Vanya offers counselling sessions for youth, families and adults to explore and expand their relationship to the natural world, while creating a therapeutic environment through evidence-based counselling practices. Vanya provides support for folks who are looking for an alternative approach to office-based counselling services.

Why Nature-based counselling?
Nature-based counselling is an experiential form of therapy because we are engaging with the natural world to help us grow and develop with the idea that people are connected to and impacted by their natural environment. We often use therapeutic games, reflection questions, sensory experiences, mindfulness practices, and regulation/restorative activities to help clients meet their needs and overcome challenges.

Who is it for?
Nature-based Services are for youth (6+), teens, adults and families who enjoy an outdoor, nature-based approach. There is an indoor office or possibilities to meet up online due to inclement weather or to build confidence and rapport before taking the sessions outdoors. Many folks seek out our services because they have exhausted the indoor, office setting approach or because they already feel more comfortable outside.

In-person, office-based sessions are currently available on Fridays at Vanya's office near Quadra Village.
 
Counselling can support your personal development by responding to your particular circumstances, whether integrating and processing anxiety, grief/loss, trauma/PTSD, family or relationship challenges, stress/burnout, life transitions, or disconnection from self and the natural world. Our counsellors help you recognize and build on the strides you’ve already made in your life’s journey while helping you develop more skills to navigate the challenges.

Our counselling services are informed by research and practice in wholeness-focused, trauma-informed, somatic/body-oriented, mindfulness-based, and nature connected approaches for adults, families and youth ages 6+.