Trauma Counselling in Vancouver, BC
Attachment-focused therapy for PTSD, complex trauma, childhood wounds, and relational trauma. In-person in Kitsilano and online across BC.
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Trauma and PTSD
Trauma is not always what we think it is. It is not only the big, dramatic events. It can be years of feeling unseen, unsupported, or unsafe in relationships that were supposed to be safe. It can be the slow accumulation of experiences that left you with a persistent sense that something is wrong with you, when really, something hard happened to you.
At New Tides, we offer trauma counselling in Vancouver for individuals ready to work through what they are carrying. Our counsellors specialize in supporting clients processing attachment trauma, PTSD, complex PTSD, childhood trauma, and relational wounds, drawing on EMDR, somatic therapy, parts work, and attachment-focused approaches.
You do not have to know exactly what you are dealing with to reach out. We will figure it out together.
In-person sessions at our Kitsilano clinic and online for clients anywhere in BC.
What Trauma Can Look Like
Trauma shows up differently for everyone. Sometimes it looks like what you might expect: flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance. But often it is quieter than that.
It might look like anxiety that seems to come from nowhere. A persistent feeling of being on edge, or a sense of numbness and disconnection that is hard to shake. Difficulty trusting people, even people you love. Patterns in relationships that repeat no matter how hard you try to change them. A harsh inner critic that will not let up. Physical symptoms like chronic tension, fatigue, or pain that does not have a clear cause.
These are not character flaws or signs that something is permanently broken. They are ways the nervous system learned to protect you. And they can change.
How Trauma Therapy Works at New Tides
There is no single right way to work through trauma. Our counsellors draw on a range of approaches and tailor the work to what you need and what feels right for you. Here are the main approaches our trauma counsellors use:
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EMDR works with traumatic memories that feel stuck, helping the brain process them in a way that reduces their emotional weight over time. It is well-researched and widely used for PTSD, complex trauma, and attachment wounds.
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Somatic approaches pay attention to what is happening in the body during therapy, not just the mind. Trauma often lives in the nervous system long after the event itself, and body-based work can reach places that talking alone sometimes cannot.
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Attachment-focused approaches work with the relational roots of trauma, the ways early experiences of feeling unsafe or unlovable shape how we move through the world now. This includes AEDP, EFT, and other relationally-grounded modalities.
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Parts-based approaches help clients get to know the different parts of themselves, including protective parts that developed in response to trauma. Working with parts can bring real compassion to the places that feel most stuck.
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Structured approaches that build skills for managing trauma responses, emotional dysregulation, and distress. Often used alongside deeper processing work.
PTSD and Complex PTSD
Single-incident trauma as well as complex, ongoing, or developmental trauma that has shaped your sense of self and your relationships.
Childhood Trauma and Neglect
Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, neglect, and adverse childhood experiences that continue to show up in adult life.
Relational and Attachment Trauma
Trauma that happened within relationships, including with caregivers, partners, or family members, and that affects how you connect with others now.
Sexual Assault and Abuse
Sensitive, non-judgmental support for survivors of sexual violence at any stage of healing. CVAP-funded counselling available for eligible clients. (Link to CVAP page)
First Responder and Veteran Trauma
Specialized support for first responders, military personnel, and veterans navigating occupational trauma and PTSD.
Religious Trauma
Support for those who have experienced harm within religious communities or institutions.
Racialized and Intergenerational Trauma
Culturally sensitive, anti-oppressive support for BIPOC clients navigating racialized experiences and intergenerational patterns.
Perinatal and Birth Trauma
Support for birthing parents and partners processing traumatic birth or perinatal experiences.
You do not need a formal diagnosis to reach out. If past experiences are showing up in your life now, that is enough reason to get support.
Types of Trauma We Work With
What Therapy Can Actually Look Like
One of the most common fears people have about trauma therapy is that they will have to tell their whole story, relive everything, or spend every session in a dark place. That is not how it works here.
Trauma therapy at New Tides typically moves through phases. We start with stabilization: building safety in the relationship, developing resources and tools for managing difficult feelings, and making sure you feel grounded and supported before we go anywhere harder. This phase is not a waiting room for the real work. It is the real work.
When and if it feels right, we can move into deeper processing, working with specific memories or patterns at whatever pace makes sense for you. Some clients focus mostly on the present, understanding how the past is shaping things now without needing to go back through it in detail. Others find it important to revisit and make sense of what happened. Both are valid.
You do not need to walk in knowing which approach is right for you. Your counsellor will work with you to figure that out as you go.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Counselling in Vancouver
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Trauma-informed counselling means a counsellor approaches all their work with an understanding of trauma and its effects, creating a safe environment for anyone who has experienced it. Trauma counselling or therapy specifically focuses on helping you process and work through traumatic experiences. All of our counsellors are trauma-informed, and several specialize in active trauma processing.
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No. Many people who benefit from trauma counselling have never received a formal diagnosis. If past experiences are affecting how you feel, function, or relate to others, that is enough reason to reach out.
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No. Trauma therapy does not require you to retell your story in detail, and many effective approaches work without doing that at all. You and your counsellor will figure out together what feels right. You always set the pace.
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Yes. EMDR can be done effectively online. Several of our counsellors offer EMDR sessions via video for clients across BC.
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Many extended health plans cover sessions with a Registered Clinical Counsellor. We recommend checking your plan directly. We also offer sliding scale sessions and CVAP-funded counselling for eligible clients.
You don’t have to have it figured out to reach out.
All of our counsellors offer a free 15-minute consultation, a low-pressure, exploratory conversation where you can get a sense of who feels like the right fit and we can learn a little about what you are looking for. No commitment needed.
In-person sessions at our Kitsilano clinic (1682 West 7th Ave, Suite 300, Vancouver BC) and online for clients anywhere in British Columbia & beyond.