A THERAPIST JOURNEY TO BECOMING A COUNSELLOR IN NORTH VANCOUVER
My journey into becoming a Registered Clinical Counsellor and owner of Soma Clinical Counsellor in North Vancouver didn’t begin in a classroom, it began in a small rural town where mental health support was scarce (and I mean scarce!)
As a teenager, I struggled quietly with depression and an eating disorder. There were no specialized counsellors, no local support groups, and no treatment centres nearby. The few resources that existed felt distant or inaccessible. Like many people, I carried it alone, unsure of where to turn, unsure if anyone would truly understand.
The Isolation of Living in a Rural Community
I remember the heaviness of those years. The isolation of struggling and feeling unseen. Depression whispered that I was alone. My eating disorder made me feel both in control and powerless at the same time. It was hard, and it was lonely. My family and I truly had no where to turn to, until one day we did.
Finding Connection: My First Support Group
“The Thursday Night Drive That Changed Everything”
Doctors appointments and endless waitlists for counselling, I began to feel like recovery wasn’t an option. It wasn’t until my mom found a small newspaper article about an eating disorder support group run by a non-profit organization, but it was over an hour away.
That Thursday night, we got in the car and made the drive. I remember the nerves walking into that room for the first time. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew I needed mental health support.
Realizing the Power of Being Seen and Heard
And then I sat down. I listened. I began to share.
For the first time, I was in a room with people who truly got it. People who didn’t need me to explain the shame, the struggle, or the exhaustion—because they had lived it too. That night, I felt seen in a way I hadn’t before.
Every Thursday, my family and I made the trek. Week after week, that group became a lifeline. Connection, compassion, hope; these were things I desperately needed. Somewhere along those drives, I realized I wanted to offer that same safe space to others.
From Personal Experience to Professional Passion
Pursuing Training as a Registered Clinical Counsellor
Fast forward many years. I pursued schooling and training to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor, determined to turn my lived experience into professional skill.
Working in Schools, Non-Profits, Hospitals, and Private Practices
I worked in school districts, non-profits, hospitals, and private counselling practices. Each experience taught me about resilience and the power of connection. But it also taught me that my passion for counselling in North Vancouver and mental health support across British Columbia needed a space of its own.
Creating Soma Clinical Counselling
A Safe Space for Healing and Growth: Coming Home to Yourself
I wanted to create the very space I had longed for as a teenager: a safe, compassionate environment where people could show up as they are, without judgment, and be met with empathy.
That dream became Soma Clinical Counselling, offering professional counselling in North Vancouver and remote counselling across British Columbia.
Services Offered
At Soma Clinical Counselling, we provide:
Individual counselling for anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and life transitions
Couples counselling to rebuild trust, improve communication, and strengthen connection
Remote counselling across BC, making mental health support accessible no matter where you live
A Message to Those Feeling Alone
“You Alone Can Do It, But You Can Not Do it Alone”
If you’re reading this and feel alone in your struggles—I want you to know there’s a space for you here. You don’t have to make that long drive searching for connection like I once did. Those words above, “you alone can do it, but you can not do it alone” were once said to me… and boy do the resonate.
How to Access Counselling in North Vancouver or Online Across BC
Whether you’re seeking in-person counselling in North Vancouver or remote counselling across British Columbia, my hope is that you can walk through the door, or log into a session from hom, and feel the same thing I once did: I’m not alone anymore.
Because no one should have to do it alone.
You do not have to stay stuck in survival mode.