Find Healing, Self-Acceptance & Freedom with BC's Online Counselling

Shame & Guilt Counselling in Vancouver, BC

If relentless shame and guilt are eroding your self-worth and coloring your view of the world, you’re not alone. Our specialized online counselling services, accessible throughout British Columbia, offer a safe and compassionate space to explore the roots of these difficult emotions.

Whether rooted in past trauma, challenging life experiences, or internalized negativity, we’ll help you understand the patterns, develop coping mechanisms, and cultivate a stronger sense of self. For Vancouver residents, we also offer in-person therapy options, including EMDR Therapy.

Request a Free 10-Min Consultation Today!

Shame & Guilt Therapy Vancouver | Wellspring Counselling BC

Understanding the Depths of Shame & Guilt

  • Shame: The Attack on Self: Shame cuts to the core, making you feel fundamentally flawed or unworthy. It can whisper lies like “I’m a bad person” or “I don’t deserve love.”
  • Guilt: The Regret Over Actions: While guilt can be a healthy signal for change, it can become excessive, disproportionate to the situation, or focused on things outside your control.
  • The Trauma Connection: Adverse childhood experiences, bullying, or other traumas can create a deep well of “core shame” and increase sensitivity to guilt triggers.
  • The Cycle of Shame & Guilt: These emotions can become self-perpetuating, leading to avoidance, isolation, and self-sabotaging behaviors that only reinforce negative feelings.

How Our Methods Can Transform Your Life?

Our experienced therapists understand the nuances of shame and guilt. We offer:

  • A Safe Space for Exploration: Share without fear of judgment as we explore the origins of your shame and guilt, whether rooted in the past or present-day challenges.
  • Understanding Your Mind & Body: Learn how your brain processes experiences, influences thoughts, and contributes to overwhelming emotional responses.
  • Stress Management & Emotional Regulation: Develop powerful tools to calm your nervous system, find emotional balance, and navigate difficult feelings with greater resilience.
  • Uncovering the Roots: Identify the hidden beliefs, internalized messages, and core wounds driving your shame and excessive guilt.
  • Challenging Negative Self-Talk: Learn to dispute the critical inner voice, cultivate self-compassion, and create a more empowering internal dialogue.
  • Healthy Communication & Boundaries: Improve how you relate to others and yourself, setting healthy boundaries to foster stronger, more fulfilling relationships.
  • Processing Underlying Emotions: Safely explore the anger, sadness, or fear that might be entangled with shame and guilt, promoting healing and integration.
  • Problem-Solving & Self-Efficacy: Develop the skills and confidence to tackle life’s challenges, reducing the likelihood of falling into self-blame and guilt spirals.
  • EMDR Therapy (Vancouver): For those with trauma-based shame, EMDR can be a powerful tool to reprocess painful memories and reduce their emotional charge.
Shame & Guilt Counselling | Local Therapists at Wellspring

Schedule Your Initial 10-Min Call with One of Our Counsellors in Vancouver Today

Our Approach

  • Person-Centered & Trauma-Informed: We tailor our approach to your individual needs, always with sensitivity to the potential impact of past experiences.
  • Compassionate & Non-Judgmental: Experience a safe, supportive environment where you can be vulnerable and start to heal.
  • Evidence-Based Methods: We utilize proven therapeutic techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based approaches.

A Special Message from the Director

Clients Say

Testimonials

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.

Dr. Norman Amundson

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.

Edward Hicks

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.

Kahir Lalji

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.

Elyse Renouf

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.

Max A

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.

Michael S.

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.

JG

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.

RM

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.

JG

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.

SD

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.

Dr. Marla Buchanan

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Shame & Guilt Counselling in Vancouver | Local Counsellors at Wellspring