Trauma Counselling Vancouver, BC
Find closure and live a more empowered life
Break the narrative, behaviours and patterns of trauma
Working with one of our Vancouver trauma therapists is an opportunity to re-process your story (emotionally, mentally and physically) and offer some closure to the events that have caused suffering in your life.
Trauma counselling is a tiered process, where the unhealthy self-narratives that we consider “our life story” are transformed, and steps are taken to allow your body to process events that are now over. Our counsellors use, EMDR, CBT and Somatic therapy to help to alleviate the psychological and physical symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) so that your body can recover from stress and recognize that the traumatic experience is no longer occurring.
Trauma is treatable and with a trauma-informed counsellor, you can break the narrative, behaviours, and patterns that leave you feeling stuck or out of control.
Why Consider Trauma Counselling?
Experiencing trauma, whether from a single traumatic event like a car accident, or ongoing experiences such as childhood trauma, sexual abuse, or relationship difficulties, can leave lasting impacts on both the mind and body. These experiences may show up as anxiety, flashbacks, avoidance, or even physical symptoms such as tension, sleep issues, or panic attacks.
When left unprocessed, trauma can affect how you see yourself and others, erode your self-esteem, and make it hard to form healthy relationships. Many trauma survivors find themselves stuck in old patterns, unable to move forward.
Our trauma counselling in Vancouver offers a safe, supportive way to work through these painful memories and regain balance. Our experienced trauma counsellors at Sana Counselling provide trauma-informed care, helping you build new coping skills while releasing the weight of past experiences. By addressing both the nervous system and thought patterns, we create space for recovery, growth, and a greater sense of safety in daily life.
How Trauma Counselling Helps
At Sana Counselling, we use evidence-based approaches and a holistic approach to healing, recognizing that trauma affects both body and mind. Our registered clinical counsellors draw on a variety of therapeutic approaches to meet your unique needs, including:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – a proven method for reprocessing traumatic memories and reducing their emotional charge.
Somatic Experiencing & Somatic Therapy – focusing on the mind-body connection, these approaches help release stored tension in the nervous system and restore a sense of safety.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – supporting you in identifying and challenging negative thought patterns while building healthier behaviours.
Internal Family Systems & Narrative Therapy – offering ways to explore your inner world, reconnect with self-compassion, and rewrite your personal story.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, trauma counselling often integrates both mind-body approaches and counselling psychology to move beyond just discussing events. Together, we’ll help you regulate overwhelming emotions, find new perspectives, and develop coping skills that empower you in everyday life.
Whether you’ve experienced trauma recently or are still carrying the weight of past experiences, our goal is to create a safe space where healing is possible. Trauma therapy isn’t about erasing what happened; it’s about helping you feel more present, more grounded, and more free to live the life you deserve.
Trauma lives in both the body and the mind
When you experience an incident that is perceived as dangerous, such as sexual violence, childhood abuse, or a car accident, your animal instinct (or your midbrain) takes over. When this occurs, usually your conscious mind temporarily goes offline so that your body can react appropriately to the external threat, causing you to shut down. Trauma exists by re-living these experiences through external triggers or repetitive thoughts or behaviours that cause mental and physical distress.
Trauma can overwhelm your ability to cope and cause feelings of unease, helplessness and low self-esteem. This can distort your sense of reality and sense of self and erode your ability to feel a full spectrum of emotions and fully experience life. Trauma counselling is a great tool to support you when your capacity to cope is overwhelmed.
““Our sessions provide me with tangible tools to help me work on myself, reset my negative thought patterns, and reinforce positive behaviours like boundary setting and proper communication. I feel like I can grow into the person I want to be thanks to you.” ”
How to start with a trauma-informed counsellor
Step 1: Book your free consultation
This is a no-pressure call to determine if trauma counselling is right for you. The consultation is offered in a confidential and compassionate environment.
Step 2: Match with your counsellor
After your consultation, we will match you with the Sana trauma therapist who can best help you.
Step 3: Your first session
Deciding to move forward with trauma counselling is brave, thank you for making it this far. In this session, we will work together to find the best healing environment to support your growth.
Why Sana Counselling?
As trained trauma counsellors, based in Vancouver, we specialize in working with clients from all walks of life. Our holistic approach to counselling integrates the mind-body connection into healing emotional roadblocks. We work with you to provide the tools you need to move forward with your life and to remember yourself.
We’ve supported Vancouverites at our Kitsilano Office to build healthier relationships, since 2016. We serve individuals in relationships and folks of all nationalities and sexual orientations who are experiencing problematic relationship patterns. If you want to sustain and maintain the healthy and loving relationships that you deserve, relationship counselling is for you.