My approach to practice emphasizes safe relationship and connection, a grounded knowledge of how our brains and bodies are affected by trauma and attachment, and an understanding of the social forces that shape our lives. My specialization involves helping girls & women heal from anxiety disorders, childhood abuse and relational trauma. I start where you are to clarify your goals, strengthen your relationship to yourself and your body, and access your wisdom and intuition. We will work together to understand and make meaning of your struggles, and support you to develop skills to feel safe, centred and connected.

Hello, if you are reading this, it means you have taken the first step in your counselling journey. I stronly believe in a “come as you are” counselling approach that is centred around the belief that all individuals have the capacity for change. Whether it is a mental health concern or needing support around improving your relationships, career, and day-to-day life. I am passionate about movement for mood, empowering healthy bodies, self-love, and honouring the courage it takes to start the journey of healing.

We each have our own story and through a safe and compassionate space, I will support you in gaining the insight and awareness necessary for personal change. It takes courage to make this first step and in choosing to move forward, you have already started. Having grown up as an identical twin, I am keenly aware of the unique challenges, needs, and desire for individuality we all face. With this in mind, and with the understanding that people approach counselling for many different reasons, we will move forward together in a way that best meets your individual needs.

Sometimes, life can get downright challenging. We have an idea of what we want our life to look like, but problems such as anxiety, depression, or perhaps the effects of traumatic experiences get in the way of our ability to build the life we want for ourselves. It not only affects ourselves, but also our relationships with the ones we love most. It can feel very discouraging, and often, lonely. Thankfully it doesn't have to be this way for long. This is where counselling comes in, and this is where you can make the changes you have longed to see in your life in a safe and supportive space.

I work with children , families and youth who are struggling and wanting to find ways to make improvements. It is my role to assist you in developing clear goals and implementing practical and effective strategies for positive change.

Welcome. I work with people to uncover the stronger, wiser, more resilient self that already lies within. Maybe you're feeling overwhelmed or stuck in feelings of depression or anxiety. Or maybe you're struggling with old beliefs about yourself and old patterns of relating to others that just aren't working anymore. My practice focuses on nurturing connection, self compassion and insight, so you can take action to move into the life you want to live.

Hearing your child say "I wish I was never born! I hate you! I wish I was dead!" is one of the most painful experiences as a parent. After hearing this, you decided it was time to find some help for your child and yourself. You thought things were going to get better, but it hasn't and now you're worried that it's only going to get worse. The parental guilt is overwhelming. You're baffled by their big meltdowns and think that they need to learn some skills to cope with their feelings in a better way.

Counselling available for individuals, children, and families, struggling with various relationship, mental health, and wellness issues. All-inclusive and a safe space.

Janice has had a private practice for 22 years, 16 of those in Nanaimo. Her office location provides comfort, confidentiality and convenience. Her schedule is structured to meet the needs of clients. Janice believes that people have the ability to make change in the form of behavior, belief, or perception. As a therapist Janice assists her clients in their process of change. She is highly skilled in assessing and implementing the interventions most appropriate to each individual unique situation.

I believe that each person’s journey is unique and the knowledge and life experiences that you bring to this process are essential to the support and development of compassionate self-care that is in line with your own values, beliefs and resources. The foundation of my counselling practice is a client-centered approach to facilitate the rediscovery of self, the healing or management of pain, and incorporation of the practice of mindfulness and self-compassion into your life.

With over fifteen years of experience and a commitment to ongoing education/training I can help you. Whether you need a safe, non-judgemental person to talk to, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to help with anger, anxiety or depression, a scientific non-twelve step approach to addictions/compulsive behaviour or hypnotherapy to help with all the above as well as letting go of the past or removal of PTSD/PTSD-like symptoms in a non-retraumatizing manner, I can provide you with the effective services that you need.

I have been working as a registered psychologist since 2008. It's important to me to create a safe, caring respectful environment where anyone, no matter who they are, feels welcome. The relationship between us is one of the most important factors in determining how helpful counselling with me will be. Clients often come to me with anxiety, depression, traumatic experiences, difficulties with life transitions, and grief or loss. We will work together to develop a plan to deal effectively with the issues that bring you to see me. (Can also contact by Fax: 250.984.0859)

Do you find yourself constantly on the go, rushing from one thing to the next? Are you often feeling tired, wishing for more time in the day or days in the week so you can catch-up and take a break? Life can be very busy and overwhelming at times, with work to tend to, errands to run, people to see, a house to clean and dinner to cook, there seems to always be something that needs taking care of. But what about you? While you're so busy taking care of the "to-do's" in your life, who is busy taking care of you? Living this way can be VERY exhausting, and leave you questioning, "what do I need and want out of life?"

Counselling can be helpful If you're struggling, overwhelmed, stuck or interested in personal growth and increased self-awareness. I provide a therapeutic space and relationship that is built on transparency, kindness and genuine positive regard for the trials and tribulations of being a human being. Speaking from experience, reaching out to a counsellor can be incredibly difficult. In order to assist you with the process of finding a counsellor that is the best fit for your needs I offer a free phone consultation so that we can discuss your needs, how I work and the areas you would like to focus in our work together.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor working in Nanaimo and Duncan BC. I've worked as a counsellor for over 15 years in various settings including agencies providing family therapy and parent teen counselling. I am now in private practice and working with individuals and families. I offer a warm, welcoming, calm, non- judgemental, space for you to share your story, your hopes, your fears and struggles. I work with folks who are struggling for a variety of reasons and want to discuss, explore, find solutions for and feel better about their situation.

My work is primarily with those who have experienced trauma - the experience of being emotionally and psychologically overwhelmed by adverse childhood experiences and adult traumatic events. My focus is always on the present - how can those debilitated by anxiety, shame, and poor self-worth become healthy enough to meet their own needs for income, housing, positive and affirming relationships, and physical and mental wellness.

You may be bumping into challenges, hurdles, and fears, and noticing unhealthy repetitive patterns which are in the way of the life you truly want. I can support you to gently explore all those parts of you with curiosity and non judgement. My work is not informed by a diagnostic lens with labels; rather, it references the client as a "whole" being on their own unique human journey. I look forward to accompanying you on your healing journey, to tap into your implicit body-mind knowing and what is present in your body to deepen your awareness and consciousness.

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 specialize in the areas of anxiety, depression, and addiction. In my experience, anxiety and depression often show up together. When they take hold, we frequently fall into traps of addiction in efforts to numb the emotional pain. Addictions can be an effective short-term strategy, but they are not a solution that brings healing. Instead, they increase the pre-existing symptoms, usually adding a whole new set of problems as well. Whether it is a gambling addiction, an online gaming addiction, a shopping addiction, pornography addiction, a substance use addiction (etc), my training and skills are focussed on your healing, growth, and freedom.

Are uncomfortable thoughts, feelings or experiences leaving you feeling triggered or stuck? Are your child or adolescent's behaviours leaving you worried? Do you long for meaningful connections in your closest relationships? Are conflicts leaving you distressed? Together, we will foster self-compassion and co-create a plan that moves you forward in the direction of what is most important to you. Let's engage your curiosity to help you rediscover your best self or support improved relationships. There are times and circumstances where there seems to be no words -- my strategies can help.