children.

Shalene Takara is a Registered Clinical Counsellor - Approved Clinical Supervisor (RCC-ACS) and owner of Safe Space Counselling Services in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and has been working in the field of mental health since 2009. Since 2012, she has been providing individual, couples and family therapy in nonprofit, agency and private-practice settings. She specializes in helping individuals, couples, parents and families overcome trauma, strengthen relationships, heal from family-of-origin issues, and support social and emotional well-being and development.

Having practiced as a Clinical Psychologist overseas for 20 years, I am very familiar with all kinds of conditions. If you are having relationship with your spouse or others, I can help. You might be stressed out trying to parent your children, whatever age they maybe and esp for offsprings who have ADHD, Autism or learning problems, I love to help. Or you maybe depressed, anxious, wanting to work out your inner issues so that you can be a happy person, I am here to give you a hand. Or you might have a lot of pain/stress in your life, with various kinds of addictions not knowing where to do, I am here to help you find your way out.

Does it feel like layers of stress, pressure, anxiety, and tension are starting to pile up on you? Are the struggles becoming harder to cope with? I can help. I have 13+ years of experience supporting clients as they overcome various challenges and difficulties. I am excited, dedicated, and passionate about helping clients discover their goals, reduce their suffering, and find their way to a better life.

I provide counselling and support to people coping with a variety of mental health challenges (with or without a diagnosis). These may include depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, emotion management, eating disorder and addiction issues. I also have a special interest in parent and caregiver support. My counselling style is client-centred and strengths-focused. I aim to provide a safe place for an individual to express their thoughts and feelings. Using this safe space, we can collaborate on identifying the client's goals, and steps to accomplishing them.

Life can be complicated no matter what your age is. Managing life transitions such as becoming a teenager or young adult, a parent, or change in any life routine can be difficult. You may be experiencing stress, anxiety, addiction, or relationship issues. Traumas and life stressors we experience can affect how we feel, think, and connect with others. I aim to help you connect with yourself and others in a way that makes you feel more content and confident in life.

Life can be overwhelming sometimes and we feel that there is no way out because there are stressors everywhere we turn. It can feel like there is no way out of the overwhelming stressors we face, but I am here to let you know that it does not have to be so. Let us walk alongside in your journey of healing and mental wellness. As a registered social worker, I believe that you the client are the expert in your own life, and I am simply here to work in collaboration with you to reach your full potential. As Brene Brown says, "Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change".

Jessica is a skilled and experienced counsellor committed to helping individuals, couples, and families create effective and lasting change. She is experienced with a variety of presenting issues. These issues include relationship struggles, separation and divorce, stress, anxiety and depression, life transitions, parenting, grief/loss, and personal growth.

Therapy is your place to be exactly as you are. I offer compassionate, non-judgmental therapy so you can feel free to be yourself. My practice is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and client-centered. Many of my areas of practice are grounded in lived experience, which supports my ability to offer authentic compassion and empathy. I've navigated the challenges of feeling overwhelmed by trauma and systemic barriers. Thankfully, my journey taught me that when we find good-fit therapy and work on developing deeper self-compassion, we are so much stronger and more capable of healing than we ever imagined possible.

Now Accepting New Clients (low-cost options available)! Life doesn't have to feel like a constant struggle - there is a way to find some peace, and life the fulfilling life you want and deserve. We will work with our clients to help them recover from a variety of concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, narcissistic abuse, relationship and family conflict, ADHD, anger management problems, parenting struggles, work-related issues and burnout, those memories from the past that keep getting in your way - and so much more.

Are you longing to feel more connection and harmony in your relationships? Do you sometimes feel like your emotions are too much for you? Are you often feeling sad or anxious? Many of my clients are professionals, parents, students, and creatives who appear to be functioning well on the outside, but inwardly are feeling anxious, inadequate, and disconnected. Whether you are struggling with a current situation, or wanting to process deeper emotional and interpersonal patterns, I am happy and prepared to support you.

At an early age and throughout my life, as I have struggled with life’s ebbs and flows, I have realized how support and connection can provide people with a space for discovery. Through my own personal experiences, I have learned how essential it is to have a space to be heard. I believe in supporting those who are struggling to have a voice, and for that voice to provide a pathway towards growth and wellness. I am passionate about people, healing, and supporting those who need it most. My personal and professional values are intertwined. I believe in empowerment and supporting individuals to be the best they can be.

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.

I specialize in helping people who struggle with anxiety, depression, stress, parenting, relationships and life transitions, infertility and pregnancy loss, relationship or marriage struggles. We, humans are born as WHOLE beings, we are worthy of love, we crave attachment, safety and connection. Sometimes we experience life events that may make us feel: stressed, angry, lonely, hurt, or unworthy of love. Having experienced trauma, loss and grief in my personal life, I know what it feels like to feel stuck, helpless, and worst of all, hopeless.

As a busy professional, I understand how challenging life can be as we negotiate the many roles we have in life. It helps to have someone listen to us, hear us, validate us, and offer new insights or coping and healing strategies. I have been in the counseling field for many years, and have engaged with individuals in remote communities, urban agencies, a residential center, and online. I work with women, men, children and adolescents from a holistic perspective. This includes being client - centered, attachment-focused, developmentally aware and trauma-informed..

Sometimes life can become overwhelming and we feel lost, disconnected or like we are never good enough. I will provide a supportive and encouraging space where you can explore your experiences openly. Together we will gather insight, and I will provide you with support and tools to face any challenges you have and build a sense of belonging within. I work with individuals who are experiencing issues related to Trauma, Childhood Abuse, Anxiety, Depression, Body Image, Self-Worth, Relationship Issues and Grief/Loss. I also work with couples and parent-child relationships who are struggling to communicate and understand each other.

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, work related stress/compassion fatigue, parenting & family struggles, I can support you with making the changes you need and want to make. I provide individual, relationship & family therapy in person and virtually.

I have widespread knowledge of family dynamics. I can help you deal with depression, anxiety, anger, and addiction in the family. I can explore traumatic events, attachment, emotion regulation, neglect and family of origin issues, and understand domestic violence and its effect. I can help explore issues of separation, divorce and co-parenting. If you were a victim and have a police incident number or face being charged with assault by the court. I can support you deal with your addiction. I can support increase your self esteem and explore your issues.