Kate Swaney

Hey, I’m Kate! I’m a Vancouver-based Registered Clinical Counsellor offering in-person and virtual therapy for adults and older teens. I have specialized training in disordered eating, complex trauma, and relationship transitions, including separation and divorce. I provide warmth and compassion coupled with evidence-based approaches to help you navigate life's small moments in search of the big picture.

What to expect when working with me? Compassion, empathy, and just a little bit of laughter.

My approach.

The foundation of my counselling approach is authenticity. Our first few sessions will focus on building safety and connection, and I will want to learn as much about you and your experience as I can.

I find that therapy naturally changes alongside you, and I will be attuned to your readiness for change throughout our work together. At the start, I find that clear and concise practices can be helpful to increase motivation. This includes CBT, nervous system regulation, and take-home activities. Later, and as our relationship strengthens, more intensive modalities may be helpful, such as Internal Family Systems and parts work, experiential emotional processing (AEDP), and trauma-processing interventions.

Working with body image.

Our relationships with our bodies can be incredibly complicated. If you've been hurt or have suffered trauma, there's a good chance that your body is not a place of comfort. I will help you establish safety and respect within your body, while unraveling harmful beliefs and behaviours. 

I hold a body neutral stance in my work and personal life. It is unfair to demand unconditional 'love' and 'celebration' of the body when it has potentially been a source of pain for many people. Body positivity and love can be a part of your wellness path, but it is not a prerequisite. Instead, I propose body acceptance, respect, and neutrality. I reject and challenge the anti-fat biases in the medical system, and believe that bodies of all sizes deserve equitable care.

Self-Esteem, perfectionism, and self-worth.

Many people come to therapy looking to improve their self-esteem and confidence. Sometimes this is coupled with a feeling that ‘people-pleasing’ and ‘perfection-seeking’ are the only ways we can be accepted and appear ‘good enough’ in our daily lives. Does this sound familiar? 

Working together, we will explore ways to release these stuck beliefs and embrace your authentic self. This can be a challenging process, because it means taking off the mask that has felt protective for so long. I will walk beside you through this process, as you navigate finding ways to stop pleasing others at the expense of your own worth and happiness. 

My counselling services.

I offer individual counselling virtually across BC, and in-person in the Fairview/Kitsilano area of Vancouver. I typically recommend weekly or bi-weekly sessions to begin, with a reduced appointment cadence further into our work together.