Hi and welcome!

My name is Olivia, and I am currently a second-year student counsellor pursuing a Masters of Arts Degree in Counselling. My journey to become a counsellor is rooted in a deep appreciation for connection and listening to the stories that make individuals so unique.

I am passionate about working with young adults, adults, and couples struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, loss, life transitions, low self-esteem, and relationship challenges.

I strive to create a safe, accepting, supportive, collaborative, and culturally-sensitive environment to explore all of life’s complexities together. My theoretical approach is grounded in Psychodynamic Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). I believe exploring early life experiences and unprocessed emotions is essential to understanding current behaviours, attachment patterns, and defence mechanisms. In working together, I want to help cultivate greater emotional awareness, improve communication skills, and develop stronger and more authentic connections with others and the self. I like to draw upon strength-based and solution-focused interventions as I believe clients are the experts in their own lives and I want to empower clients to recognize their own inherent power, resilience, worth, and potential for growth.

I graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, where I grew passionate about relationships, love, and the power of human connection in healing.

It takes courage to confront your emotions and pain; you do not have to do it alone. I look forward to walking alongside you in your journey towards self-discovery and emotional and psychological well-being! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or think we would work well together!

Hi and welcome! My name is Olivia, and I am currently a second-year student counsellor pursuing ... Read More

Are you looking for ways to build resilience and live more fully? As someone with family experience of mental health challenges, I understand the impact that these struggles can have on our lives and on our loved ones.

I recognize that it takes courage to address what’s causing your pain and find new ways of adapting. I will support you when overwhelm tests your resilience, helping you build new resources and uncover intrinsic strengths.

My approach combines cognitive and experiential theories with self-compassion and mindfulness. I’m a proponent of the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) approach to addressing childhood anxiety. I also find drama therapy, art, play and other evidence-based, creative tools helpful where appropriate.

Before embarking on my Master’s of Clinical Counselling, I received my Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from UBC and spent over ten years working for Indigenous communities. While helping youth and adults work towards career and life goals, I witnessed the importance of addressing internal struggles to better unlock potential. I am keen to work with youth, adults, parents, and families struggling with anxiety, depression, perfectionism, insomnia, grief, life transitions, and anyone seeking help as they explore living their best life.

I look forward to supporting you wherever you find yourself.

Are you looking for ways to build resilience and live more fully? As someone with family experien... Read More

Hi, I’m Carla and I am so glad you’re here.

I have been passionate about mental health from a young age and am a strong advocate for removing the stigma often associated with seeking support and treatment. I am excited to be using my own lived experiences in combination with my professional skills to support and encourage others on their path to well-being.

I have a passion for working with children and youth, which has led me to pursue additional training in play therapy, sand tray therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, and other techniques shown to be highly effective for children and adults alike. I also work with adults, couples, and families and am dedicated to creating a safe and collaborative space to explore goals, gain new skills, and improve an overall sense of well-being.

I use an integrated counselling approach which is trauma-informed and incorporates several counselling modalities based on client needs. I also work from a Culturally Responsive and Socially Just (CRSJ) lens and welcome LGBTQ2S+ clients and clients from diverse backgrounds.

I believe that you are in the driver’s seat of your own life, and that can be scary and overwhelming at times. Using a client-centred approach means that you take the wheel, but I am right there next to you when you need some support and guidance.

As a Crisis Responder for the Vancouver Island Crisis Line and also 9-8-8 Canada (previously Talk Suicide), I am supportive of the needs of clients who may be struggling with trauma, grief, and other heavy topics. I hold a certificate in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) as well as a post-graduate certificate in Addiction Care and Treatment from the University of British Columbia.

I am also available for supervised visits, providing a comfortable and judgement-free space and am also trained in Voice of the Child reports.

I offer in-person appointments at our 19th Street location, and also offer on-line appointments.

Hi, I’m Carla and I am so glad you’re here. I have been passionate about mental health from a yo... Read More

Welcome! As a master’s level Counselling Psychology practicum student, I am honoured to provide adults with both individual and couple’s counselling services. I wholeheartedly believe in the importance of finding a therapist that you can connect with and trust, given the extremely sensitive and sacred context of our work together. As a Registered Nurse I became a counsellor to bridge the gap I see in our culture’s healthcare, social, and community supports. Inspired by both my own spiritual experiences at the bedside and the many individuals I see wanting more from our systems than a focus on their problems. I can offer you a spiritually integrated experience, grounded by an evidence-based perspective. I will use my refined skill set in practicality and resourcefulness, in holistic combination with the unseen, intuitive, and deeply felt dimensions of healing, to customize an integrative wellness plan that meets you wherever you are on your journey. My experiences as a neurosurgical and emergency room nurse have profoundly influenced my perspectives on healing. Some of the most meaningful moments in my career have come from supporting patients and their families during life-altering transitions, trauma, and crisis. Providing not only the patient-centred medical care they deserve but also serving as a steward to help navigate the deep, often unspoken emotional and spiritual needs that often arise at these times. While the medical model often overlooks these psycho-spiritual needs, I have seen firsthand how connection, presence, attunement, and soul-level care extend the powers of healing far beyond the capabilities of science and knowledge, into a powerfully transformative and transcendent opportunity for healing.

By caring for thousands of individuals from all walks of life, cultures, ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, religions, socioeconomic statuses, and geographic backgrounds, the universality of human experience has touched me deeply. I have been profoundly impacted by the universality of life’s core experiences, including the inevitability of grief and loss, the struggle with anxiety and the unknown, the pursuit of freedom and choice, and the search for meaning and purpose. This outlook is captured in my existentially inspired approach where I offer my reverence for the complex, interconnected, and expansive nature of life to help you formulate a step by step approach, if that’s what you prefer, or help you unravel a complexity of emotion and feeling even if you’re not quite sure what you even need. I have seen first-hand how a person’s spirit can be reinvigorated by authentic connection, attunement, and genuine care. Our work is permeated by the warmth and laughter I bring to my own life. If you are looking to find some lightness in your healing journey through a genuinely positive and affirmative approach, I may be your gal.

I am passionate about nurturing the caregivers who selflessly offer themselves in the service of others every day, often overlooked or undervalued by modern society. To name a few, this includes women, mothers, gender-diverse individuals, as well as those a part of healthcare, social services, education, Indigenous communities, and other helping professions and cultural contexts. I strive to honour and support the diverse experiences of these pillars of our collective community, recognizing the unique challenges they face and the importance of self-compassion and resilience in their work.

I deeply believe in the healing powers of the natural world, guided by my own transformational experiences with horses and nature, as well as the research I have explored. After my practicum, it is my long-term goal to specialize in equine-assisted psychotherapy, offering a nature-based alternative to traditional talk therapies and settings. In alignment with these values, I am proud to offer walk-and-talk sessions at select locations, alongside both virtual and telecounselling options for your convenience, and am truly delighted by the opportunity to host you in person at Seahorse Counsellings’ beautiful riverside location.

If you get the sense that we might be a good fit, I encourage you to connect with me for a free 15-minute consultation to see if I can be of service to you.

Certifications/Training Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (in progress) AEDP Level 1 Practitioner Bachelor of Science in Nursing Registered Nurse Emergency Nursing Specialty with Distinction

Welcome! As a master’s level Counselling Psychology practicum student, I am honoured to provide a... Read More

Julie Mills, RPC

Hello! Finding the right counsellor for you can take time. Here is some information about the work I do with clients to help you find the right fit.

My approach to counselling is to first build a trusting and collaborative, client-focused relationship in order to help my clients with their mental health and well-being. In session, I try to meet clients where they are at and support challenging issues that are impacting their thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors.

I also try to help people build their “mental health tool box” by providing takeaway tools and resources.

I study modalities that focus on emotional self-awareness, mindfulness, breathing techniques and guided visualizations. I am Internal Family Systems informed and this means that I can help with parts in your system that are affecting how connected and successful you feel in life.

The easiest way to find out more is to schedule a free 30-minute consultation, where I can help answer your questions.

Clients: I offer in-person or online trauma-informed counselling to individuals of all ages. If you need to get up and move to work through issues, I also offer walk and talk sessions.

Some of the areas I work with include: life transitions, setting boundaries, nervous system regulation, building emotional awareness, grief and loss support, communication skills, self-esteem, chronic stress, workplace stress injuries, and climate change uncertainty.

Therapeutic Approaches & Modalities: Person-Centered, IFS Informed, and Emotionally Focussed techniques that can bring about psychological change and transformation.

Funding/EFAP Programs: Sunlife, Pacific Blue Cross *Note to please check with your benefits provider to ensure you are covered under your plan for an RPC. I am registered with Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (#4196). Certification/Training: Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC), Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Bachelor of Environmental Sciences in Ecology, IFS Informed certification.

Meet with Julie If you are interested in receiving counselling from Julie, please click the button below or email Julie@seahorsecounselling.ca.

Julie Mills, RPC Hello! Finding the right counsellor for you can take time. Here is some informa... Read More

“There is a crack, a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.” -Leonard Cohen

It takes courage to ask for help. The desire for positive change in your life is a source of strength. You do not need to walk this path alone. A therapeutic relationship with a skilled and caring professional provides the safe, supportive environment needed for healing and growth to unfold.

Therapy is a collaborative journey. I take a strengths-based, client-centred approach, helping you access your natural potential for healing and growth. My approach is depth-oriented and experiential, incorporating elements of attachment work, emotion-focused therapy, inner-child work, body-based healing, self-compassion, and mindfulness. My practice is influenced by psychodynamic theory, attachment theory, somatic healing modalities, internal family systems, trauma-focused therapy, and contemplative traditions.

I began my education and professional journey with a passion for psychology and philosophy. I sought to understand human behaviour, suffering, wellness, and how I might contribute to positive change. After completing an associate of arts degree in psychology and philosophy, I obtained a BFA from Emily Carr University and a BEd from the University of British Columbia. During this time, I worked as a Community Leader at Lululemon Athletica, bringing wellness experiences and education to our community. I also became a certified yoga instructor, trained mindfulness facilitator, and elementary school teacher. I focused on social and emotional development, bringing mindfulness, self-regulation, and the arts into my work with children, youth, families, and older adults. I have worked with a variety of people including teens recovering from addiction, at-risk Indigenous youth, and families in inner-city schools.

I am particularly interested in working with clients who struggle with anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem, life changes, parenting challenges, relationship challenges, attachment insecurity, and complex trauma. My practice is inclusive, welcoming individuals with diverse cultural influences and values. Through empathic presence, insight, and a secure therapeutic relationship, we will seek to identify patterns of relating to self, others, and the world. Together we will work to adapt patterns that no longer serve you, deepening your capacity for intimacy, resilience, self-regulation, and awareness.

Beyond helping you adapt to, and grow through challenges, my goal is to help you live a life of authenticity and purpose. It would be a privilege to hold space for you, and to draw out the inner strength illuminated by the light shining through your cracks. I would be deeply honored to support you in your journey of healing and discovery.

“There is a crack, a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.” -Leonard Cohen It take... Read More

Are you struggling with overwhelm, stress, anxiety, organizational skills, or time management as an individual or parent? Or possibly facing a major life transition, loss, grief or depression? My strength is in supporting adults and children who face challenges like these.

I will support you to discover your inner resources, strengths and authenticity, helping you to cultivate a genuine sense of self and draw upon your innate resiliency. This will help you to forge meaningful connections and navigate life’s challenges with clarity and confidence.

My client-centered approach includes mindfulness, somatic work, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, solution focused therapy, play, dance, art, and music therapy. Working collaboratively, we can help to cultivate self-compassion, foster healthy coping strategies, mindfulness, stress reduction techniques, develop clear communication skills, self-advocacy, and setting healthy boundaries.

After receiving a B.A. in Music Composition, I went on to complete a teaching degree. As an elementary music teacher, my interest in group dynamics and individual personalities grew, leading me to pursue a master’s degree in counselling psychology. I am interested in the effects of developmental trauma and attachment styles.

I have extensive experience leading groups of musicians (from novices to Grammy winners) and am particularly excited about offering group therapy work using music as the therapeutic process.

Are you struggling with overwhelm, stress, anxiety, organizational skills, or time management as ... Read More

Hi! I’m glad you found me. When people have been hurt, or experienced relational trauma, or if they have attachment wounds from childhood that have not been healed, relationships can be challenging. We can do things to protect ourselves from being hurt again. Sometimes we can find it difficult to trust others. Other times we might lash out at those we care about or avoid them when disagreements arise. these are common ways that our protective system tries to keep us from being hurt, but the problem is, it also keeps us from maintaining healthy connections and the open honest communication we want in our relationships. When we focus on healing past wounds that are driving the protective behaviours, you will be able to be your more authentic Self, choosing what you want to do and deciding how you want to respond rather than reacting or acting impulsively.

My practice is caring, compassionate, and culturally sensitive . My areas of interest include relationships, attachment, anxiety, depression, children’s mental health, complex trauma, neurodiversity, PTSD, and relational and developmental trauma.

I am a client-centred counsellor with over 40 years experience working with individuals, children, families and couples. I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor, I am a certified as an IFS Therapist, Infant Mental Health Clinician and a Clinical Trauma Professional. I am also trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches including EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy.

In addition, I am also an Approved Clinical Supervisor with BCACC (RCC- ACS) and a Supervisor Mentor. I am certified in the Nuerosequencial model of Reflective Supervision offered by Bruce Perry..

As a Clinical Supervisor, I enjoy working with Master level students and experienced counsellors. I take an individual developmental approach to supervision and incorporate the Neurosequencial Model of Reflective Supervision. I offer individual supervision, small groups of 2-4 and larger groups of 5-8. I also provide an IFS consultation group for IFS therapists. In addition, I also provide Supervision Mentorship to clinical supervisors.

It truly is my honour to work with you, to see you move towards your goals, heal old wounds, and let your authentic Self shine.

I look forward to walking with you on your journey.

Hi! I’m glad you found me. When people have been hurt, or experienced relational trauma, or if ... Read More

Natasha Rasmus, BCACC Student Member Welcome! I am so glad you’ve found this space, and that you’re already taking steps to explore all the wonderful supports available to you.

My name is Natasha, and I am currently a student counsellor, pursuing my Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology. My budding counselling practice is built upon a unique blend of traditional therapeutic teachings, holistic practices, and radical acceptance. I am dedicated to meeting people where they’re at on the journey towards emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being. My therapeutic orientation is most informed by Adlerian philosophies that community, connection, and belonging are essential parts of personal wellness.

I believe that each person possesses a deep knowing of themselves and the world around them. My approach to counselling is rooted in accessing and integrating this knowledge in a way that honours a person’s whole being. Self-discovery and healing occur on multiple levels, and so I strive to create a safe and nurturing environment to allow the possibility of this expiration to unfold.

My background is in the field of nursing, with more than ten years of experience as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN). Over the course of my nursing career, I have had the opportunity to work with people of all ages and from all walks of life, spanning from acute psychiatric care settings to community and primary care settings. This work has solidified the basis of my practice and shown me the tremendous impact of remaining person-centred, and trauma-informed, and sparked a true passion for a harm-reduction approach.

I recognize how much strength and courage can be needed to take those first steps toward a counselling experience. I would be honoured to meet you wherever you’re at and support you on your journey of self-discovery and wellness.

Natasha Rasmus, BCACC Student Member Welcome! I am so glad you’ve found this space, and that you’... Read More