Vancouver Island Holistic Counselling
If you need help navigating a painful situation in your life, or if you feel like you’re struggling every day just to keep yourself together, I hear you.
Counselling and Therapy Services
Coming up against the same old obstacles, the same old blocks, over and over again, can make you wonder if anything is ever going to change.
You’ve tried to solve your problems on your own and you’re starting to realize that maybe, just maybe, you need outside support.
I’m glad you’re here. Asking for help can be hard, but it’s a great first step toward lasting change.
We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to.
— Brené Brown
How does this sound?
Setting goals and meeting them without struggle
Trusting in yourself, and a feeling of abiding peace
Having the inner strength and the tools you need to navigate difficult situations
I want to see you thrive, not just survive!
Hi, I’m Véro! Clients often tell me how much joy, fun, and positivity I bring to them.
But here’s a secret. I wasn’t always like this. I used to be depressed. When I was a teen, I smoked tobacco and told people I wanted to die young. I thought life was pointless. I often struggled to fit in, to find my place, to feel good about myself, to feel like I could make a difference in the world.
Throughout these challenges, exercise has been my medicine. It elevates my mood and gives me power over my life. Then I discovered yoga and therapy to heal my body from the pain and trauma caused by repeated accidents.
I created Choose2be, my health and fitness company, in order to share with others the joy of a healthy lifestyle, especially exercise. Now that I’ve graduated as a Transpersonal Therapeutic Counsellor, I’ve opened Vancouver Island Holistic Counselling to offer more rounded services to my clients, because we are so much more than just our bodies.
Let me empower you – to realize your potential, to help you develop your inner and outer strength!
Véronique’s Qualifications
What led me to become a counsellor?
I often ended up talking with my fitness clients about their personal lives — their relationship challenges, their frustrations with bad habits, how difficult it is to cope with stress, how they drink to lower their anxiety and then end up eating more than they meant to . . . does any of this sound familiar?
I wanted to be able to support my clients on more than just the physical plane, so I’ve added counselling to my toolkit, and now I have an even more holistic approach to healing that includes body, mind, and spirit.
With a life partner and three boys, I’m aware of the life struggles many people face with parenting, relationships, grieving, depression, and anxiety.
About the Clearmind International program and school:
Clearmind International is a personal growth and counsellor training organization that offers workshops and programs in several cities across Canada, the United States, and Europe. The foundational workshop is called The Awakening, which is a three-day (30 hour) workshop. This is how everyone begins their journey with the Clearmind Practitioners Training Course (PRAC).
Year 1 — The first year is all about students using their own life as the curriculum to understand themselves and where they come from. We delve into the places we tend to get stuck and feel fear, and begin to work our way out of them. In doing so, we’re able to understand what it’s like to be a client, and we come out with a new level of self-awareness. From the counselling perspective, we cannot lead our clients into emotional territory that we are not willing to go ourselves.
Year 2 — The students now take their self-awareness from Year 1 and learn to be in connection to self while in relationship or service of others. Here I began to learn some solid counselling skills and learned how to focus on connecting in an emotionally responsible way in all of my relationships.
Year 3 — The final year of training is about stepping into leadership, stretching ourselves to understand group dynamics, and practice group counseling, while continuing to focus on determining our own values, what we stand for.
This leads perfectly into the video below of the presentation of my graduation ceremony call constitution, which was presented in front of my classmates. It is a statement of who I want to be in the world and what I’ve learned about myself in this three-year program that will allow me to be a great counsellor. What you are about to witness takes great bravery and comes from a deeply vulnerable place.
A holistic approach to health
Exercising, eating well, a connection to nature, healthy relationships with ourselves and others, the ability to laugh and play, meaningful work — all of these things are important for our wellbeing.
I’m here to support you toward becoming the best version of yourself, to offer a safe, non-judgmental environment, and to facilitate your natural healing impulses.
You don’t have to be alone on this journey. I have the training and experience to help you overcome your struggles, unearth your desires, and live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Individuals
Couples
Families
I work with individuals, couples, and families to help with:
Stress management
Low self-esteem
Depression and anxiety
Adapting to transitions, major life changes
Grieving the loss of a loved one or pet
Coping with trauma
Addictions, attachments, compulsions
Family/marriage/relationship crises
Career change and job stress
Communication
Spiritual crisis
Personal growth, finding meaning
Sex positive sexual health, sexual orientation
Coping with critical illness
How to love your body
Wellness Blog & Tips
Preventing Burnout for Care Professionals: Why Self-Care and Support Matter
Care professionals like counsellors, nurses, care givers, and social workers play a critical role in supporting others during their time of need. However, working in high-stress environments can take a toll on their own mental and emotional well-being. By prioritizing self-care and seeking out support, care professionals can prevent burnout and maintain their own well-being, ensuring they are able to provide the essential care and support their clients or patients need.
Imago Therapy: Strengthen Your Bond and Improve Communication on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island Counselling is committed to providing compassionate and effective therapy services to individuals and couples seeking to improve their mental health and relationships. With a focus on Imago Therapy, communication, and conflict resolution, our team of experienced therapists helps clients build stronger and healthier relationships. We also offer support for personal growth, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and loss. Contact us today to start your journey towards improved well-being.
Gottman therapy for couple and the basic counselling method
“Gottman therapy, developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, is a structured and goal-oriented approach to couples therapy that is based on over four decades of research and clinical experience with thousands of couples. This therapy is designed to help couples build and maintain healthy, long-lasting relationships by improving communication skills, reducing conflict, and increasing emotional intelligence. The therapy is based on a number of principles and techniques, including the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the Magic Ratio, Love Maps, the Emotional Bank Account, and Dreams Within Conflict. In Gottman therapy, the therapist works with the couple to identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop skills and strategies to improve their relationship. This post explores the basics of Gottman therapy and how it can help couples in Nanaimo and on Vancouver Island to build stronger, healthier relationships.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a counsellor do?
A counsellor is a qualified professional who is here to listen and encourage you to say whatever you need to in a non-judgemental atmosphere. Sometimes, listening is the only thing that’s needed for the healing process to begin.
Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, overcoming past trauma or relationship issues, you don’t have to be alone in this journey. I have the training and experience to help you overcome these struggles, achieve your goals, and live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
By working with me, you’ll uncover your own self-knowledge and strengths and, in the process, identify your own solutions. I help people break through the obstacles that seem to be holding them back in life. As your counsellor, I will create a confidential space for you to share your story so that we can work collaboratively towards your goals.
I believe you are unique and have the wisdom, creativity, strength and ability to create the life you deeply desire. If you want to know more about my approach to therapy, you can learn more by reading here.
What are Véronique’s qualifications?
I am a Transpersonal Therapeutic Counsellor. I’ve earned a Diploma in Transpersonal Counselling Psychology after graduating from a three-year experiential program with Clearmind International. During the program, I’ve completed 230 hours of observation hours, 221 hours of direct client contact hours, 70 hours of supervision and 240 hours of therapeutic hours, not including my regular weekly classes. I am also certified Education Assistant and Community worker. I also been working as a Health and Fitness expert for the last 20 years, to know more about it, check out my Choose2be.ca website.
What is Transpersonal Psychology?
I am trained in Transpersonal Counselling Psychology, which combines aspects of modern psychology and spirituality. I believe that a holistic approach to healing includes mind, body, and spirit.
There are many layers to a person, and what we need to be working on is fluid and constantly changing. Sometimes we need to be working on the “ego,” while at other times we need to explore our spiritual connection to ourselves and all that is around us.
A spiritual counsellor is willing to see wholeness and perfection in others. I choose to see light, innocence, beauty, and magnificence in my clients.
The transpersonal therapist works under a larger umbrella than many other therapists. We have a more varied tool box with which to work from, as we are trained in spiritual counselling as well as modern psychological interventions. It really is the best of both worlds.
Let’s get together!
We can work together via phone or video, by sitting down in person, or — my favourite: Walk and Talk Therapy!
My promise to you
I will meet you with flexibility, adapting my approach to your unique circumstances. I will help you become who you authentically are, and will greet you with acceptance, knowing that diversity is what makes human beings beautiful. I see vulnerability as the window to connection and will hold your vulnerability with care and compassion. I take confidentiality seriously and have processes in place to guarantee your privacy.
Questions? Feel free to contact me. info@vancouverislandholisticcounselling.ca
Get In Touch
*Clients are asked to provide a minimum of 24 hours notice for all cancellations. Appointments that are cancelled or missed without 24 hours notice will be charged the full amount of the scheduled appointment. Cancellations or changes to your appointment can be made by emailing me or calling me (250) -740-0886.