Family Issues, Life Transitions Mindfulness approaches

Family Issues, Life Transitions

Family and Systemic Psychotherapy uses the close interpersonal relationships between family members to help one another. The key to dealing with family issues is to help couples, family members or siblings to explore difficult emotions and thoughts in a safe manner. It helps each member to understand and acknowledge one another's emotions and allow them to express it safely, and in an effective manner.

Family therapy has been shown to be effective for people of all ages who are experiencing family issues or problems in their key systems (relationships) with people with whom they are close. It helps to build relationships and boosts the strengths and self-esteem of everyone in the system. Your family might need intervention if members have substance abuse problems, violent outbursts, if the family experienced a trauma,  if a close family member died or if the family is not functioning at its normal capacity.

This type of therapy enables people to work with one another, instead of on one another and enables families to talk about issues that are causing distress without disrespecting emotions. Instead, it invites engagement of the family members in order to support recovery.

Therapists who address family issues use a range of different approaches to bring about the best results. While group therapy will probably take place once weekly, where the family will all meet with the therapist, individual sessions might be required too. This provides a great supplement to the  family therapy work and is an ideal place for individuals to express their personal family issues that are hard to discuss in front of everyone.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who does family counselling you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Life transitions can be rewarding, but that doesn't mean they are necessarily easy. Change usually comes with mixed emotions, challenges and stress. It's natural to feel anxious, confused, unsettled and fatigued, no matter how you have looked forward to a change. While promotions at work can be positive and exciting, there are also negative transitions that could make you feel hopeless and negative, anxious and unable to see the solutions to the inevitable problems you face.


Some of the common transitions that people face include moving house, divorce, remarriage, empty nest syndrome, concerns about aging, adjusting to a new job, illness, or death of a loved one.

During periods of transitions, it's common for emotions from some of your past experiences to be triggered, which can make the current situation feel so much worse. That's when confusion takes over, leaving you feeling out of control and confused.

Transition counselling can help you deal with your life changes and the emotions that you are feeling in a safe and effective manner. You will be able to find the root causes of your reactions and you will be able to face the changes head on. You may even be able to push past your self-imposed limits to broaden your horizons and find a strong, new you.

You will gain clarity and understanding, as well as self-confidence to help you feel more grounded and you will develop a sense of purpose in your life. Transition therapy  has helped hundreds of thousands of people to come to terms with difficult issues in life and you can too.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who addresses transitions, you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Mindfulness approaches

Mindfulness approaches help clients to be focused in the here and now. Generally rooted in Eastern meditative techniques,  Mindfulness approaches offer a non-judgmental alternative therapy for dealing with stress and other psychological issues.

By observing worrisome thoughts and learning to accept situations for what they are, people can learn to cope with issues better and make more productive choices.

Mindfulness approaches include a range of models, including dialectical behaviour therapy,  mindfulness-based stress reduction, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. These approaches can be used in a wide range of settings to reduce the symptoms of a broad spectrum of psychological issues.  These therapies can be practiced effectively in individual or group therapy.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Mindfulness approaches, please browse our list of practitioners below..

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

Evan Quinn

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Welcome to Equalibrium Counselling. As a client-centred holistic therapist, my goal is to support you in navigating life's inevitable difficulties. Whether you're dealing with emotions, thoughts, life... Read more

Halina Deptuck

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Periods of struggle, challenge, or feeling stuck inevitably occur throughout our lives. Whether you’ve gone through a life transition, are experiencing low mood, heightened anxieties, relationship challenges,... Read more

Virginia McConchie

M.S.W., RSW
    • Online booking
Waitlist for new clients. My name is Virginia and I am a Registered Social Worker and Therapist. I work with individuals over the age of 18 who may be struggling with trauma, anxiety, existential questions, life... Read more

Susan Brook

Ph.D., RCC
You may be in pain and seeking healing, or simply have a sense that life could be better. You probably look to the world as though you are successful and coping well, but you don't feel like that inside. In holding... Read more

Jennifer Tillar

M.C., RCC
   My approach to the counselling process is that not one approach fits all. Although my background and experience is rooted in attachment-based theory and cognitive behavioral approaches used within a... Read more

Jennifer Turnbrook

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Life can have many challenges. Sometimes you can navigate through difficult things on your own while some issues are not so easily resolved. If you’re having a rough time and unsure how to get started, counselling... Read more

Robyn Kozak

M.Ed., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
Whether it is struggles with trauma, anxiety, pregnancy, postpartum, parenting, relationships, or mood, I support individuals with identifying what they want to be different in their life and co-creating a... Read more

Kristen Bailey

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
People come to therapy for a variety if reasons, but ultimately there is something you are experiencing in your life that is causing you pain and suffering that you want to address. We all experience pain that stems... Read more

Jess Holtslander

M.S.W., RCC
    • Online booking
We are all human and, as humans, we all experience loss and change. With any loss or life change comes conflicting emotions. Grief, or conflicting emotions, can result from losing a loved one, losing a pet, changing... Read more

Daeniela Bheaumont

M.Ed., R.Psych
    • Video on profile
I am a registered psychologist (College of Psychologist of BC #651) and have been a member of the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology since 1990.  I received my Masters degree in Counseling... 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

Roya Vojdani

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
Life is a journey full of twists and turns, but you don't have to face it all alone. Depression, anxiety, trauma and other emotional struggles take away from the joys of everyday life and might leave you feeling... Read more

Rosalyn Best Clark

M.Couns., RCC
Rosalyn Best, MoC, RCC #8656. Ros Best is passionate about counselling because she has so often witnessed its transformative power. She offers couples counselling, and counselling for life transitions, trauma, cancer... Read more

Kendra Antony

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Hello! I'm Kendra (she/her), Registered Clinical Counsellor and owner of Hope Stone Counselling. I’m so glad you’re here.  Since 2006, I’ve had the privilege of being invited into people... Read more

Alita Dommann

M.D., RCC
Alita is an Adlerian Psychotherapist providing Individual and Couples Counselling. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Canadian Certified Counsellor, and Adler University Alumni. After working as a medical... Read more

Jolene Bloomfield

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I have always felt called to become a counsellor. I’m naturally inclined to see the light and goodness inside people. Helping people to reconnect to that goodness, to their own ‘Self’ is part of the... Read more

Brenda Dineen

M.Ed., RCC
    • Article(s) on profile
Brenda is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with an office conveniently located in South Vancouver. Brenda has a rich background of professional experience and personal growth. She has worked in the public and private... Read more

Adrienne Johnson

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am passionate about helping clients who are facing challenges in transitions, relationships, or who are exploring questions about their life’s meaning and purpose. I also have experience working with anxiety,... Read more

Cynthia Gyuk

B.S.W., RSW
Welcome and thank you for taking a moment to read my profile. As a Registered Social Worker with specialized training, I provide a compassionate and safe space to support individuals and families who may be ... Read more

Jena Tharani

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Relationship Counselling (for individuals or couples) with Jena is for you if you: - Struggle to communicate effectively in your relationship - Are struggling with a specific issue or a general sense of... Read more

Jeff Morley

Ph.D., R.Psych
I am an experienced Registered Psychologist (#1577), as well as a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress.  In my practice I help people working through different challenges in their life from relationship and... Read more

Bonny Yung

M.C., RCC
Are you in a season of struggle and looking for clarity and support to help you move through difficulty? Perhaps you have reached your tipping point, feel isolated and alone, unsure of yourself, struggle with self-... Read more

Colleen McKee

M.A., RCC
    • In-Person Sessions
    • Online booking
* NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS* Sometimes you are thrown curveballs and unexpected challenges. At times, life can feel downright unbearable. With my help and support, we can work together to set and reach your goals,... Read more

Amy Rappaport

M.S.W., RCC
Welcome! I work with people experiencing a variety of life transitions and life struggles.  A stressful life event, life change, or a recent loss can make it feel like your bottom has fallen out from under... 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

Laurissa Kowalchuk

M.Ed., RCC
Our work together will allow us to explore both your internal and external experiences to shed the light of awareness on what may be contributing to the places that feel stuck and confusing, as well as those that... Read more

Deena Chochinov

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Deena is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a private practice in Vancouver since 2000. She works with individuals, couples and families and uses a variety of therapeutic approaches to help clients find the self-... Read more

Sandi Bossons

M.A., RCC
Counselling Process Making the decision to seek out counselling is a courageous step towards healing. Often people hesitate to seek out counselling because they feel it is a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it is a... Read more

Tara Azimi

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with over 12 years of experience. I’m also completing a PhD where I collaborate on research projects on diabetes, domestic abuse... Read more

Paula Bude

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Paula Bude (MEd., C.C.C., R.C.C., C.Hyp.) is asking you to consider: "what if this imperfect moment is the gateway into everything I want?".  Therapy with Paula is an invitation to deepen... Read more