Shay Villa


Registered Clinical Counsellor

(Shay is currently accepting clients for July 2026)


Education

  • Master of Arts Counselling Psychology 

    Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, minor in Family and Child Studies

Certifications/Trainings

  • The Gottman: Couples and Family Therapy Level 1 & 2

  • EMDR Basic Training

About Shay

Hi, I’m Shay Villa, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) providing counselling services for individuals and couples in North Vancouver and online across British Columbia. I support clients experiencing ADHD, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress, burnout, relationship challenges, and major life transitions.

I understand that reaching out for support can feel overwhelming. Whether you're struggling with persistent anxiety, difficulties related to ADHD, feeling stuck in patterns of self-criticism, navigating a relationship challenge, or coping with stress and burnout, therapy can provide a space to gain clarity, develop coping strategies, and create meaningful change

My therapeutic approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Person-Centred Therapy (PCT), while also incorporating Narrative Therapy and other evidence-based counselling approaches. I value seeing each client as a whole person within the context of their relationships, experiences, and environment, recognizing that emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and relational factors all influence wellbeing.

I tailor therapy to each client's unique experiences, goals, and strengths, recognizing that emotional, behavioural, cognitive, and relational factors all play an important role in mental health and overall wellbeing.

As a counsellor, my approach is gentle but directive. I balance warmth, compassion and collaboration with practical guidance and skill-building. Together, we explore and identify the patterns that may be keeping you stuck, build insight into your experiences, strengthen emotional regulation skills, and develop tools to help you navigate life's challenges with greater confidence.

My goal is to help clients move beyond simply managing symptoms toward creating lasting and sustainable change.

I strive to create a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. I believe that healing happens within strong therapeutic relationships and that growth becomes possible when people are met with compassion, consistency, support, and genuine care. Therapy can be a place to process difficult experiences, strengthen resilience, improve relationships, and an opportunity to build the skills needed to move forward with greater confidence and wellbeing.

What I Do in My Free Time

Outside of my work as a counsellor, I enjoy paddleboarding, aerial training, learning through books and podcasts, and unwinding with a good docu-series alongside my cat, Tuna.


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