Lisa Vanderpas

As a therapist, I encourage clients to live in accordance with their values and promote authenticity. I believe that many of the challenges you face in life represent a disconnect between what you see as right, or what is really important to you, and the way that you live those beliefs out. In daily life, this disconnect may be experienced as social anxiety, as you fear what others think of you. At school or in the workplace, this can look like dissatisfaction with your job or studies. In relationships, this can look like resentment or insecurity towards your partner. I’m offering affordable in-person and virtual sessions for individuals and couples. I draw from CBT, narrative therapy, and solution-focused brief therapy to identify thought patterns holding you back, to restructure how you see your past in a fairer light, and to begin addressing any trauma that has shaped the harmful thoughts you may be experiencing. In couples’ therapy, I draw from many of the same approaches, as well as the Gottman method, to equip you with exercises and coping strategies aimed at improving your relationship.

Have you ever felt caught between who you are and who others expect you to be? Perhaps you are carrying the weight of discrimination, cultural pressures, or the lingering feeling of never fully belonging. As a second-generation Canadian raised by immigrant parents and someone who holds multiple marginalized identities, I understand how difficult it can be to navigate the space between different worlds. I offer a warm, affirming, and culturally sensitive environment where individuals aged 14 and up can slow down, feel understood, and reconnect with themselves. As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and MA in Counselling Psychology student working under clinical supervision, I take a client-centred and collaborative approach rooted in psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness-based practices to foster insight, explore patterns, and support meaningful change. Much like a flower that blooms when given the right conditions, I see therapy as a space where growth unfolds when safety and understanding are present. Together, we can cultivate deeper self-awareness and draw on the resilience that already lives within you. If this resonates, I invite you to reach out for a free 20-minute consultation.

Are you someone who feels things deeply, maybe more than the people around you do? You may notice yourself feeling disconnected from others, finding it challenging to form the kind of relationships you want in your life. For many, this comes from living through experiences that can create a “before” and “after,” shifting their sense of safety, identity, or connection. These are often the quiet marks of trauma, even when we do not call them that. As a therapist, I explore how pain can shape us, offering a space where you can slow down, understand your story more deeply, and move toward change with care and intention. As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and MA Counselling Psychology student under clinical supervision, I work from a trauma-informed perspective, drawing on psychodynamic and somatic approaches to support clients in processing difficult experiences, strengthening distress tolerance, and reconnecting with their inner resources to help move forward. Together, we’ll work toward steadier moods, healthier relationships, and a renewed connection to the parts of yourself that may have been silenced. If interested, I invite you to contact me for a complimentary 20-minute consultation to explore whether my supportive services are the right fit for you.

I offer a space where you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. I invite all parts of you forward, taking a calm, intuitive, and reflective approach to help you understand where these patterns come from and reconnect with the parts of you that need care. Together, we will work toward greater balance, confidence, and emotional ease in your everyday life.