- Anger
- Anxiety
- Career
- Couple and Marriage
- Depression
- Grief and Loss
- Relationships
- Self-Esteem
- Shame and Guilt
- Trauma
- Stress
- Men’s Issues
Find Healing & Reclaim Your Life with Wellspring Counselling in BC
Trauma can have strong emotional effects that last long after the event. It can come from significant life changes, ongoing stress, or even small experiences that leave a considerable impact. Trauma often creates challenges that can seem overwhelming.
At Wellspring Counselling, we focus on trauma counselling in North Vancouver. We offer both in-person and online sessions. We aim to help you manage the feelings that come with trauma and find healing. We provide a safe space where you can explore your emotions, understand how your past experiences have affected you, and develop practical coping skills for the future.
Trauma is a deep emotional response to overwhelming, frightening, or uncontrollable events. It can result from a single traumatic event, such as a car accident or the loss of a loved one, or from prolonged stress, like enduring abuse or neglect over time. These experiences can shake a person’s sense of security and stability, often leading to lasting emotional, mental, and physical effects. Trauma can also reshape how individuals perceive themselves, others, and the world around them.
Everyone processes trauma differently. Even if two people experience the same event, their reactions can vary based on past experiences, emotional resilience, available support, and current life circumstances. Some individuals may experience intense emotions like fear or anxiety, while others might withdraw from specific places or situations. Trauma can also manifest physically, such as through fatigue, unexplained pain, or difficulty concentrating.
It’s essential to recognize that trauma is a natural response to extreme stress and not a sign of weakness. Reducing the stigma surrounding trauma is crucial, as it encourages more people to seek the support they need. With therapies like EMDR or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), healing is possible. Through the proper treatment, individuals can regain a sense of safety and restore balance to their lives.
Trauma affects people differently, and each person’s reaction is unique. However, there are clear signs that someone may be having difficulty dealing with the effects of a traumatic event. Common signs to look out for include:
Recognizing the signs of trauma is essential for understanding how it can improve a person’s well-being. Identifying these patterns early can provide the proper support and connect individuals to the resources they need for recovery and healing.
“Big T” Trauma: Major life events, like serious accidents, abuse, or losing a loved one, can cause PTSD or complex trauma. These harrowing experiences can lead to strong emotional reactions, such as unwanted memories, nightmares, and feelings of helplessness. People who experience “Big T” trauma may find it hard to handle the emotions tied to these events, affecting their daily lives and overall well-being.
“Little t” Trauma: Smaller but still significant experiences, like chronic neglect, bullying, ongoing criticism, or growing up in an unstable home, can significantly affect emotional health. Over time, these events may lead to issues such as anxiety, low self-worth, and trouble forming secure and trusting relationships. Though subtle, “Little t” trauma can have lasting effects on mental well-being.
Core Shame & Guilt: Trauma often causes intense shame and guilt. These emotions can make people feel flawed or undeserving. As a result, they may think they are to blame for the pain they have suffered. These feelings can hurt self-esteem, making it hard to build healthy relationships and develop self-confidence.
Proven Effectiveness of EMDR Therapy: EMDR therapy is an effective treatment for healing trauma and managing emotional issues. It focuses on the feelings connected to past traumatic events. EMDR helps people heal emotionally and reduce pain. This process allows individuals to gain clarity and confidence and move forward with a sense of peace.
Accessible & Flexible Healing: Begin your healing journey at home with our online EMDR therapy sessions. This option is excellent for those who have trouble attending in-person appointments because of trauma or other issues. Online therapy offers a safe, private, and flexible space. You can start your emotional recovery at your own pace and get the support you need when ready.
Compassionate & Skilled Therapists: Our team of skilled therapists uses EMDR techniques to help you heal. They provide support with care and understanding as you work through painful memories and emotional challenges. This approach will give you valuable tools for lasting emotional health, helping you to heal and grow throughout your journey.
Trauma counseling helps people heal from the emotional effects of traumatic events or ongoing stress. It offers support for emotional healing, builds resilience, and enhances mental well-being. Here’s how trauma counseling can make a positive difference:
Getting trauma counseling is an essential step in healing. It provides a safe space for recovery, helping people rebuild their confidence, heal emotionally, and create a better future.
Trauma can come from different life experiences, like physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, losing someone you love, natural disasters, or being a victim of a crime. No matter what has caused your pain, our caring therapists are here to help you understand your feelings and support your healing journey.
The journey to recovery can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Our caring team provides a safe space where you can start to heal. We use various effective therapy methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, body-centered techniques, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), to help you deal with the effects of trauma on your life.
We want to help you find practical ways to cope, build healthy relationships, and become more resilient so that you can regain a sense of purpose and not have to control your life or future. With the proper support, you can heal, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
A Special Message from the Director
Clients Say
Mr. Gordon is someone that captures the spirit and the heart of active engagement. He is empathic, genuine and incorporates action and creative problem solving into his practice. I have no hesitation in recommending Mr. Gordon as an effective career and personal counsellor.
I had no experience with therapy and was unsure of the whole process. Alistair made everything very accessible and unintimidating. It was clear that he puts quite a lot of effort and preparation into every session. I'm so glad that I decided to do this, and could not have asked for a better person to help me with this. I would highly recommend Alistair to anyone who has ever thought that they might benefit from talking to a professional.
I am a young professional which for a long time now, has struggled with anxiety, insecurity, and difficulty in finding effective life coping mechanisms. Alistair was referred to me by a friend and upon the first meeting, I found Alistair to be empathetic, compassionate and intuitive. I have now been seeing Alistair regularly for 6 months and through that time my anxiety has significantly decreased, I have found effective methods of dealing with stress, found support dealing with identity issues, as well as finding inner strength to get through a tough break up. Alistair again and again, went the extra mile -thank you Alistair for your candor, openness and a safe space to get support. Thank you for playing such a large role in keeping me healthy and positive.
I have been working with Alistair Gordon as my counsellor at Wellspring for almost 6 months now and cannot begin to tell you how far I have come with his help. I have tried working with other counsellors and therapists in the past but never really found one that clicked for me. I always felt judged, unsupported, and rushed at those appointments until I booked my first appointment with Wellspring and with Allistair. To anyone on the fence about booking an appointment or engaging in therapy: if you are willing to do the work, you couldn't ask for a better partner in your healing journey.
When I decided to find a counsellor, I tried to find someone that I could relate to, someone that is like-minded and down-to-earth and with Alistair I really found the right person. He uses an integrative approach, showed me techniques to relax and get aware of my emotions, and helped me see things in a new perspective. Of course this is an ongoing process but I enjoy meeting and working with Alistair every time. The downtown office is a very neutral place - not too intimate, not too clinical - which is helpful to overcome apprehension, especially the first couple of times. What I find remarkable is that Alistair almost always knows what I'm trying to say, even if I can't put it into words. Working with Alistair helped me a lot and it was the right decision to put my trust in him.
Alistair really cares about you the person, and I could really feel him trying to tackle my challenges. He was also very available for off-session contact via text and email. I think he did a great job with confronting me where I needed it. Alistair always could remember the important peoples' names in my personal life, which really helped with talking about my problems. I really felt like I was talking to a friend.
Alistair is an awesome counsellor. He has been so helpful in working with me through some tough times in my life. He's always been available to chat with me in-between sessions. I'd recommend Alistair to anyone - he's really the ideal counsellor in my view.
I enjoy how sessions are collaborative where I can take the lead for the direction of what we talk about, and at the same time I know that Alistair will offer helpful guidance and insight along the way. I also like how we focus on the future instead of just the past. I find this to be empowering and helpful to move forward in life.
Alistair is an awesome counsellor. He has been so helpful in working with me through some tough times in my life. He's always been available to chat with me in-between sessions. I'd recommend Alistair to anyone - he's really the ideal counsellor in my view.
I have always felt very comfortable with Alistair. He has a calming presence, and you can tell he cares about being the best counsellor for you. He helps you with all aspects of your concern, and is always able to help me find a solution to the problem I'm having.
Alistair is an exceptionally talented counsellor and has always demonstrated strong ethics, great compassion, wisdom and respect for others. I highly recommend him as a counselling practitioner.
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