Understanding what you're carrying
Trauma can be louder than words, or barely a whisper
It can show up as a memory you can't shake, a pattern you keep falling into, or a vague sense that something is off even when nothing seems "wrong." Traumatic experiences shape how we feel in our bodies, how we relate to others, and how safe we feel as we move through everyday life. For many people, past trauma quietly affects their relationships, emotions, and sense of self for years before they connect the dots.
Counselling offers a space to slow down, take a breath, and start untangling things, one thread at a time, at a pace that works for you.
Different kinds of difficult experiences
Trauma doesn't come in one shape. You might recognize yourself in more than one of these, or in none of the labels at all. What matters is that your experience is real and deserves care.
"Big T" trauma
Significant, often single-incident traumatic events that feel clearly distressing and are hard to forget, such as accidents, loss, assault, or witnessing something overwhelming. These are the kinds of experiences most people picture when they think of post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Little t" trauma
Smaller, more personal experiences that still leave a mark, ongoing criticism, relationship challenges, chronic stress, or feeling unseen for a long time. These experiences are just as real and just as worthy of support.
Accumulated trauma
The build-up of many smaller experiences over time, like paper cuts. Think of adverse childhood experiences, prolonged stress, or ongoing difficult circumstances. Each one feels manageable, but over time, the weight becomes hard to carry.
Vicarious trauma
Being affected by repeated exposure to others' traumatic experiences. Common in caregivers, healthcare workers, first responders, and anyone in a helping role, including family members who have supported a loved one through something deeply difficult.
You don't need a label to ask for help
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a diagnosis that can be genuinely useful, especially when navigating the medical system or accessing workplace support. For some people, having a name for what they're experiencing brings a real sense of relief.
For others, the label doesn't quite fit, or it feels like it reduces something complicated to a clinical category. That's okay too.
You don't need a diagnosis, a referral, or a clearly defined "reason" to reach out. The focus of our work is on your experience and what actually helps, not what you call it. PTSD symptoms exist on a spectrum, and many people who have experienced trauma don't meet the full diagnostic criteria but still benefit enormously from support.
Trauma can make you feel like you're never quite safe
PTSD symptoms can affect a person's ability to function in everyday life in ways that aren't always obvious to others. Sometimes they show up in obvious ways: flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive trauma memories, or strong reactions that seem to come out of nowhere. Other times it's quieter, a pull toward avoidance, a feeling of numbness, feeling overwhelmed by small things, or an exhausting need to stay in control.
Anxiety, depression, and unhealthy behaviours like disordered eating or substance use can also develop as ways of coping when the nervous system has been under prolonged stress. These aren't character flaws; they're signs that something needs attention.
Whether your experience is loud or subtle, recent or years old, big or small by anyone else's measure, it deserves care. All forms of trauma can meaningfully affect your relationships, your mental health, and your quality of life.
You don't have to wait until things feel unbearable to reach out. If something is getting in the way of how you want to live, that's enough of a reason.
Thoughtful, purposeful pacing
Trauma counselling at Inner Sphere Wellness is built on a trauma-informed foundation. That means safety, choice, and pacing are never an afterthought; they're woven into every session. We don't ask you to simply relive traumatic memories; there's always a clear intention behind the work.
Our approach is evidence-based and draws from a range of therapies that have been shown to support healing from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. We tailor your therapy based on need. Generally, we follow a three-stage model, though it's never linear:
Stage 1: Safety and stabilization. Before anything else, we focus on building a sense of steadiness, both inside the sessions and in your day-to-day life. This includes developing practical coping skills for nervous system regulation, grounding, and emotional support, so you feel resourced before we move into deeper work.
Stage 2: Processing the experience If it makes sense for you to talk directly about your trauma, we explore what happened in a way that feels manageable, not overwhelming. The goal is understanding and meaningful change, not re-living. Depending on what fits, this may involve approaches like cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), or somatic work.
Stage 3: Integration and moving forward The final stage is about reshaping how the experience fits into your story, reconnecting with who you are, and building a life that feels like yours again. This is where we focus on building resilience, strengthening relationships, and improving functioning in your day-to-day life.
Working with both story and body
We take an integrative approach to trauma counselling, which means we don't rely on a single method. Instead, we blend different evidence-based approaches from individual therapy depending on what fits you best. Our registered clinical counsellors (RCC) are trained across a range of modalities and will work collaboratively with you to find what helps.
Narrative and parts-based approaches Exploring your story, the meaning you've made from your experiences, and the different parts of you that have developed in response. Internal Family Systems (IFS) is one example of this kind of work, helping you understand the patterns and protective responses that developed in response to past trauma. This work helps you find a way to hold your past without being held back by it, and to build a more authentic relationship with yourself.
Somatic approaches Trauma lives in the body as much as the mind. Somatic therapy, including sensorimotor psychotherapy, supports nervous system regulation, body-based processing, and learning to feel safe in your own skin again. For people who feel anxious, shut down, or disconnected from their physical sense of self, this can be especially grounding.
Cognitive approaches For some people, working directly with thought patterns and beliefs is the most useful entry point. Cognitive therapy approaches, including cognitive processing therapy and elements of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), can help shift the unhelpful patterns that develop after trauma and build more effective coping skills.
We also offer EMDR therapy (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) as an option for some clients. EMDR is a well-researched, evidence-based psychotherapy specifically designed for processing traumatic memories and has strong support as a PTSD treatment. Learn more about EMDR at Inner Sphere.
We work with a wide range of people
Supporting adults and teens navigating trauma is at the heart of what we do. Here's a rough sense of who we work with:
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Adults and teenagers navigating trauma or PTSD, whether it's recent or something that's been with you for a long time
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People experiencing accumulated or chronic stress, including those with a history of adverse childhood experiences
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Individuals in caregiving, healthcare, or helping roles who are carrying vicarious trauma or experiencing anxiety and depression as a result
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Anyone who feels stuck in patterns, reactions, or relationship challenges connected to past experiences
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People who have never used a label like "trauma" for what they've been through, but sense that something needs attention
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Non-binary, trans, and queer individuals looking for affirming, non-judgmental support
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We offer in-person sessions in downtown Squamish and virtual sessions for clients across BC. No matter where you're starting from, you're welcome here.
Talk to Someone Who Understands
Sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to start. Ceilidh and Sapphire both specialize in trauma and PTSD, and they're here to help you untangle things, one thread at a time, at a pace that feels right for you.
Some things people often ask
Not at all. You share what feels right, at the pace that feels right. There's no expectation that you walk in and recount every traumatic event from the beginning. We take our time, build a sense of safety first, and follow your lead. Most people find that even a few sessions begin to shift something.
No. Avoiding re-traumatization is central to how we work. Processing trauma memories is different from re-experiencing them, and our goal is always to help you move through things in a way that feels manageable. Evidence-based approaches like EMDR and somatic therapy are specifically designed to support processing without flooding the nervous system.
This is one of the most common things we hear, and it makes sense. Many of us have been implicitly (or explicitly) told that what happened to us wasn't that big a deal. But impact doesn't require a certain level of severity. If a past experience is affecting your mental health, your relationships, or your daily life, it matters. Full stop.
It depends entirely on the person. EMDR is well-researched and very effective for many people, especially when processing specific traumatic memories or events. Cognitive therapy and narrative approaches work better for others. Some clients benefit from a blend of both. We'll explore what makes sense for you as we get to know your experience.
It's genuinely different for everyone. Some people create meaningful change in a focused, shorter course of sessions, sometimes within a few weeks, for a more specific concern. Others work over a longer period, especially when trauma has accumulated over many years or is woven into longstanding patterns. We won't give you a number just to give you one; instead, we'll keep checking in on how things are going and what you need.
Yes. Anxiety and depression are among the most common experiences that show up alongside trauma and PTSD. Our mental health professionals are experienced in supporting clients who are managing multiple concerns at once, and we take a whole-person approach to treatment.
Registered Clinical Counsellor
& Registered Dietician
I work with...
Adults​, Youth (Age 12+), Families,
Parental support for children (age 5+)
No matter your background, identity, or where you are in your journey, you're welcome here.
The Outdoor Adventurer
Living for the next summit, ride, or backcountry challenge? Therapy helps make sense of the internal terrain that's present on every adventure, supporting you through future challenges.
The Homebody
Yes, you exist — even in Squamish! Not everyone's seeking adrenaline rushes. Your quiet, interior world is just as worth exploring.
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Women in the In-Between
Not quite in your 20s anymore, but "middle-aged" doesn't fit either. We offer a feminist, life-stage-aware approach to reclaiming this rich (often under-supported) era. Health, hormones, menopause, and so much more.
The Expat
Straddling cultures, missing home, navigating a new normal — therapy can be a grounding space where you don't have to translate yourself. Whether you're bringing British dry humour or longing for a deeper connection, we get it.
Caregivers, Parents & Helping Professionals
Burnout, compassion fatigue, emotional labour — if you spend your life holding others up, it's okay to need space to be held too.
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First Responders
You manage high-stress, trauma-exposed roles and still have a personal life to juggle. Therapy offers a confidential space to unpack both.
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Entrepreneurs & Business Folks
High-pressure work, leadership stress, impostor syndrome — therapy helps navigate the emotional weight behind high-stakes decisions and carve out that elusive work/life balance.
The "Lost Soul"
Maybe you were the Peter Pan type — seasonal work, freedom, no fixed plans. Now you want more… but you're not sure what "more" looks like. We can work with that.
The Neurospicy Crew (ADHD, Autism & Beyond)
Fast brains, unique wiring, quirky strengths — we get it. We help you better understand your brain, build on your strengths, and explore how this fits with relationships, work, and wellbeing.
Men
We know therapy can feel unfamiliar. We offer a style that suits you — whether that's private space for deep emotional work, something more grounded and pragmatic, or support accessing emotions that aren't always easy to reach.
Queer, trans, non-binary, or questioning
Whether you're out, exploring, or somewhere in between, therapy can be a space where you don't have to explain the basics. Your identity isn't up for debate — just show up as you are, and we'll meet you with curiosity and care.
Living in a body that's disabled, chronically ill, or outside the thin ideal
Whether you're navigating access barriers, medical gaslighting, or trying to rest without guilt — your body isn't the problem. Therapy is a place to be heard, supported, and real — no fixing required.
Indigenous, First Nations, and Métis
We know therapy exists within systems shaped by colonialism. Our aim is to offer space rooted in respect — for your lived experience, your knowledge, and your definition of healing.
BIPOC folks in mostly white spaces
Code-switching, cultural load, intergenerational weight — it's exhausting. Therapy can be a space where you don't have to translate or shrink your experience to fit.
Trauma & PTSD Counselling Squamish
Sometimes something happens, and the world shifts. Sometimes it accumulates slowly, quietly, until you don't quite feel like yourself anymore. Either way, you don't have to make sense of it alone. Our registered clinical counsellors offer trauma counselling and PTSD treatment in a compassionate space where healing can begin at your own pace.