Shay Villa

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Registered Clinical Counsellor

(Shay is currently accepting clients for August 2026)

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• Who I Work With

  • Teens (16+)

  • Young Adults

  • Adults

  • Couples

• Specialties

  Individual Therapy

  • ADHD Counselling

  • Anxiety Therapy

  • Depression Counselling

  • Self-Esteem & Confidence

  • Stress & Burnout Recovery

  • Life Transitions

  • Relationship Challenges

  • Emotional Regulation

  • Coping Skills Development

  Couples Therapy

  • Relationship Concerns and Conflict Patterns

  • Healthy Conflict Resolution

  • Relationship Communication Skills

  • Emotional Disconnection

  • Managing Reoccuring Arguments

• Approach / Methods

  Theoretical Orientation:

  • Gottman Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Person Centred Therapy

  • Narrative Therapy

  • EMDR

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, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) providing individual and couples counselling in North Vancouver and virtually across British Columbia.

I support adults and couples navigating ADHD, anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, self-esteem, relationship challenges, communication difficulties, life transitions, chronic health concerns, and major changes such as separation, divorce, and new stages of life.

I understand that reaching out for counselling can feel vulnerable. Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck in familiar patterns, disconnected from themselves or their relationships, or unsure of what needs to change. I strive to create a space where you feel comfortable being honest, curious, and fully yourself. I believe therapy works best when it is collaborative, and I value your feedback, experiences, and goals throughout the process.

My approach is warm, grounded, and flexible, integrating Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness-Based approaches, and Person-Centred Therapy. I tailor our work together based on your unique needs, recognizing that your emotions, thoughts, behaviours, relationships, and life experiences all influence your wellbeing.

I have a particular interest in supporting individuals and couples navigating relationship challenges, including communication struggles, emotional disconnection, premarital counselling, parenting conflicts, separation, divorce, and rebuilding trust after difficult experiences. I also enjoy working with neurodivergent clients, particularly adults with ADHD, as well as individuals experiencing burnout, chronic health concerns, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and emotional regulation challenges.

My therapeutic style is gentle and validating while also being direct and encouraging when needed. Together, we will explore the patterns that may be keeping you stuck, build insight into your experiences, develop practical coping strategies, and work toward meaningful change. I believe growth happens when we feel supported enough to be honest with ourselves while also feeling empowered to try something new.

My goal is to help you move beyond simply coping and toward creating a life and relationships that feel more connected, balanced, and aligned with who you are.

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.