* Currently, my client list is full – however, I will have openings soon. You are welcome to join my waitlist by booking a free phone call at the link below.

I am a Master Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC #1077) and a member of the Association of Counselling Cooperative Therapists of Canada (ACCT). I am a counsellor for couples and individuals, a support group leader and workshop facilitator. I have been a practicing counsellor since 2014. I feel proud knowing my life’s work is to encourage and empower my clients to live more freedom-filled, connected, and purposeful lives.

Some of my areas of concentration are:

• Everyone: Anxiety, identity crisis, grief and loss, life transitions, self-esteem/self-worth struggles, post-addiction acclimatization and spiritual crisis
• Parenthood: Post-partum depression and anxiety, loss of sense of self, parent-child conflict and single-parenting struggles
• Relationships: Communication struggles, loss of intimacy and connection, sexual and emotional affairs, end of relationship conversations and transition, and co-parenting relationships
• Families: Blended family communication, parent-child conflict, teen support

Personal Story

My journey to becoming a counsellor began in my early 20s when I found myself emotionally exhausted from the amount of energy it took to pretend that “everything is okay.” My life looked wonderful on the outside yet, so little felt good on the inside. Deep down I was overwhelmed, anxious and scared – and I gave myself very little permission to share this pain and discomfort with anyone. Instead, I berated myself for not being grateful for the life I had and, I felt angry and impatient with myself for struggling so much. This internal battle made me hard to live with at times. I was irritated, reactive, and easily triggered. I was constantly looking for approval outside myself because I could not feel my own self-approval or worth. I expended an incredible amount of time and energy trying to be liked – yet nothing made me feel loved enough. I desperately wanted all these feelings to disappear but no matter what I tried, I could not figure out how to make that happen. I was drowning in layers of shame.

Eventually, a friend told me about a workshop called The Awakening, which I hesitantly signed up for. It was there, for the first time, that I allowed people to see the depths of the pain I felt inside. I also witnessed others in their raw and vulnerable struggles. It felt like a revelation to know that I wasn’t alone, and that struggling was nothing to be ashamed of. I was waking up to the beauty of being fully human.

This experience launched me into a 10-year journey of self-discovery. Through personal growth workshops and consistent personal counselling sessions, I worked through childhood wounds, limiting beliefs and longstanding unhealthy patterns of behaviour. I learned how to give myself permission to not be perfect, show up authentically, understand and express my boundaries, be gentle with myself and fully stand in my worth.

I did cognitive work but also body work and this combination of talk therapy and somatic therapy allowed me to create deep and lasting change. Over time and with practice, I could feel myself move away from exhaustion, stuckness, and disconnection with myself and lean into a life filled with space for self-compassion, experiences of deep peace, greater resilience and unapologetic joy.

And there isn’t an end goal – I remain a constant and curious student of life, learning new layers of myself every day. This learning is part of my joy. The desire to give this gift to others inspired me to become a counsellor.

During those 10 years I completed a 3-year Counsellor Training Program with Clearmind International and a 2-year Relational Somatic Therapy program with Opening to Grace. To this day, I voraciously listen to podcasts, read books, take courses, trainings, and workshops to feed my appetite for this work I love so much.

Therapeutic Approach

The kind of therapy I offer is grounded in transpersonal psychology, which is rooted in the belief that psychology and spirituality are interconnected. It sees the therapist as a guide (not the all-knowing expert) who is there to help you orient towards your own inner knowing and transform your pain into a pathway to (what you define as) personal freedom. This definition is different for each one of us.

Transpersonal psychology believes that human struggle is rooted in our disconnection with self and others as we are all connected to one another (inside our personal circles, but also globally). It explains that our words and actions have impact on our collective movement towards deeper peace or greater pain, depending on what we choose. Transpersonal psychology holds the belief that we are greater than our ego thoughts and, when we each walk toward our own healing, the ripple effect of this courageous and vulnerable work reaches far and wide – far further than we could possibly imagine.

I am educated in and guided by the following modalities, which I make use of in my client sessions:

– Attachment Theory
– Bowen Family Systems Theory
– Gestalt (Psychodrama) Therapy
– Buddhist/Mindfulness Practices
– Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
– Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
– Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
– Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) – I mostly use this in my couples therapy sessions
– Relational Somatic Therapy (RST)

My approach is guided by a deep desire to know my clients fully and to provide them with a safe, non-judgmental space to explore their inner emotional terrain (past and present). Once this terrain is open, seen and explored, we work with it – cognitively (with the mind) and if desired somatically (with the body) – to heal what hurts and bring alive the parts of you that have gone quiet or been forgotten. We learn to build the muscles of steadiness, faith and resilience in moments of instability. We learn to be okay with comfort and discomfort alike. It is from this place of full and complete aliveness (in other words, feeling deeply connected to our unique authenticity and living wholly from this place) that we can be free.

The process of walking towards freedom is an unfolding. We don’t reach a destination, but we do learn what the feeling of freedom feels like. And when it is learned we can return there with more ease and frequency, again and again.

My Commitment to You

I understand that saying yes to therapy can be scary. As your counsellor, I commit to offering you not only my knowledge but also my heart. I will be fiercely compassionate yet straightforward. I will offer you both patience and encouragement. I will be creative and offer you opportunities to shift and grow, while remaining respectful of where you feel challenged and the pace you want to take when we work with those tender areas. Above all else, I will unwaveringly hold the belief that you can find your way through your struggle and live the life you truly want — even when you have forgotten it is possible.

Clients’ Words of Love

“Nasreen has the incredible ability to walk alongside you in your journey, without judgment and with unconditional support. Her kind and gentle presence gives me the space to feel what I need to feel. Working with her has completely changed my perspective on my relationships with others, and most importantly, with myself. I came to Nasreen feeling like I had no power or control over my life. Now, more than ever, I feel like I have the clarity and courage to walk on my path without fear or doubt. I am forever grateful to Nasreen for helping me uncover my potential for personal growth. I cannot thank her enough!” – E.L.

“I’ve been seeing Nasreen since 2016, and it’s honestly one of the best decisions I could’ve made. When I started, I was going through a lot of things in my personal life and felt quite anxious. Through our sessions, Nasreen helped me to become a more well-adjusted, less anxious person. Nasreen is a wonderful counsellor – she never judges and always listens to what I have to say with the highest level of professionalism, empathy, and kindness. I always feel heard and cared for when I come to see her, and I know I have a safe space to feel whatever I’m feeling. I’m so grateful for the positive impact she’s had on my life. I cannot recommend her enough.” – Ashley

“I would highly recommend Nasreen. She is extremely professional, knowledgeable, kind and supportive. I have found my counselling experience with Nasreen to be one of the best experiences of self-care and self- reflection I have ever engaged in. Nasreen is a gentle and authentic guide – she listens carefully, offers perspective and, when necessary, questions self-defeating thinking. Her ability and willingness to follow the therapeutic process from wherever I was on any given occasion made my experience all the more valuable. The office space is comfortable, calming and safe. It’s also easy to book!” – J

“It was our first time seeing someone, but we were in a place in our relationship where we needed some outside help. We first chose Nasreen because she’s close to home and has good reviews. We had no counselling experience, and we were a little bit nervous to face our problems in front of a stranger, even knowing she is a professional. Her office is cozy, and the atmosphere is comfortable. During our sessions we had a major realization. It was a great feeling! It was like we found a missing piece of the puzzle (that we didn’t even know was missing). Rather than simply tell us, she guided us towards finding it ourselves – we truly believe we couldn’t have done without her. She has helped us to understand ourselves and our relationship better in so many ways. We highly recommend Nasreen to anyone – she is wonderful!” – Y & C

Experience

Education

• Simon Fraser University, BA Communications & Psychology, 1996-2001
• Ryerson School of Journalism (Toronto), Journalism, 2004-2006
• Clearmind International Institute: 3-Year Counsellor Training Program, 2010-2013
• Opening to Grace: 2-year training in Relational Somatic Therapy (RST) 2019-2021

Work

• Counsellor, Spark Counselling, 2014-2015
• Group Facilitator, Breathing Space Support Group for Moms, Port Moody, 2014-2016
• Associate Counsellor, Steadfast Counselling, 2015-2017 (Couples Counselling)
• Co-Creator and Owner, Breathing Space Counselling, 2016 to present
• Co-Facilitator of Women & Wonder Workshop, Clearmind International, 2021 to present

Parenting Training

• Gordon Neufeld Conference – Making Sense of Kids, 2018
• Gordon Neufeld Conference – Press Pause and Play, 2019
• CoParenting Better with John Paul Boyd, 2017
• Dr. Shefali – Concious Parenting Workshops, 2017 & 2018
• Parenting After Trauma Workshop, 2019

Relationship & Couples Training

• Associate Counsellor for Marriage & Couples Counselling, Steadfast Counselling, 2015-2017
• Couples Institute, Year Long Program, 2017-2018
• Ethics and Couples Counselling, ACCT AGM, 2018
• Art of Couples Counselling Workshop, 2019

Modality Specific Trainings

• Introduction to AEDP with Dale Trimble, 2014
• Introduction to Somatic Therapy, ACCT AGM, 2016
• AEDP Workshop: Neuroplasticity in Action, 2018
• AEDP Workshop: Transforming Trauma through Fierce Love, 2018

Personal Development & Growth

• The Weekend Within, Deepak Chopra, 2016
• Enlightenment Intensives (3-day program), 2017 & 2019
• Senior Assistant, Clearmind International Workshops: Vulnerable Leadership, The Edge and The Awakening

Availability

I am available for sessions on Tuesdays (10-7pm), Thursdays (10-7pm) and Fridays (9:30am to 1:30pm). Please click the “Book an Appointment” button below to make an appointment.

Session Prices

Individual Counselling: $160 including GST for 60 minutes | $220 including GST for 90 minutes
Relationship Counselling: $175 including GST for 60 minutes  |  $240 including GST for 90 minutes