Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Therapists in Canada

I am a first(ish) generation Canadian, originally from western Ukraine. I work primarily with folks who moved to Canada or have family that has moved to Canada from other places. The clients that find me a good fit want somebody who is comfortable with diverse perspectives, and is somebody they can connect with, versus strictly being someone who provides educational resources and exercises. This is what I strive to be as a therapist, to "get" my clients and where they are coming from, so that our work together is anchored in understanding and trust. My practice is highly influenced by attachment theory, relational/interpersonal therapy and family systems theory. This means that we look at struggles you're facing not only on an individual level, but also with the goal of helping you find relationships of care and support in your everyday life. If you're interested in working with me, reach out and I'd be happy to schedule a free consultation call with you.

Specializing in LGBTQIA*, ENM, Kink, Sex Workers, and Psychedelic Integration. I launched Nested Heart Counselling in 2013 in response to calls from within the local polyamorous community for mental health support that didn’t require further education about unconventional identities. It’s always been important to me to shout my acceptance for unconventionality from the rooftops, rather than hope word would travel underground in a way that perpetuates stigma. Even with this philosophy, it took time for me to proudly display my body modifications - now clients tell me all the time that this kind of bravery is part of the reason they show up in the first place! It would be hypocritical of me to encourage you to live authentically and not arrive in session doing so myself. We have a whole team available for you, check out our website to learn more.

Hi, I'm Nicole (she/they). You might wonder what therapy can offer you, and that is a fair question. I used to ask the same thing and I remember my first therapy session as a client, I was so nervous I got in a car accident on my way to the appointment. Being vulnerable and sharing a piece of yourself can be so intimidating. It makes sense to feel nervous. Reaching out for support is challenging, and can also be empowering, I commend you for considering it. I am committed to providing as safe a space as is possible to those who would choose to trust me with their story. Part of that includes an understanding of how systemic power and inequity impacts us all. I navigate the world as a white, settler woman. I also have lived experience with chronic illness, and a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis. These, among other pieces of my identity, impact my lived experiences of the world as your identity impacts yours. Because of this, I use an intersectional, systemic approach in my work, leaning on Feminist Theory and utilize AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) and Narrative techniques. I believe you have resources and answers within yourself, and I am honoured to support you as you discover and grow in your own strength. I take a collaborative approach, meaning you get to play an active role in deciding how our time together is spent. Ultimately, I am committed to your healing and will use all of the tools at my disposal to support you on your journey. My hope for you is that you flourish in your life, and are able to feel all of the joy and delight that comes from that.

Are you looking for a ‘hype you up’ but call you on your shit therapist? I might just be your gal! Are you dealing with perfectionism? Going through a break up? Contemplating making a big life change? Experiencing grief, stress, overwhelm or loneliness? I prioritize authenticity in therapy, and aim to help people untangle themselves from problems that hold them back. I work with you as we navigate the peaks & valleys of life experiences. I often support, students, hospitality workers, parents, teachers, nurses, shift workers, ski patrollers, guides & 'first timers' to therapy. Life can be messy & complex. Are you looking for a ‘hype you up’ but call you on your shit therapist? I might just be your gal! Are you dealing with perfectionism? Going through a break up? Contemplating making a big life change? Experiencing grief, stress, overwhelm or loneliness? I prioritize authenticity in therapy, and aim to help people untangle themselves from problems that hold them back. I work with you as we navigate the peaks & valleys of life experiences. I often support, students, hospitality workers, parents, teachers, nurses, shift workers, ski patrollers, guides & 'first timers' to therapy. Life can be messy & complex. My office located in the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver at 4th & Arbutus. I offer virtual counselling via telehealth throughout BC. *Insurance* Counselling is covered or reimbursed by many extended benefits programs. I am registered with many major Canadian insurance providers: Canada Life | Great-West Life Green Shield Canada Manulife Medavie Blue Cross Mines & Associates SunLife AMS - UBC Student Benefits Vail Resorts EAP *Education & Registration* I hold a master's degree in counselling from City University and a bachelor's degree in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria. I am dual licensed with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) as a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC). License Numbers: RCC # 20414 CCC # 11250646 *A bit more about how I work & my background* Lexie (she/her) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor practicing on the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) territories. Lexie’s approach to counselling is characterized by warmth, authenticity, and compassion, with a goal of fostering a relaxed environment where clients can explore their thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment. Lexie roots her work in a trauma informed, anti-oppressive, social justice lens. This may involve looking beyond the individual to understand their experiences within broader social and cultural contexts, as she joins clients on the path to self-discovery, healing, and change. Lexie has over ten years of experience working in the field of mental health. She draws on her experience providing counselling and practical supports to diverse communities, including children and families with complex medical and mental health needs, new immigrants and LGBTQQ2S+ folx. She has worked as a grief and loss counsellor at a hospice, provided crisis and suicide prevention support and developed industry specific work place mental health trainings for the hospitality and tourism sector. Montira Mental Health was born out of Lexie’s own experience as a hospitality manager at different backcountry lodges across British Columbia. As a lodge manager, Lexie observed the intersection of mental health and personal challenges within remote and isolated live/work environments which lead to high rates of burnout amongst her staff. ​​The transient nature of tourism dependent communities, seasonal employment, high cost of living and limited access to low barrier community mental health offerings further impacted her staff. Lexie’s connection to the outdoor community is born out of years of living, working, and recreating in the Rocky, Purcell, Selkirk and Coast mountains. She is an avid backcountry skier, trail runner, and hiker who finds a deep sense of connection to herself and her community through time spent in the outdoors. To learn more, please see my website: montiramentalhealth.com

Maybe you have tried therapy before and it has helped you work through certain feelings or get through a specific crisis. But maybe you still find yourself repeating the same behaviors in subtle ways—perhaps until they become not so subtle and you find yourself back in therapy, in the midst of another crisis, one that eerily echoes your past experiences. You want not just to work through present issues, but also to delve deeper into your personality and life experiences to come to a better understanding of who you are, where you come from, and what your values are—with the goal of becoming the person you want and are able to be. Together, we will explore your past and present, thoughts and feelings, in order to help you gain a more holistic understanding of yourself and your potential. My background is in ancient philosophy and I am training to become a psychoanalyst because I believe that talk therapy can lead to genuine connection and enable self-discovery and self-understanding. If any of the above sounds intriguing, please feel free to contact me. I am open to new clients, especially those looking to dig deeper. Therapy can be truly transformative; sometimes it just takes finding the right person to connect with.

Do you have a story you feel you need to share with someone? Maybe it’s your first time opening up, or maybe you tried before, but just never quite felt heard. If there’s something inside of you that needs telling, I’m here to hear you out. I often work with clients who suffer from depression, trauma, anxiety and relationship issues. I can also be particularly helpful to clients who’ve felt they haven’t gone deep enough in therapy, who tend towards dissociation or intellectualization, or who find themselves between cultures—immigrants, children of immigrants, people from interfaith families, and "third culture kids." I practice psychodynamic psychotherapy, which is based on the premise that the more we understand about ourselves, the more freedom we have to make new choices. If you’ve ever felt stuck without knowing exactly why, or even if you understand why but can’t quite seem to change things, psychodynamic psychotherapy can be immensely helpful. Life can be deeply painful, but it can also be joyous. I aim to be witness to all of you without judgment, so that you can come to know yourself more fully, and therefore have all the more freedom to choose not only how to respond to what life throws at you, but also what life it is you want to live.

I offer therapy for adults who feel stuck in patterns with food, their bodies, or their relationships with themselves. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and self-aware, yet still find themselves caught in cycles of emotional eating, body dissatisfaction, or feeling like they’re “never quite enough.” You might understand the why of your struggles, but still feel pulled back into the same patterns—and that can be frustrating and exhausting. My approach to therapy goes beyond surface-level strategies. Together, we’ll take the time to understand the underlying patterns that are shaping your experience—often rooted in earlier relationships, life transitions, or ways you’ve learned to cope. I draw from a relational, psychodynamic lens as well as Internal Family Systems (IFS), which helps us gently explore the different “parts” of you—like the part that criticizes, the part that copes through food, or the part that feels overwhelmed. I work from a weight-inclusive, non-diet perspective, meaning we won’t focus on changing your body. Instead, we’ll work toward building a more compassionate and sustainable relationship with food, your body, and yourself. I also support clients navigating major life transitions, including the shift into motherhood. Returning to work, changes in identity, and the emotional complexity of this stage can bring up feelings that are hard to make sense of alone. Therapy with me is collaborative and paced in a way that feels manageable. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin—we’ll make sense of things together.

Are you struggling to maintain relationships? Maybe you feel disconnected, unable to get through the day without negative thought patterns. As a psychotherapist, I work with both teens and adults, specializing in relational and childhood trauma. However, I also work with individuals who have faced various life challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and attachment difficulties. Holding a queer identity and a crisis counselling background, my therapeutic space is highlighted in inclusivity, incorporating anti-oppressive and strength-based frameworks to create a safe, non-judgmental space for you to express your thoughts freely. My sessions often take a client-centred approach, building a collaborative process of unlearning damaging self-beliefs, practicing healthy coping skills, and reclaiming your life through newly formed self-awareness. This is your journey, and I will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan specific to your unique needs and goals. I view trauma as a relational experience. Not only is it often experienced in relationships with others, but it is also a new development of healthy relationships that can assist in healing.

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.