Anna Pippus

Life isn't always easy. We experience repetitive cycles of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings that consume and deplete us. We may struggle to align our actions and reactions with our values. At times, we feel disconnected from ourselves and others. Sometimes our troubles are situational: life transitions, interpersonal difficulties, traumatic events, and other challenging situations knock us off kilter. Whatever's burdening you, I'm here to help you feel less alone and more empowered to navigate life's inevitable turbulence. Fundamentally, I view counselling as the work of personal growth, accelerating our ability to find and sustain joy, connection, and meaning.

I will meet you with compassion and understanding as together we explore where you're stuck. I draw on attachment, emotion, and mindfulness modalities in co-creating an approach with each unique client. Our work may involve developing self-awareness, attaining insights, processing wounds, defining goals, identifying strengths, softening into authenticity, and honing skills in the realms of thinking, emoting, behaving, and relating to others. My approach is trauma-informed, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive.

With couples, using evidence-based counselling techniques, I facilitate a dialogue to help partners enhance understanding and communicate more effectively—not only as speakers, but as listeners. When people understand themselves, their partners, and their relationship more deeply, solutions tend to emerge, and couples can move toward a more stable, connected relationship. 

I hold a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia and a master's in counselling psychology with distinction from Yorkville University. I also hold a juris doctor from the University of Toronto. I've completed specialized training in relationship counselling from the Gottman Institute (Level 1) and the Vancouver Centre for Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT Externship), and in parenting from the Neufeld Institute (Making Sense of Kids). 

On a personal note, I've been with my husband since 2009 and together we delight in parenting two kind, fun adolescents. I enjoy being active, learning about people, admiring the natural world, spending time with animals, going for long walks in interesting places, taking time for solitude and stillness, and creating and enjoying food, music, and design. I love being a therapist and I'm looking forward to nurturing, witnessing, and celebrating your growth.