Anxiety Therapy in Vancouver & Port Moody

Anxiety counselling in Vancouver and Port Moody helps you understand and work with anxiety beyond traditional symptom management. Our approach recognizes that anxiety often makes sense given the systemic pressures, uncertainty, and overwhelming demands of modern life. Through integrating talk therapy with evidence-based therapies like EMDR, somatic therapy, nature-based therapy, and expressive arts, we help you develop a different relationship with anxiety – one that honors your body’s wisdom while building sustainable coping strategies. Sessions can be virtual across BC or in-person at our Vancouver and Port Moody locations.

While anxiety and panic attacks are related, they have distinct differences. Anxiety tends to build gradually and can persist for extended periods, involving persistent worry, restlessness, and physical tension. Panic attacks are intense episodes of fear that peak within minutes, often including symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a sense of impending doom. Both experiences can be overwhelming and both respond well to therapy. Our anxiety counselling in Vancouver and Port Moody addresses both anxiety and panic, helping you understand your unique patterns and develop personalized strategies for managing intense moments while addressing underlying causes.

Absolutely. Social anxiety is one of the most common forms of anxiety we work with, especially for people navigating discrimination, being the “only one” in spaces, or feeling pressure to code-switch. Our approach recognizes that social anxiety often stems from very real experiences of judgment, microaggressions, or systemic exclusion. We help you distinguish between anxiety that’s protecting you from actual harm and anxiety that might be limiting your authentic connections. Through individual counselling, we explore both practical strategies for social situations and deeper work around belonging, authenticity, and building confidence in your inherent worth.

Yes, our practice is specifically designed to support SDQTBIPOC+ communities who often experience unique forms of anxiety related to discrimination, microaggressions, and navigating systems that weren’t designed for them. Our counsellors understand how racism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of systemic oppression contribute to anxiety. We provide culturally responsive therapy that doesn’t require you to explain or justify your identity. Our anti-oppressive approach recognizes that your anxiety may be a reasonable response to unreasonable systems, and we work to help you distinguish between protective anxiety and anxiety that’s become overwhelming. Learn more about our team of counsellors.

Yes, we work with individuals 16 and older, including teens and young adults navigating unique anxiety challenges like academic pressure, social media impacts, identity development, and uncertainty about the future. We understand that young people today face unprecedented challenges including climate anxiety, economic uncertainty, and social media comparison culture. Our approach is particularly effective for young people dealing with perfectionism, social anxiety, and the pressure to have everything figured out. We provide age-appropriate interventions that honor young people’s autonomy and wisdom while addressing the specific stressors they face. 

Climate anxiety and anxiety about global events are increasingly common and completely understandable responses to the state of our world. Our approach validates these concerns rather than pathologizing them – your anxiety about climate change shows that you care deeply about our planet and future generations. We help you find ways to channel this anxiety into meaningful action while developing strategies to manage overwhelm. We explore how to stay informed without becoming consumed, how to find agency within larger systems, and how to build resilience and hope alongside realistic concern. This work often involves connecting with community and finding sustainable ways to contribute to positive change.

Our approach goes beyond symptom management to examine the broader context of your anxiety experience. While we definitely explore practical coping strategies, we also look at how systemic factors, cultural expectations, and life circumstances contribute to anxiety. We don’t pathologize your anxiety or tell you to “just think positive” – instead, we help you understand anxiety as information and explore what it might be trying to tell you. Our anti-oppressive framework recognizes that much anxiety stems from navigating unjust systems rather than personal failings. We integrate multiple therapeutic modalities and honor your cultural background and lived experience as sources of strength and wisdom.

Absolutely. Anxiety often co-occurs with depression, trauma, ADHD, eating concerns, and other mental health experiences. Our holistic approach addresses the whole person rather than isolated symptoms. We understand how different mental health concerns interact and influence each other. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety alongside depression, processing trauma that contributes to anxiety, or managing ADHD-related anxiety, we tailor our approach to your unique combination of experiences. We can also coordinate with other healthcare providers as needed to ensure you’re getting comprehensive support.

Many people have had therapy experiences that focused on changing thoughts without addressing underlying causes or cultural context. If you were told to “just relax” or given generic coping strategies that didn’t fit your life, our approach is different. We examine both individual patterns and systemic factors contributing to your anxiety. We validate your experience and recognize that anxiety often makes sense given your circumstances. Our justice-oriented approach integrates multiple therapeutic modalities and honors your cultural background. If previous therapy felt dismissive or oversimplified, our comprehensive, culturally responsive approach may be exactly what you need.

Your first session begins with a free 15-minute consultation where we’ll discuss your specific anxiety experience and match you with the right counsellor. In your first full session, we’ll explore what brings you to therapy, your current anxiety patterns, triggers, and how anxiety is impacting your daily life. We’ll also discuss your goals and what support looks like for you. There’s no pressure to share more than feels comfortable – we follow your lead on pacing. We might explore some grounding techniques or coping strategies, depending on what feels most helpful. Sessions are 50 minutes and can be virtual or in-person at our Vancouver or Port Moody offices.

Both options can be equally effective. Virtual sessions offer convenience, accessibility, and comforts of being in your own space, while in-person sessions might feel more grounding for some. We can explore what feels right for you, and you’re welcome to switch between the two.

You don’t need to have a formal diagnosis or fit a certain profile to benefit from counselling. If you’re experiencing distress – whether it fits colonial definitions of anxiety or not – your experience is valid and worthy of support. We’ll work with you to explore the nuances of your unique situation and navigate its terrains, together.

Anxiety often stems from very real experiences of systemic harm. Our approach looks at unburdening some of the heaviness and responsibility you might be taking on, and giving it back to the contexts that are actually responsible. We’ll look at the ways you’ve discovered how to make sense of the world and draw on lineages of resistance to these systems that we can access for your day-to-day experience.

While medication can be helpful for some people, it’s a personal choice. We don’t prescribe medication, but we can support you in making informed decisions about your care and can collaborate with your healthcare providers if you choose.

Life happens! We ask for 24 hours notice for cancellations or changes. This helps us maintain accessibility for our community and sustainability for our practice.

Yes, we can work with you to create supporting documentation in session when needed. We’ll discuss this during your session to ensure we understand your needs and can support you appropriately.