Therapy Place
Counselling Group
Professional support for you and the ones you love
about
Andrew Bertram RCC MA MFT
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Registered Clinical Counsellor
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Individual counselling (ages 16+)
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Couples/Marriage Counselling
-A designation of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
Passionate About Inspiring Others
Asking for help is an act of courage. My passion as a therapist is to honour that courage by fostering a relationship built on trust, safety and hope. Together we will create space to walk through fears, hurt, and challenges, as a way to heal and grow. My hope for you is that therapy is a place where you will encounter joy, purpose, and self-acceptance. I work with individuals and couples who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, interpersonal struggles, the impacts of trauma, low self-esteem, difficult family dynamics, grief, and other struggles.
Through study and experience, I have come to find that the conditions for change and brain growth happen best through an emotional, experiential, and relational model.
​Our emotions shape who we are and how we form our memories. They inform how we perceive ourselves, others, and our world. They also fuel vitality, authenticity, resilience, and integrity - all of which we need to face life’s challenges and build healthy and full relationships. When we experience trauma, neglect, loss, and oppression, we are often faced with emotions too painful or terrifying to bear. As a result, we develop so many different ways to cope; ones that often leave us feeling isolated inside, anxious, and depressed.
There is a world of difference between thinking about and feeling our emotions. This is where “experiential” comes in. Our emotions live in our body (our nervous system) and they have a natural way of moving us towards healing, help, and wholeness. When we are numb, overwhelmed, anxious, isolated, and traumatized, we are unable to experience the safety necessary for our nervous system to fully process our emotions.
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This is where “relational” becomes most important. We are, in part, a product of the systems that we come from. The hurt and pain that we face in life is often a result of harmful relationships or absence of support in relationships. Having steadfast and non-judgmental support and care in the process of healing and restoration is essential.
I have a BA degree in Counselling, a MA degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. I am trained in many client-centered models of therapy to help support you, including: Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (Eye Movement Trauma Therapy), and Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy. When helpful I also draw from elements of Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.