Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) Therapists in Nanaimo, BC
Ed Chen M.Ed, RCC-ACS, CCC
Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Clinical Supervisor, Canadian Certified Counsellor
Ed is a BCACC registered, CCPA certified clinical counsellor, and a BCACC Approved Clinical Supervisor. Ed has extensive experience in delivering Dialectical Behavior Therapy to high-risk adults, youths and families experiencing concerns such as suicidality, self-harm, impulsivity, depression, anxiety, trauma, and addictions.
Eric Proulx
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Are you feeling stuck in the same unhelpful patterns? Is it becoming more and more difficult to live through anxiety, depression or emotional overwhelm? Reaching out can be hard, but it's the first step towards living a more intentional, fulfilling and joyful life.
Mandeep Lalli
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Are you feeling anxious, overwhelmed or stuck? Maybe something feels wrong? I help people navigate anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and relationship struggles, with culturally sensitive care that honours your full background, including pressures others may miss. As a South Asian therapist who spent 15 years in the corporate world, I bring lived experience and real-world context to therapy.
Alicia Buck
Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling- Provisional (MPCC-p), LPC
I believe that clients are the true experts of their own lives. My role is not to tell my clients who to be or how to heal, but to walk alongside them as they rediscover their own strength and resilience. I provide a warm, person-centered environment where everyone can feel safe, heard, and truly seen. I support all cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.
Grant McMahon
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC 11135)
I offer virtual counselling to adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma-related concerns, relationship difficulties, grief, and major life transitions. For over 12 years, I've helped people understand the patterns that keep them stuck and build steadiness, clarity, and practical change in their lives.
Emma Hartley
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MACP, BA (she, her)
Are you looking for a therapist that knows what it's like to feel lost or overwhelmed and how to find your footing again? Noticing yourself feeling more anxious, "just tired", and craving a space to slow down and reconnect with a sense of meaning or purpose? Trying to make sense of shifts in mood, questioning careers, exploring relationships, parenting and identity, or a major life transition?
Tyler Fong
Canadian Certified Counsellor
I hope to help facilitate your next steps of understanding and growth; we will work to reduce negative symptoms, process difficult experiences, and move toward your goals. I offer short-term and longer-term counselling through a variety of evidence-based approaches. We will collaborate on the style that best suites you. I offer Individual and couples counselling for adults or youth aged 12+.
Sandra Daoust
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) and Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (MPCC-P)
You're not broken, and you don’t need fixing. At your core, you're whole. But life, trauma, loss, stress, and relationships can make you feel fragmented/out of alignment. My work is about helping you remember who you are beneath the layers: sovereign and capable of living an authentic life. My approach is collaborative to your unique lived experience. Healing is not linear, but it is possible.
Alexandra Kozikova
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor RTC
I am a client-centered, trauma-informed counsellor who uses evidence-based approaches such as CBT, alongside mindfulness and relaxation techniques. With a compassionate and practical style shaped by both my professional and life experience, I support clients in understanding challenges, building skills, and creating lasting, meaningful change.
Denise Mansell, MACP, RSW, RCC, CCC
Registered, Clinical Counsellor, Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
Feeling stuck, numb or overwhelmed by the world right now? Are you facing issues like anxiety, depression, and relationship problems? I offer professional, in-person Clinical Counselling, Grief Therapy & Registered Social Work services. Contact me to arrange a brief, complimentary consultation. If you are ready to get started, I have both in-person and remote session openings available.
Carlos (Charlie) Garcia
CCC, MHC, MSc, PhD Candidate in Clinical Sexology
I help adults and couples navigate anxiety, identity, sexuality, intimacy and sexual concerns, and relationship challenges. My approach is modern, direct, and integrative — no fluff. I work with individuals of all genders and orientations, with a specialization in LGBTQ+ and trans clients. Bilingual services available in English and Spanish. Virtual sessions across Florida (USA) & Canada.
Maya Awad
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MACP, ADHD-SP, HBSc (she, her)
Accepting NEW clients - Are you feeling overwhelmed or like you’re carrying a lot on your own? Feel like you're doing everything you’re “supposed to do,” but something still doesn’t feel right? Have a desire to better understand your thoughts, emotions, or patterns, work on building confidence or self-esteem, or find support for your relationship?
Carole Boivin M.Ed, RCC, CCC
Registered Clinical Counsellor & Certified EMDR Therapist
Hi, as an experienced Registered Counsellor (24 years) and as a Certified EMDR Therapist, I am passionate about helping others find resolution, healing & happiness in their lives. Working in both English and French, I offer individual counselling & expertise in EMDR Therapy to provide support to overcome anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship and self-esteem issues, & more. My approach has bee…
Debra (Debbie) Airth
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
Come as you are. Let's begin from there. I support individuals and couples navigating grief, chronic illness, trauma, identity exploration, LGBTQ+ experiences, polyamory/ENM, and life transitions. My approach is warm, trauma-informed, and rooted in genuine human connection, helping you reconnect with your strengths and move forward with greater clarity and self-compassion.
Maya Dousti
Registered Psychotherapist
I am a BIPOC trauma therapist, and I work with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation, self-esteem, life transitions, racial/cultural issues, new parenthood, identity, family and interpersonal relationships. I work eclectically, borrowing from several modalities to meet my client's needs.
Renata Roma
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I offer support for individuals dealing with anxiety, including high-functioning anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts, and phobias, including animal-related fears. Many of my clients come in with relationship struggles. I also specialize in pet loss, and anxiety related to pets.
Amelia Traer
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), BA, PsiChi
My work is shaped by CBT, ACT, DBT, ERP, and trauma-informed, mindfulness-based approaches. I support clients with anxiety, burnout, OCD and phobias, ADHD, grief, life transitions, women's health, and chronic health concerns. Our therapy space adapts, with a focus on connection, emotional regulation, and practical strategies that fit your life.
Michelle Keough
Master of Clinical Social Work, Registered Social Worker
Feeling disconnected from your partner has got you feeling discouraged and frustrated in your relationship. You're tired of having the same arguments continue to happen in your relationship with no understanding. Being stuck in conflict has lead to you feeling disconnected from your partner and is holding you back from creating a secure loving bond. You no longer need to feel alone in your rela...
Aaron Chin
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Hi, I’m Aaron, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC# 21391) practicing online, and in person for clients in Surrey, BC. I strongly believe in the power of therapy to facilitate personal growth, healing, and empowerment. My approach is rooted in empathy, respect, and collaboration, providing a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their concerns.
Annie Szalkai
Registered Psychotherapist
I work with adults from diverse backgrounds, supporting those navigating anxiety, stress, and self-esteem challenges. My approach is client-centred and integrative, drawing from CBT, ACT, EFIT, Solution-Focused Therapy, and more to meet each person’s unique needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
CBT is a structured, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that examines the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The core principle is that unhelpful thinking patterns contribute to emotional distress — and that changing those patterns can meaningfully improve how you feel and function. CBT is one of the most extensively researched forms of therapy in the world, with strong evidence across a wide range of mental health conditions.
What conditions does CBT treat effectively?
CBT has robust evidence for treating anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders, insomnia, chronic pain, and substance use disorders. It is also widely used for stress management, anger management, grief, and relationship difficulties. The Canadian Psychological Association recognizes CBT as a first-line psychological treatment for many of these conditions.
What does a typical CBT session involve?
CBT sessions are structured and goal-directed, typically including a review of the previous week, work on a specific skill or technique, and between-session practice exercises. Common techniques include thought records to identify and challenge unhelpful thinking, behavioural experiments, activity scheduling, and exposure exercises. Practising skills between sessions consistently produces better outcomes than in-session work alone.
How many CBT sessions will I need?
CBT is typically short-term, ranging from 6 to 20 sessions depending on the presenting concern. Some conditions respond quickly — specific phobias may improve in 5–10 sessions — while others, such as OCD or personality disorders, often require more extended treatment. Your therapist will work with you to set clear goals and review progress throughout.
How is CBT different from other types of therapy?
CBT differs from traditional psychodynamic or humanistic therapy in its structured, present-focused, and skills-based approach. Rather than spending extended time exploring past experiences, CBT focuses on teaching concrete tools to change thoughts and behaviours in the here and now. Many therapists integrate CBT with other approaches — such as mindfulness, ACT, or DBT — depending on individual needs.