Daphne Gelbart

Daphne Gelbart, MA, RCC, is a Vancouver registered clinical counsellor (Registration Number 3290), a graduate of the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology and Special Education. Daphne has a scientific background at the masters level. An experienced practitioner, she supervises case consultation at the Oak Counselling Services Society.

Daphne provides evidence-based counselling to individuals, couples and families who experience stress, anxiety, depression, disrupted sleep, relationship difficulties, trauma or grief. Daphne has undergone extensive training in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and applies methods derived from cognitive behaviior therapy for insomnia (CBTi). Daphne has earned level 2 accreditation in dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) with special training in DBT skills. In Couple Therapy she was trained in the Gottman method, Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy and DBT.

Daphne is only available for virtual (online, remote) counselling via zoom, phone, email, text, and other secure video-conferencing applications.

Daphne is a consultation supervisor at Oak Counselling Services Society. She received a Counselling Services Award from the Jewish Family Service Agency of Vancouver and an Exceptional Contribution Award from Oak Counselling Services Society.

Daphne listens intently to clients' words and body language. Therapy starts with the "here and now". Therapist and client jointly discover patterns of fearful, sad, lonely, angry or stuck feelings and learn to make sense and accept their feelings without reverting to impulsive actions. Clients are encouraged to examine unhelpful assumptions, consider other ways of viewing the situation, and rediscover strengths, motivation and causes for optimism. Clients are introduced to mindfulness and other DBT skills, letting go of unhelpful behaviour and acquiring healthy coping skills. 

Couples prone to conflict and/or feeling distanced from each other, stuck, or in crisis, are helped to accept and embrace their differences, moderate overheated emotions, tolerate distress and see the “whole person”. In sessions, clients shed rigid patterns, open up and often rediscover softer emotions that help reconnect with partners. As communication opens, parties tend to feel less conflict or distance and come to terms with past sources of distress. This helps to rebuild trust, nourish intimacy and sexual feelings, communicate with greater warmth and solve problems, gaining a sense of well-being.

Families are helped to listen and communicate effectively, engage, accept differences, validate each other, value the whole person, regain trust and improve interpersonal skills. 

Communication skills are reviewed and practiced, helping clients overcome barriers, and take action towards achieving life goals, building and maintaining relationships, and feeling good.