Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Therapists in Nanaimo, BC

Li Li

Li Li

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Li offers relational psychoanalytic and trauma-informed somatic/EMDR/IFS/EFT therapy, to support individual, couples and families in communities such as immigrants, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent (ADHD), and professionals, whose experiences resonate with her own life journey the most. She holds a compassionate, culturally attuned space where clients can express freely and rediscover their authentic self.

Debra (Debbie) Airth

Debra (Debbie) Airth

Registered Therapeutic Counsellor

Virtual

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.

Eric Proulx

Eric Proulx

Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)

Virtual

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.

Tyler Fong

Tyler Fong

Canadian Certified Counsellor

Virtual

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+.

Eleni Anagnosti

Eleni Anagnosti

Pre-Licensed Professional, MS, HBA, BA

Virtual

My approach is compassionate, culturally attuned, and collaborative. I draw from CBT, strengths-based, solution-focused, and trauma-informed approaches to support ADHD, anxiety, depression, burnout, grief, life transitions, and relationship patterns. Together, we focus on building practical tools, emotional balance, and a stronger sense of self-trust.

Michelle Keough

Michelle Keough

Master of Clinical Social Work, Registered Social Worker

Virtual

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

Aaron Chin

Registered Clinical Counsellor

Virtual

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.

Erin Ibrahim

Erin Ibrahim

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), BA

Virtual

Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, relationship stress, self-esteem struggles, or just feeling stuck, we can work through it together. Pulling from a variety of frameworks to instead suit your unique needs instead of making it feel one-size-fits-all, I have interest in anxiety, depression, relationships, attachment, neurodiversity, and self-esteem. I look forward to connecting!

Sarah Perone

Sarah Perone

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

I help individuals and couples break painful relationship cycles so they can feel more connected, secure, and confident. I support concerns like recurrent conflict, relationship anxiety (and ROCD), limerence, and resentment. Using an attachment- and evidence-based approach, I offer warm, non-judgmental virtual therapy across Ontario. Book a free 15-minute consultation to get started.

Mackenzie Fournier

Mackenzie Fournier

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Hi, I’m Mackenzie! I’m a Psychotherapist who loves keeping therapy real, down-to-earth, and practical. I help people untangle patterns around anxiety, food, and self-trust using tools grounded in science. In sessions, I bring my authentic self—you can expect a mix of support, guidance, and maybe a little humour when it feels right—so we can tackle challenges together without the extra pressure.

Sandra Daoust

Sandra Daoust

Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) and Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (MPCC-P)

Virtual

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.

Katharine De Santos

Katharine De Santos

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

Healthy Minds Psychotherapy was founded in 2018 with the mission of providing psychotherapeutic care to individuals from diverse backgrounds, fostering resilience in each person and our community as a whole.

Amelia Traer

Amelia Traer

Pre-Licensed Professional, BA, PsiChi

Virtual

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.

Emma Laughlan

Emma Laughlan

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Virtual

I work with children (10+), teens, and adults who feel anxious, overwhelmed, or exhausted by the pressure to get everything “right.” You may be stuck in overthinking, people‑pleasing, panic symptoms, health anxiety, or relationship patterns that leave you doubting yourself. On the outside, you might appear high‑achieving and capable. Inside, you feel tense, self‑critical, or never quite enough.

Grant McMahon

Grant McMahon

Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC 11135)

Virtual

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.

Chantelle Vaz

Chantelle Vaz

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

I offer a warm and collaborative space where you can explore your experiences with curiosity and care. My approach is rooted in empathy and authenticity, supporting you in understanding your story, building self-compassion, and creating meaningful change. I draw from narrative, attachment, and emotion-focused therapies to meet your unique needs.

Maya Awad

Maya Awad

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), ADHD-SP, HBSc (she, her)

Virtual

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?

Tracy Greenough

Tracy Greenough

MPCC (Provisional), RTC Candidate

Virtual

You don't have to keep carrying everything on your own. I help adults, teens, and couples overcome anxiety, trauma, overwhelm, and self-doubt through practical, evidence-informed counselling that helps you create lasting change-not just temporary relief.

Annie Szalkai

Annie Szalkai

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

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.

Aida Retta

Aida Retta

Registered Psychotherapist

Virtual

You’ve always been the one others count on—the thoughtful one, the steady one. But under the surface, you might feel anxious, resentful, or quietly overwhelmed. You say yes when you want to say no. You shrink your needs to keep the peace. You care deeply, but sometimes feel like you’re disappearing in the process. These patterns often begin in relationships where love felt conditional, conflict w…

How do therapists in Nanaimo, BC compare?

Number of therapists listed

33

Average years in practice

5.3 Years

Currently accepting new clients

100 %

Therapists in Nanaimo, BC who prioritize treating:

88% Anxiety
58% Relationship Issues
55% Depression
45% Trauma and PTSD
39% ADHD
33% Emotional Dysregulation
30% Self Esteem
24% Grief

How therapists see their clients

3% In Person & Online
97% Online Only

Top therapy approaches used in Nanaimo, BC:

100% Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
82% Trauma Focused
79% Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)
70% Attachment-based
67% Person-Centered
64% Strength-Based
64% Internal Family Systems (IFS)
52% Culturally Sensitive

Frequently Asked Questions About Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

What is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)?

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) was developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and is grounded in attachment theory — the understanding that human beings have a fundamental need for close emotional bonds. EFT helps clients identify and change the negative emotional and interactional patterns that block secure connection, replacing them with more open, vulnerable, and responsive ways of relating. It is used for couples, individuals, and families, each with a specific EFT model.

What does EFT treat?

EFT for couples (EFT-C) is one of the best-researched couple interventions, with studies showing 70–75% of couples moving from distress to recovery. Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) addresses depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and attachment-related concerns in individual clients. EFT with families helps address conflict and disconnection between parents and children. All applications focus on deepening emotional experience and reshaping attachment patterns.

What does an EFT session feel like?

EFT sessions are emotionally focused and relational — the therapist pays close attention to emotional signals and helps you slow down and go deeper into feelings that are often glossed over. You may be guided to notice and articulate a deeper, more vulnerable layer of feeling beneath reactive emotions like anger or withdrawal. The pace is gentle but deep, and sessions often feel different from more cognitive or skill-based therapy — more about feeling than thinking.

Is EFT only for couples?

EFT is well-known primarily as a couples therapy, but the model has been extended to individuals (EFIT) and families (EFFT). EFIT is increasingly used for individuals dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, and relational wounds. EFFT addresses parent-child attachment and is used when adolescents and their parents are struggling with disconnection. An EFT-trained therapist can apply the approach in individual, couple, or family formats depending on your needs.

How long does EFT therapy take?

EFT for couples typically involves 8–20 sessions, depending on the severity of distress and the complexity of the issues. Individual EFT may be shorter or longer depending on the presenting concerns. EFT is generally considered a moderately long-term approach — it goes deeper than symptom-focused work and prioritizes lasting change in attachment patterns rather than quick skill acquisition. The depth of the work is what produces its strong and durable outcomes.