I am excited to be able to collaborate with the experience counsellors at Seahorse Counselling. I have a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree and am a Certified Clinical Counsellor. I approach wellness with a holistic perspective recognizing the benefits of many modalities, both traditional and modern.

I am pleased to be able to offer online as well as in-person appointments. I also believe in the benefits of movement and offer walk and talk sessions. I have experience working with all ages, from children to seniors.

I enjoy working with: adults, teens, children, seniors, couples, and athletes. My practice focusses on life transitions, depression, anxiety, grief & loss, self esteem, body image and management, motivation and mindset (including competitive athletes).

Therapeutic Modalities/ Approaches: While I resonate with the concreteness of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), I recognize that marrying strengths from CBT, Solution Focused, Narrative therapies and Internal Family Systems allows for a greater perspective.

Certification/ Training includes: Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology Bachelor of Education Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Positive Psychology Specialization IFS Informed

I am excited to be able to collaborate with the experience counsellors at Seahorse Counselling. I... Read More

Welcome! My name is Sara and I provide online counselling at Seahorse. I have Master’s in Counselling and Psychology and am a Certified Canadian Counsellor. My background as an experienced educator, and my daily interactions with students as a teacher, have given me a deep and rich experiences. I always wanted my students to be the best they can be, and I understand their goals of self-improvement. As a professional counsellor, my hope is to recognize and cultivate potential in others. I believe that all people aspire to be the best person they can be, and it is experiencing obstacles in life that help us learn and develop into our fullest selves. My life experiences in growing up the oldest child, to a sister with physical limitations, have led me to a place where I never judge and only try to understand. It also has led me to receive my certificate in Inclusive Education, and love and value for human uniqueness and individuality. I approach counselling with an open mind, intense value for all human life and a desire to live in the moment.

I also have a special education certificate and have taught as a learning resource teacher and an English and Psychology teacher over the last fifteen years.

My therapy philosophy is client-centred in which you create goals, determine the direction we take, and set the pace. This is your journey!

You can find my schedule online through Jane.

I work with -Teenagers -Families -Individuals -Gender Diverse populations -Students -Marginalized populations

Areas/Issues • Those affected by eating disorders, anxiety, depression, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), PTSD, Substance Use • Those wanting clarity with their career paths, or working through life transitions (careers, marriages, births, empty nest, illness/injury, death)

Therapeutic Approaches: -Internal Family Systems Therapy -Solution-Focused Brief Therapy - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - Person-Centred Therapy - Narrative Therapy

Certification/Training: -Master’s in Counselling and Psychology -Bachelor of Education - Certification in Special Education - Licensed with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association –BC Association of Clinical Counsellors

Welcome! My name is Sara and I provide online counselling at Seahorse. I have Master’s in Counse... Read More

If you are struggling and life feels difficult, you are not alone. Many of us suffer for years from challenges with our thoughts, feelings, behaviours, health, work, or relationships. We might even begin to believe that something is wrong with us, that we don’t belong, or that things will never get better.

I believe that regardless of what we have been through or how long we have struggled, we can connect with our innate capacity to heal and overcome adversity. This belief stems from my personal journey to resolve mental health challenges and almost two decades of professional experience researching and teaching in the field of psychology.

The key for me was finding someone I felt safe to talk to, who could help me connect with my inner strengths and resources. I’ve learned that holistic therapy modalities that help us reconnect with the wisdom of our bodies and our authentic selves are what lead to deep and lasting change. My goal is not just to help you cope with symptoms so you can survive, but to heal the root cause so you can thrive.

My clients describe me as warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental. I aim to create a safe space for you to feel seen, heard, and respected. We’ll work together to help you heal old wounds, resolve present challenges, and live a more harmonious, connected, and fulfilling life. You can book a free consultation with me to explore if we’re a good fit.

Credentials

Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (In Progress)

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.)

Certified Trauma Professional (CTP)

Certified Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DARe) Therapist

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed Therapist

Certificate in Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration

Certificate in Psychedelic Integration Therapy

Professional Associations

BCACC Student Member (#S00346)

CCPA Student Member (#11247369)

If you are struggling and life feels difficult, you are not alone. Many of us suffer for years fr... Read More

I work with individual adults experiencing a wide range of problems such as stress, anxiety, phobias, depression, anger, motor vehicle accidents, trauma, complex trauma, childhood developmental trauma (including sexual harm), chronic pain, relationship difficulties, self-confidence, self-criticism, indecision, personal growth, etc.

My goal is to help you explore and progressively release the constraints that limit your natural capacity for greater inner balance - allowing you to become less reactive and more resilient to the inevitable stresses of life.

I often use the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. I have completed the level 3 training and understand the profound benefits of this non-pathologizing form of therapy. From an IFS perspective, all our difficulties are there for a good reason, even when that seems highly unlikely! I also use mindfulness techniques, which can be a great first step towards healing and are very compatible with IFS.

I am also informed by a number of other evidence-based psychological theories and models such as attachment theory and humanistic counselling. I completed EMDR training and am a member of the EMDR Association of Hong Kong.

I am available exclusively through video or phone calls for afternoon and evening sessions only as I live in New Zealand, which has quite a big time difference from BC (online booking times are all local BC time).

I work with individual adults experiencing a wide range of problems such as stress, anxiety, phob... Read More

**Lianne Labistour (she/her), BA, MC, RCC

So much of what causes stress and heartache today seems universal: being angry or disappointed in yourself or others. Feeling anxious, rudderless or downright blahhh. Being overwhelmed or enraged at whatever system you’re in—then feeling stuck. Aching for loved ones to step up and do what’s right—whether that’s your partner sharing the workload fairly, your teens getting off their phones, or your family finally seeing you for who you really are.

I get it because I’ve lived it.

Individuals, couples and poly folks tend to seek me out because I’m clear-headed, sincere and deeply hopeful. I start by having people share a bit of their story and current concerns, and go from there. I focus on what feels helpful for you — sometimes that’s having a safe sounding board, other times that’s having a co-problem solver with tools and strategies right beside you.

Sometimes we’ll focus on emotions — unpacking and feeling them. Other times we’ll turn our attention to motion by looking at taking tiny steps toward a life you’d prefer. The work we do will feel supportive –- always. It might even feel energizing or liberating. And when it’s tricky or tough, I’ll help you navigate. (And, as odd as it sounds, we might even end up having a few laughs as we go.)

My truest passion is in helping people sort through relationships and all their messy, complex moments. This includes working with folks going through separation or divorce, mediating co-parenting plans, and helping people navigate relational upheaval in all its forms – everything from piecing life back together after a betrayal to sorting out the day-to-day division of labour inside the home.

Partnership work will also involve working on the connection you have with your own Self. That might look like getting clarity on why things feel hard, validating that you’re entitled and able to switch things up, and finding ways to become your own compassionate, wise counsel.

Lastly, family estrangement is a subject that’s particularly close to my heart, and something I’ve researched and written about extensively. I work sensitively and empathetically with this (wildly painful) reality from both perspectives — those initiating estrangement and those being estranged from.

In all, I draw on a lengthy career in communications, as well as my own experiences as a wife, parent, stepparent, stepchild, and fellow vulnerable human. I’ve also picked up invaluable insights by completing the Family Mediation program at the Justice Institute of BC and training as a Collaborative Divorce Coach.

I’m currently seeing individuals (teens to seniors), as well as couples and families.

Our work together will use a few different trauma-informed lenses:

Internal Family Systems — honouring the ways different parts of you have carried/adapted to past and current difficulties and seeing what new strategies could await


Emotion Focused Therapy — exploring your early attachments, and how emotions show up in your life and body, including through gentle somatic work

Couples Therapy – drawing on my learnings from Gottman Levels 1 & 2, Emotion Focused Couples Therapy and IFIO (IFS for couples) we will examine ways to address conflict and spot opportunities to increase joy, play, intimacy and connection

Narrative Therapy — unpacking the stories you tell about your life, and considering writing and living a whole new story by aligning with values that feel right to you

Systems, Feminist & Queer Theories — recognizing that our experiences don’t exist in a power vacuum, and that social, cultural and socio-economic realities affect us…a lot

If you’re keen to meet online with someone empathetic who throws in the occasional sports metaphor or TV reference for good measure, let’s talk. When I’m not at work, you’ll find me walking my ding-dong of a dog, hanging with my teenager and husband, or kiteboarding and skiing with some pals.

**Lianne Labistour (she/her), BA, MC, RCC So much of what causes stress and heartache today seem... Read More