About Me

When working with people, I like to shine a light on new perspectives and reconnect clients with their sense of self.

I am a strong believer that we are all doing the best we can with the tools that are available to us and am constantly inspired by the ways my clients navigate impossibly difficult situations. I strive to create an environment where people can explore how their responses make sense in the context they are in, and also how to reconnect with their intuitive knowing and sense of self.

I've always found so much solace in storytelling.

The ways we can have such rich, detailed, complicated lives full of context that is so often ignored. Growing up, storytelling was my favourite way to cope with all sorts of things—writing is still my favourite way to keep in touch with my creative side.

The great news (for me) is that counselling can be a lot like writing, and I’m so inspired by my clients’ stories. All of our lives hold such important, nuanced, complex stories that deserve to take up space and be told.

And you deserve to be the author of your own life’s story.

A bit more about me as a counsellor:

-I've been working in the helping field since 2014, and graduated from City University of Seattle with a Master's of Counselling in 2019. I regularly access supervision & additional training around topics such as interpersonal violence, neurodivergence, and trauma-informed care.

-I am an ADHD’er, and love this part of who I am. After joining the late diagnosis club, I started my journey of ‘unmasking’ (aka, recognizing & unlearning really painful messages about how we show up in the world). I am so passionate about recognizing and divesting from oppressive systems, and my counselling approach is neurodivergent-affirming. I want to help you brainstorm systems that work for you & your unique needs. I want you to know that you are not broken.

-As a neurodivergent counsellor, it is important to me that our counselling space is inclusive! I like to have fidgets available for us to use during session, and we can always talk about how to make our space feel the most comfortable (i.e. level of eye contact, sitting on the floor, doing an activity while we talk, etc.).

-I’m a big systems thinker, and am always mindful of how mental health struggles tend to make a lot more sense when understood as responses to oppressive systems. I like to ask lots of questions to understand your unique context—the stories and inner worlds that others may not get to see.

-Outside of work, I spend lots of my time hanging out with my dog. Please feel free to bring pictures of your pets to session—I do want to see them!

My Approach

Response-Based Practice

I use questions that gather details about the context (the who/what/when/where) of your experience. This theory believes that when we experience violence, oppression, or other hard things, we always resist. Sometimes that resistance is really clear, and other times it is very subtle. Using this theory helps address feelings of guilt and shame head-on, so you can stop wondering What if I did more?

Health At Every Size

All bodies are welcome. I will never ask you to change your body or comment on your body. HAES accepts and respects the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes, and upholds that all folks are deserving of inclusive care, respect, and dignity.

Trauma-Informed

All parts of you are welcome in the counselling space. I have to earn the right to hear your story, and take great care to prioritize creating a space where you can feel heard and comfortable.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

ACT helps us stay focused on the present moment, accept thoughts and feelings without judgment, and hold empathy for ourselves.

Ciara Harte