Beyond the Talk

Absolutely! A crucial part of our approach is exploring with you how these different modalities can fit with what you’re hoping to address and the contexts that impact how we approach this work. Sometimes, this looks like redefining what healing looks like for us and how we’re impacted to view ourselves in certain ways because of how we’ve been trained up in this world. These modalities are meant to “add colours to your painting” rather than replace it completely. In most circumstances, you’ll find yourself weaving in and out of these practices and your therapist will support you in navigating that!

We integrate multiple therapeutic approaches to meet your unique needs. EMDR therapy helps process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact. Somatic therapy works with how experiences are held in your body and nervous system. Nature-based therapy incorporates outdoor spaces and natural elements for healing. Expressive arts therapy uses creative expression to explore emotions and experiences. Traditional talk therapy provides space for verbal processing and insight. Most clients benefit from a combination of approaches tailored to their specific needs and preferences.

Choosing the right therapy approach depends on your unique needs, preferences, and goals. During your free 15-minute consultation, we’ll discuss what brings you to therapy and help match you with both the right counsellor and therapeutic approaches. Some people prefer talk therapy for verbal processing, while others benefit from body-based approaches like somatic therapy or creative expression through arts therapy. Many clients find that combining approaches works best. You can also complete our 3-minute matching form to help us understand your preferences and needs before your consultation.

Yes, we offer both individual counselling and relationship counselling at our Vancouver and Port Moody locations. Our individual counselling supports people with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, trauma, burnout, grief, chronic pain, self-worth, and identity exploration. Our relationship counselling works with couples and partners of all relationship structures, including monogamous, polyamorous, and other non-traditional relationship styles. We also provide clinical supervision for mental health professionals seeking anti-oppressive supervision for their practice.

Anti-oppressive therapy at Venturous acknowledges and addresses how systemic context, your intersecting identities of privilege and/or oppression, and our relationships impact mental health. Our approach considers your whole identity and lived experience, recognizing that healing happens within the context of social justice and collective care.

Our approach is grounded in anti-oppressive, justice-oriented frameworks that recognize how systems of oppression impact mental health. We don’t pathologize your responses to unjust systems – instead, we help you understand your experiences in context and develop strategies for resistance and resilience. We integrate multiple therapeutic modalities rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, and we center the experiences of SDQTBIPOC+ communities. Our team of counsellors brings both professional training and lived experience to this work, creating space where you don’t need to explain or justify your identity.

Yes, our practice is specifically designed to support SDQTBIPOC+ and ally communities. Our counsellors understand the unique challenges of navigating discrimination, microaggressions, and systems that weren’t designed for us. We provide culturally responsive therapy that honors your identity and experiences without requiring you to educate your therapist about your background. We also welcome allies and anyone seeking justice-oriented therapy that examines both individual healing and systemic factors.

We offer a comprehensive range of counselling services at both our Vancouver and Port Moody locations, including individual counselling, relationship counselling, and clinical supervision. Our therapeutic approaches include EMDR therapy, somatic therapy, nature-based therapy, expressive arts therapy, and traditional talk therapy. We specialize in supporting people with anxiety, trauma, burnout, grief, chronic pain and fatigue, self-worth concerns, and identity and personal growth. All services are provided through an anti-oppressive, justice-oriented lens.

Yes, we offer direct billing to most extended health insurance plans. Look for RCC (Registered Clinical Counsellor) coverage in your benefits package. We can bill directly to many major insurance providers, which means you don’t have to pay upfront and wait for reimbursement. We also accept funding through CVAP (Crime Victim Assistance Program), ICBC, WorkBC, FNHA (First Nations Health Authority), and Autism Funding. During your consultation, we’ll help you understand your coverage options and determine the best payment approach for your situation.

Your therapy journey begins with a free 15-minute consultation where we’ll discuss your needs and match you with the right counsellor. In your first full session, your counsellor will focus on creating safety and building rapport. We’ll explore what brings you to therapy, discuss your goals and concerns, and begin developing an understanding of your unique situation. There’s no pressure to share more than feels comfortable, and we’ll work at your pace. Sessions are typically 50 minutes (80 minutes for EMDR) and can be virtual or in-person at our Vancouver or Port Moody offices.

Yes, we provide secure, confidential virtual therapy sessions to clients throughout British Columbia. Our virtual platform is HIPAA-compliant and easy to use from the comfort of your own space. Virtual sessions are particularly helpful for people with mobility challenges, those in remote areas, busy schedules, or during times when in-person sessions aren’t possible. Many clients find virtual sessions just as effective as in-person therapy, and you can always switch between virtual and in-person sessions based on your needs and preferences.

That’s totally fine! Your counsellor will collaborate with you to determine what practices might support where you’re at, your personal preferences, and your goals. There’s no right or wrong way to engage or experiment with these practices and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

Many people have had therapy experiences that focused on symptom management without addressing root causes or cultural context. If you felt misunderstood, judged, or like your therapist didn’t get your identity or experiences, our approach is different. We examine both individual patterns and systemic factors contributing to your concerns. We validate your experience and recognize that many mental health symptoms make sense given the systems we navigate. Our justice-oriented approach integrates multiple therapeutic modalities and honors your cultural background and lived experience as sources of strength and wisdom.

Everyone’s therapy journey is different, and we don’t believe in rigid timelines for healing. Some people notice shifts within a few sessions, while deeper changes typically develop over several months of consistent work. Rather than focusing on a specific timeline, we work together to identify what healing and growth look like for you and celebrate progress along the way. Some clients work with us intensively for several months, others prefer longer-term support, and many return periodically for tune-ups or during difficult periods. We’ll regularly check in about your goals and adjust our approach as needed.

Our therapy services range from $160-$240 per session, with a community pool of sliding scale options available based on financial need. Each of our practitioners has a community pool of sliding scale rates to ensure that we can support folx experiencing financial barriers. When you access sliding scale, our counsellors will send you a self-qualifying infographic to help you determine what might work best for you and will revisit this conversation at regular intervals. Our community pool of sliding scale rates is dynamic and changes depending on how many folx are accessing sliding scale with us at any given time. We offer direct billing to most extended health insurance plans and accept funding through CVAP, ICBC, WorkBC, FNHA, and Autism Funding. Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss pricing and insurance options.

We have a standard 24-hour cancellation policy. That means if you need to cancel or reschedule your session, you need to give us at least 24-hours notice or the full fee of the session will be charged. 

If you are late but are able to attend within the first 15 minutes of your session, you can still use the rest of your time of the session for the full fee. If you are late beyond the first 15 minutes of session, your session will be considered a no show as we’ll have to reschedule to another time. This is to ensure that we have adequate time and space to wrap up our work without you feeling rushed, heightened, or unprepared as you transition out of session.