Trauma and PTSD Therapists in Nanaimo, BC
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.
Michelle Williams
Clinical Counsellor
I specialize in relationship issues, anxiety, and trauma. Using a psychodynamic approach with somatic awareness, I help clients explore unconscious patterns and deepen self-understanding for lasting change. Book a free consultation:https://integrativechangetherapy.janeapp.com
Lisa Demmer
Registered Psychotherapist, HBA, ADHD-CP, EMDR
Accepting NEW Clients – Is it hard to find motivation or let go of anxious thoughts? Do you feel stuck in low mood, the past, or like you’re going through the motions but nothing changes? Have you lost sight of yourself, or feel held back by experiences that continue to echo into the present? Maybe you’re wanting support with emotions, communication, relationships, identity, or finding meaning in…
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.
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…
Brittany Forester
Registered Psychotherapist, HBA, ADHD-CP, CCTP, EMDR
I take a trauma- and culturally-informed approach to supporting ADHD, trauma, stress, anxiety, and couples, and I have a passion for helping people build confidence in themselves. I draw from many frameworks such as EMDR, Narrative, CBT, DBT, IFS, as well as EFT and Gottmans with Couples.
Loretta Laurin
Registered Clinical Counsellor
I specialize in relationships, trauma, and personal growth. I am trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Relational Life Therapy (RLT) for couples, and Brain-Based Coaching with the Neuroleadership Institute. I offer individual and couples therapy in-person and online. As a relationship counsellor, I welcome and celebrate all relationships, including LGBTQIA2S+, polyamorous, and kink.
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.
Tracy Greenough
MPCC (Provisional), RTC Candidate
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.
Katharine De Santos
Registered Psychotherapist
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.
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?
Helen Beynon
Registered Clinical Counsellor, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
I help thoughtful women transform “never enough” into calm confidence. If you look successful on the outside yet secretly wrestle with self-doubt, people-pleasing, or exhaustion from trying to keep it all together, you’re not alone. You don't have to stay stuck - together we’ll turn survival patterns into sustainable self-trust so you can enjoy relationships, work, and your own company.
Kristina Founk
Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist, Counselling Therapist
Hi! I’m Kristina, and I specialize in guiding individuals through the challenges of anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks. I am an ARCH registered clinical hypnotherapist with specialized training in supporting individuals with PTSD/CPTSD. I would be honoured to help you achieve lasting relief through the transformative power of hypnotherapy. Together, we'll embark on a journey towards inner peac...
Zarifa Andani
MPCC-P, RTC-C
This work isn’t about fixing your parts—it’s about helping you feel more like your whole self again. We can work together to slow down, get curious, and listen deeply. Our internal body wisdom is an integral source of information that speaks more significantly than words. Real change is possible when ALL of you feels safe enough to be seen and supported, just as you are.
Vijay S Mann
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Our journeys are not a straight line. Bends and breaks can challenge us, but therapy can help you navigate these journeys in a healthy way. You deserve to be healthy in all aspects of life. You deserve the best life has to offer so you can live to your fullest potential. No matter what your story or background is, holistic, culturally-appropriate, and growth-oriented counselling can help.
Justine Little
Registered Social Worker
Do you feel like you're stuck in old patterns? Are you always zoning out or in crisis mode? Do you struggle to connect with your body and aren't quite sure what it means to feel your feelings? Would you prefer to work with a queer therapist with experience supporting 2SLGBTQ+ folks and who is committed to integrating social justice into therapeutic work?
Shadan Mosavat
Clinical Counsellor, M.A, CCC.
With over 9 years of clinical experience, I support adults navigating Adult ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and relationship challenges in Vancouver & BC. As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (CCC), I provide a warm, neurodivergent-affirming space to move past chronic shame and build lasting emotional safety.
Alexia Wensing
Registered Psychotherapist, HBA, MACP, RP
Accepting NEW Clients – Do you find feeling stuck, anxious, or wishing you had more confidence or self-esteem? Are you interested in understanding yourself or your choices and want to dig into the roots of why you feel the way you do? Are you struggling to find your "why" or to find meaning in what you're doing? Are you an athlete feeling held back or blocked? Are you interested in looking at...
Raquel Nicolau
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
Amanda Sparks
Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy (CCPA), Canadain Certified Counselor (CCC), Registered Certified Counselor (RCC)
Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy (CCPA), Canadain Certified Counselor (CCC), Registered Certified Counselor (RCC)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma and PTSD
What is trauma and when does it become PTSD?
Trauma refers to an overwhelming experience — such as abuse, accidents, assault, natural disasters, or witnessing violence — that exceeds a person's capacity to cope. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs when symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbing, hypervigilance, and avoidance persist for more than a month and cause significant impairment. PTSD affects an estimated 9–10% of Canadians at some point in their lives.
Which therapy approaches are most effective for trauma and PTSD?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy have the strongest evidence for PTSD. Trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT) is the leading approach for children and adolescents. Somatic and body-based therapies are increasingly used alongside these approaches for complex or developmental trauma.
What is complex trauma (C-PTSD) and how is it treated?
Complex PTSD arises from repeated, prolonged trauma — often in childhood, such as abuse, neglect, or domestic violence — rather than a single incident. It involves additional features beyond standard PTSD, including difficulties with emotional regulation, identity, and relationships. Treatment is typically longer-term and uses phase-based approaches that build safety and stabilization before directly processing traumatic memories.
Do I have to talk about the traumatic event in therapy?
Not necessarily, and not right away. Effective trauma therapy begins with establishing safety and building coping skills before approaching traumatic memories. EMDR processes trauma without requiring you to narrate it in detail. Your therapist will move at a pace that feels manageable, and you always retain agency over what you address in each session.
Is it safe to start trauma therapy if I am currently in crisis?
Trauma therapy is most effective when you have some degree of stability and safety in your current life. If you are in acute crisis — such as active suicidal ideation, ongoing abuse, or severe dissociation — your therapist will prioritize stabilization and safety planning before any trauma-processing work begins. If you are in immediate danger, contact the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline or emergency services (911).