Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)

Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy - Individuals

The goal of this approach is to help clients overcome resistance to experiencing their true feelings that are too frightening and/or painful.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is helpful in helping clients who suffer from a wide range of mental health issues. It is most commonly used for people that are having problems managing their emotions. It typically includes individual and group sessions with focus on skill learning of attention, managing emotions and interpersonal skills.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy helps individuals to cope with stressful situations and distressing emotions to help improve their interpersonal relationships. During times of stress, a person usually acts automatically with no regard for consequences, and this often leads to self-destructive behaviours such as self-harm, manipulation and poor eating and sleeping habits. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy can help a client to make better decisions.

During sessions, the therapist will discuss different viewpoints, because they share the theory that opposites can, and do, co-exist. The therapist will teach the client helpful skills that will help the client to accept or change a situation.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Note:  Some practitioners practice Emotion Focused Therapy rather than Emotionally Focused therapy.  You will want to confirm that it is indeed Emotionally Focused Therapy that the counsellor/psychologist practices. 

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Ashley Shankar

M.S.W., RCSW
I’m a cis South Asian woman. My Masters in Social Work from the University of British Columbia has granted me the opportunity to work extensively in diverse community mental health settings. I work with... Read more

Christina McGill

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Christina’s work with clients focuses on helping them connect with their innate capacity to heal, supporting them to learn to trust themselves, and developing their ability to reflect on their inner self.... Read more

Gillian Tuyp

MCP, RCC
**Immediate Availability for In-person and Virtual Counselling Spring 2024** Gillian brings over 10 years of experience supporting children, youth, and families into her practice as a clinical counsellor. At the core... Read more

John Zak

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Let me guess, there's a part of you that wants to try out counselling and another that is skeptical of whether it will work. Perhaps you tried it before and it seemed like a waste of time and money. As a skeptic... Read more

Dominique Sorace

M.Couns., RCC
    • Online booking
Hi, my name is Dominique and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BCACC. I have worked with a diverse range of presenting issues within the school system, MCFD, and non-profit organizations, some of which... Read more

Ann-Marie Inoue

M.C., RCC
    • In-Person Sessions
    • Online booking
Do you feel dissatisfied or discontented with life? Is your relationship the source of pain and isolation? Do you constantly push people away that love you? Many people work hard to appear happy on the... Read more

Rotem Regev

Ph.D., R.Psych
Hello! I am a Registered Psychologist (PhD in Clinical Psychology).  I am the author of multiple journal articles and book chapters, an invited speaker in the areas of attachment, family transitions, and trauma,... Read more

Gretal Montgomery

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Gretal provides phone and video/virtual counselling to clients across British Columbia. She offers individual counselling to youth (12+) and adults. She identifies as a culturally responsive counsellor for BIPOC... Read more

Samantha Corrigan

M.A.Sc., RCC
    • Online booking
The best therapists are ones that have experienced many of the issues their clients come in with, and I would be no exception to that. Having overcome many struggles myself, and found ways to cope, I pass that knowledge... Read more

Sarah Siddiqui RCC

M.S.W., RSW
    • Online booking
*Now Accepting Clients.  For insurance purposes: please note I am an RSW and RCC* Whether trying therapy has been an unfulfilled new year’s resolution for the past number of years, something that just... Read more

Natalie Tiojanco

MCP, RCC
    • Online booking
Hi, I’m Natalie. I am a trauma-informed narrative therapist offering individual counselling to my community, which includes you! I welcome the privilege of hearing your story and supporting you in your path... Read more

Florence Ling

M.A., RCC
    • In-Person Sessions
    • Online booking
* Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, English. * Accept ICBC clients. * Helping clients understand their difficulties and inner world. * Discovery of their inherent strengths so as to encourage the development... Read more

Tracy Lau

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
Are you ready to break free from the ordinary and sculpt a life that's EXTRAORDINARY? Raise your hand if you are tired of living today the same way as you are living yesterday, and the day before that. On the... Read more

Alex Gheorghe

M.S.W., RSW
I started Out of the Woods Counselling with the goal of providing individuals, couples and families with evidence-based interventions and techniques to relieve them of challenges that keep them stuck - depression,... Read more

Ann Downie

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Ann meets people from a position of warmth, compassion, openness and curiosity. She has a deep commitment to connect and work alongside individuals and families to develop an authentic, trusting relationship, and offers... Read more

Matthew Vlasic

M.Couns., RCC
Matt believes that clients are the experts in the counselling space. Using a non-judgmental, collaborative, and trauma-informed approach, Matt works closely with those struggling with mental health concerns like anxiety... Read more

Jill Sweetable

MCP, RCC
    • Online booking
My goals as a therapist are to provide an inclusive and safe environment during an individual’s most trying times. As an empathic and compassionate person, I aim to walk with clients, not lead them on their... Read more

Colette Mrazek

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
My counselling career began over 20 years ago and since then, I have worked in a variety of settings with many different populations, such as youth at risk, children who have been orphaned, young parents,... Read more

Radha Ortiz

M.S.W., RCC
    • Online booking
You don’t have to struggle with what you’re going through alone. Whether you want to heal or push yourself to grow, I want to build a strong relationship with you so that we can better understand your... Read more
    • Online booking
I am a relationship and individual counsellor who focuses on supporting my clients in becoming more connected to eachother and to themselves.  Have you noticed that worrying is negatively impacting your life or... Read more

Kirsten Reid

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Would you like help to find some relief and an overall sense of lightness? Whether you believe your life challenges to be major or minor ones, including a specific event or a reoccurring problem pattern that you... Read more