I work with individual adults and couples 19 years and older who are navigating challenges around relationships, intimacy, trauma, and life transitions — though the people who find their way to my practice often carry more than one of these at once, and that's completely welcome here. My practice is 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming and supportive of diverse relationship structures. I bring a sex-positive, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive lens to all of my work, which means nothing about your identity, desires, or experiences will be treated as something to fix or explain away. If you're wondering whether we'd be a good fit, I offer a free 15-minute consultation — no commitment required. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page to arrange for a consultation.

A few things that set my practice apart: Lived experience. I came to this work through my own life — multiple immigrations, navigating relationships, coming out as queer in my 30s, and changing careers. I know what it feels like to sit on the other side of the therapy room, and I bring that humility and empathy to every session. I also continue to see my own therapist regularly, because I believe in the process I invite my clients into and recognize I have more personal growth to do. Sex positivity. I am trained as a sexually competent therapist, which means topics around sexuality, desire, intimacy, and the body are not treated as taboo or uncomfortable here. Many clients find it hard to find a therapist they can speak to openly about these things — this is a space where you can. Couples work. I am trained in the Gottman Method and have specific experience working with couples at all stages — from those wanting to strengthen an already good relationship, to those rebuilding after betrayal, to those figuring out whether staying together is right for them. Multilingual. I offer sessions in English and Russian. If you're wondering whether we'd be a good fit, I offer a free 15-minute consultation — no commitment required. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page to arrange for a consultation.

Counsellor / Psychotherapist are titles that are often used interchangeably, and the work they do overlaps significantly. In BC, the most recognized designation for this type of professional is the Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), regulated by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). RCCs hold a Master's Degree in counselling or a related field and are trained to work with a wide range of concerns — anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and more — using evidence-based approaches. If you see the designation RCC, you can trust that your counsellor has met rigorous educational and ethical standards. Coaches focus on goals, growth, and moving forward. They're not trained to work with mental health conditions, trauma, or deep emotional pain — their work is more action-oriented and future-focused. In BC, the title "coach" is unregulated, meaning anyone can use it without formal training or oversight. Psychologists in BC hold a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and are regulated by the College of Psychologists of BC. In addition to therapy, they are trained to conduct psychological assessments and testing — for example, diagnosing learning disabilities, ADHD, or complex mental health conditions. They do not prescribe medication. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs) who have completed specialized training in mental health. They can diagnose mental health conditions and are the only professionals on this list who can prescribe psychiatric medication. Some psychiatrists also offer therapy, though many focus primarily on medication management. In BC, seeing a psychiatrist typically requires a referral from your family doctor. Psychoanalysts are psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, or psychiatrists trained in psychoanalytic theory — rooted in the work of Freud and later thinkers — which explores how unconscious patterns and early experiences shape our inner world. Training varies widely and is not regulated as a standalone profession in BC. So which one is right for you? If you're looking for talk therapy to work through emotional challenges, mental health concerns, or life difficulties, a Registered Clinical Counsellor is often an accessible and well-qualified choice. If you think you may need a formal psychological assessment or a medication evaluation, a psychologist or psychiatrist may be better suited.

RCC stands for Registered Clinical Counsellor — a professional designation granted by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). To become an RCC, a counsellor must hold a master's degree in counselling or a related field, complete a required number of supervised clinical hours, and adhere to BCACC's code of ethics and standards of practice. RCCs are also required to engage in ongoing professional development to maintain their registration in good standing. While counselling is not yet a fully regulated profession in BC — meaning anyone can technically call themselves a counsellor — the RCC designation offers clients an important layer of accountability and protection. If you have concerns about your counsellor's conduct, BCACC has a formal complaints process in place. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor in good standing with BCACC (RCC #24322).

Unlike provinces such as Ontario, BC has not yet fully regulated the titles "counsellor" or "psychotherapist" under provincial law. This means that technically, anyone can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist in BC without formal training or oversight — which is worth knowing as you look for support. So how do you protect yourself as a client? Look for a recognized professional designation. The most common in BC is RCC (Registered Clinical Counsellor), granted by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). RCCs must hold a master's degree in counselling or a related field, meet supervised practice requirements, and adhere to a strict code of ethics. If a complaint is ever filed, there is a formal accountability process in place. Other designations to look for include Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), granted by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). What does this mean for working with me? As an RCC, I am bound by the BCACC's standards of practice and code of ethics. You can feel confident that your care meets a rigorous professional standard — even while broader regulation continues to develop in BC. If you are curious about the profession's regulation process, you can read the BCACC's FAQs on this subject here.

In BC, Registered Clinical Counsellors are not authorized to provide formal psychiatric diagnoses. Formal diagnosis falls within the scope of physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and, in some cases, nurse practitioners. That said, RCCs are highly trained in understanding mental health conditions and work with concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and more. You don't need a diagnosis to begin counselling — many people find that therapy is helpful long before (or even without ever having) a formal label attached to their experience. If a formal diagnosis is something you're seeking, I can support you in finding the appropriate professional while we continue working together.

The short answer: whenever you feel like you might benefit from talking to someone in a judgment-free, confidential environment — and you don't need to be in crisis to reach out. Many people come to therapy when something feels stuck. Maybe you're carrying anxiety, grief, relationship conflict, or the weight of past experiences that keep showing up in your present life. Maybe you're going through a major transition — immigration, a career change, a breakup, coming out — and you want a space to process it without risking being judged or dismissed. Maybe you just have a quiet sense that something could feel different, and you're curious about what that might look like. You don't need to wait until things get "bad enough" to reach out. If something is important enough for you, it is important enough for me.

There's a common socio-cultural myth that couples therapy is a last resort — something you turn to when the relationship is already on the brink. In reality, research consistently shows that couples wait far too long before seeking help — often years after problems first appear. By that point, patterns of resentment, disconnection, and hurt can be deeply entrenched, making the work harder and longer than it needed to be. A miscommunication that happens once is much easier to address than the same dynamic repeated hundreds of times over several years. That said, if your relationship is in a painful place right now, it's not too late either. I work with couples at all stages — from those who want to strengthen an already good relationship, to those who are struggling to find their way back to each other, to those who are trying to figure out whether staying together is right for them. Many couples come to work on things like: Communication patterns that keep leading to the same argument Feeling more like roommates than partners Navigating a major life transition together — a move, a new baby, a career change, a loss Rebuilding trust after a rupture or betrayal Differences in intimacy, desire, or emotional needs Wanting to deepen connection and understanding proactively and many other concerns If you're wondering whether it's time for couples therapy, we can discuss that in a free 15-minute consultation — no commitment required. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page to arrange for a consultation.