Therapy Place
Counselling Group
Counselling Vancouver Island Since 2017
Professional Counselling Services at The Therapy Place - Nanaimo and Mid-Island
All about the Therapy Place
Discover professional counselling tailored to your needs. Gain the tools you need to face anxiety, stress, depression and more with our team of expert therapists. Your path to well-being starts here!
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We provide individual, couples, and family counselling services to Nanaimo and Mid Island. We're a team of clinicians trained in a variety of techniques and approaches, and we have decades of counselling experience between us. Our clinical team is comprised of Masters-level Registered Clinical Counsellors, Registered Social Workers, and Canadian Certified Counsellors affiliated with the BCACC, the BCCSW and the CCPA.​
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Here are just a few of the issues with which our team of psychotherapists frequently work:
When we're depressed we often experience low mood, poor energy, sleep problems, difficulties concentrating, and a general lack of mojo. Everyone goes through down times occasionally, but if you ever get trapped there, it's not fun. There is hope! Research in the field has come a long way and a trained depression counsellor can help you return to your normal self. How do you find the best fit for you counselling needs? You're already doing it: do some research. Then get in touch to book a session. You can learn more about this by checking out the "Depression Counselling" tab on the menu above, or by clicking here.
Like depression, anxiety problems are on the rise. There are a lot of reasons for this, but the important thing is to know that it is treatable with the help of a trained anxiety counsellor. Symptoms often include: feelings of panic/unease, difficulty sleeping, thoughts of worry, specific fears (like public speaking or phobias) procrastination, and racing thoughts. We'll come up with a plan that helps you to regain control. Click here for more information on this topic.
All relationships have their ups and downs. But if yours is experiencing a prolonged period of unresolved conflict, bitter arguing, or broken trust/affairs, it's probably time to look into marriage counselling. A skilled marriage counsellor can help you make sense of things and give you the tools to get your relationship back on track! You can learn more about this by checking out the "Family and Couples Counselling" tab on the menu above, or by clicking here.
Relationship / Marriage Counselling:
Trauma Counselling:
Trauma is a difficult beast to live with. Whether the traumatic event(s) are recent or old, the results can be devastating. Frequent symptoms include nightmares, panic attacks, dissociative symptoms, living in a state of fear and anxiety, the inability to feel safe in certain situations, flashbacks, difficulty trusting self/others, etc. Much of this is physiological, but that doesn't mean that it isn't treatable! Learn more about this by clicking the trauma tab on the menu above or by clicking here.
Groups: Upcoming Therapy Groups
Body Image and Mindful Eating Group
Join our ongoing in-person group designed to help you reclaim your relationship with food and your body. You'll learn to develop a positive and healthy body image and rebuild trust in yourself around food.
Dates/Times: Tuesdays April 7, 14, 21, 28
6pm-8pm.
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Fees: $45 per session
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Click this link for more information​
Parenting Through the Tough Years: Tweens, Teens & Mental Health
Parenting tweens and teens with mental health challenges can feel overwhelming—and it’s normal for parents to experience anxiety along the way. This group offers a supportive, judgment-free space to build resilience, strengthen your connection with your child, and learn practical strategies for home.
Grounded in Emotion Focused Family Therapy, the group blends psychoeducation with discussion and exercises to help parents:
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Build curiosity about barriers that get in the way of showing up as the caregiver you want to be
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Develop emotion coaching skills to support regulation and connection
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Strengthen empathy and emotional regulation in your parenting
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Practice therapeutic apologies to repair and deepen relationships
Dates: 4 x Tuesdays from May 26-June 16
Times: 530-7pm
Cost: $40 per session for individuals, $60 for couples
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Email info@therapyplace.ca if interested in future sessions.​
Low Cost Counselling Program:
We are pleased to be in a position to provide an option for those who don't have benefits or who are undergoing financial hardship. Our clinical interns are hand-picked for skill, maturity, and fit. Clinical supervision is overseen by our own experienced Registered Clinical Counsellors and Registered Social Workers, Andrew Bertram, Maura O'Keefe Skates, and Ron Depner. To access this program or to learn more about it, click here.
Other forms of counselling:
That's not all we do, of course. We also provide service in the areas of family counselling, communication, self esteem, family conflict, shame, parenting, anger management, grief counselling, loss, etc.
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We would love to hear more about the hopes and challenges of your particular journey, and to see how we can be of service to you!
Frequently asked questions
"All the evidence that we have indicates that it is reasonable to assume in practically every human being, and certainly in almost every newborn baby, that there is an active will toward health, an impulse toward growth."
—Abraham Maslow, PhD
Our Clinic Director
Ron Depner is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with over 27 years in the counselling profession. He has worked in a number of mental health settings including hospitals, treatment centers, non-profit community service providers, and government organizations. He holds a Masters from City University of Seattle as well as an undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta. He holds multiple advanced certifications and awards in areas of couples and individual counselling. He oversees the clinical aspects of service delivery for The Therapy Place.
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