Carolyn Heppner

I’m Carolyn Heppner, a Registered Clinical Counsellor and EMDR Certified Therapist with 20 years of counselling experience. I offer individual and couples counselling in Maple Ridge and online across BC.

My Approach

I bring a calm, grounded presence alongside warmth, honesty and room for humour. You can speak openly with me, including about things you’ve felt ashamed of or worried someone might judge. I’m also someone you can laugh with and feel comfortable being yourself around.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before coming to therapy. We can talk about what’s been difficult and make sense of it together. There is room to work through what still hurts, even if you don’t yet understand why it affects you the way it does.

How we work together depends on you and what you need. Some sessions may focus on something you’re facing now. At other times we may spend more time with experiences that still feel unresolved.

Personal values, meaning and spirituality are welcome in our conversations when they matter to you. I welcome people of all genders, sexual orientations and relationship structures.

EMDR Therapy

Past experiences can continue to affect how you feel about yourself or respond to situations today. The connection isn’t always obvious, and you don’t need to have a particular memory in mind before we can explore whether EMDR might help.

EMDR is a central part of my practice. We may use it to work through painful experiences and beliefs such as “I’m not good enough,” “I’m not safe” or “I’m powerless.”

Couples Counselling

You may care deeply about each other but feel caught in repeating arguments or a growing distance. I support couples who want to feel closer and find a different way of responding to each other. My work draws on Gottman Method training and Emotionally Focused Therapy.

I bring warmth and humour to this work, and I can be direct when it helps. I care about understanding each of you beyond the argument itself, including what you’ve been trying to get through to each other.

Areas of Focus

• Trauma, PTSD and the lasting effects of painful experiences
• Anxiety, panic and overwhelm
• Self-esteem, self-criticism and feeling not good enough
• Couples communication and connection
• Perimenopause, menopause and midlife changes
• Pregnancy, postpartum and adjustment to parenthood
• Life transitions, identity changes and burnout
• Grief and loss
• People-pleasing and difficulty setting boundaries

Qualifications

I hold a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia and am certified in EMDR therapy through EMDRIA. I have completed advanced EMDR training and consultation beyond foundational training. My ongoing learning also includes trauma, attachment and parts work.

Location and Appointments

In-person sessions are available at Orenda Wellness in central Maple Ridge, welcoming clients from Pitt Meadows, Mission and surrounding communities. Online sessions are available across BC.

Please email to ask about counselling an