About Vancouver Island Holistic Counselling
Holistic counselling in Nanaimo for individuals and couples, with in -person and online sessions available.
I want to see you thrive, not just survive!
Véronique Rioux
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC)
Health and Fitness Expert
Hi, I’m Véro! I bring warmth, authenticity, curiosity and a little humour into my counselling work.
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!
What led me to become a counsellor?
For years, my fitness clients would talk with me about much more than exercise — relationships, parenting, stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem and the challenges happening in their lives. I realized that supporting people emotionally was becoming just as meaningful to me as supporting them physically. That led me to formally train as a counsellor and expand my work into a holistic approach that honours the mind, body, relationships and the whole person.
As a mother of three sons, I also understand how complex family life, relationships, parenting and major life transitions can be.
Véronique’s Qualifications
As a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) certified by the Cooperative Counselling Association of Canada (ACCT) ID number 3047, I bring a wealth of expertise and dedication to my practice. Having graduated from The Clearmind International Institute with a diploma in Transpersonal Therapeutic Counselling in 2022, I am committed to providing compassionate and effective holistic therapy to my clients.
About my training at Clearmind International
Clearmind’s three-year counselling program combines experiential learning, relational counselling, personal growth and supervised clinical practice. The training emphasized self-awareness, emotional responsibility, relationship skills, group dynamics and the ability to sit compassionately with clients through difficult experiences. This experiential approach continues to influence the way I work today.
Let’s get together!
We can work together online, in person in Nanaimo, or outdoors through Walk and Talk Therapy.
My promise to you
I will meet you with flexibility, adapting my approach to your unique circumstances. I will support you in connecting more deeply with 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
Let’s see if we’re the right fit for your journey.
*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.
