** I am currently accepting new clients for individual counselling. Please note that I offer online sessions only.

I am a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC #2406) and a member of the Association of Counselling Cooperative Therapists of Canada (ACCT). I have 17+ years of experience working in the fields of healing, addiction and trauma therapy with teenagers and adults. I offer online counselling for individuals in the following areas:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma & Developmental Trauma (physical, sexual, emotional)
• PTSD, including complex PTSD
• Addictions
• Men’s Issues
• Relationship Issues
• Anger Management
• Chronic Pain
• Grief & Loss
• Integration of Peak Experiences
• Therapy for Counsellors

About Me

Before I reached the age of 16, I experienced significant adversity and trauma – in particular the devastating death of a friend which had a deep impact on me. I carried this impact with me for over a decade, feeling stuck and unsure how to heal from the pain. I went numb to survive.

The turning point came at 30-years old when I experienced a 100-foot fall from a cliff. My ankle and foot were almost amputated. This ordeal shook up my physiology and opened up the trauma that was stuck in my body from many years ago. In response to this “shake up” my body began experiencing other serious health issues, I struggled in my relationships, and I knew I needed help to heal.

For more than a decade, I dedicated myself to recovery guided by the wisdom of somatic trauma therapy. I also did grief work, a 12-year Kriya yoga apprenticeship, and immersive retreats mentored by seasoned guides. Through this layered path of healing work, I was able to achieve enough physical and emotional recovery to allow me to reclaim the ability to play sports, find laughter, and engage in healthy trusting relationships again.

These transformative experiences fueled my commitment to becoming a relational somatic therapist. Propelled by the transformative impact of my own personal journey, I now guide others through their own sacred explorations of healing.

Counselling Philosophy / Therapeutic Approach

My specialty and primary training is in Relational Somatic Therapy (RST). This trauma-informed, body-based psychotherapeutic approach can easily be tailored to any challenge a client brings into session.

Somatic therapy is different from traditional talk therapy, which uses the “thinking brain” to sort things out. The somatic approach is based on mindfully witnessing the body and working with the nervous system. It is like an assisted self-awareness practice which gives you access to a different kind of knowing – the direct wisdom of the body.

From the somatic perspective, the body is seen as the holder of all memories and personal history – including recent and past traumas – which can manifest as chronic pain, flight, fight, freeze, and more. Through somatic therapy we have the opportunity to update any old stuck memories and trauma patterns held in the body to bring relief to what feels unyielding and painful.

The practice of connecting to your most authentic self requires courage, commitment and solid support. During sessions, I work with you to build trust and a sense of safety so that we can explore the challenges that you are facing together. No matter what you feel – overwhelmed, numb, afraid, angry, stuck, and more – I can help you make your way through.

Together we will explore your beliefs about who you are. We’ll look at the role you take in your relationships and in the world. We’ll also assess what serves you and what limits you. For instance, are you able to identify and communicate your needs? Do you have a clear sense of your boundaries? Are you able to enforce them or relax them depending on the situation?

Some of the outcomes and perspectives we can work towards together can include things like:

• Cultivating a positive self-view
• Seeing problems as solvable or at least manageable
• Maintaining a hopeful outlook
• Developing action steps in your life
• Taking action to nurture empowerment
• Looking for meaning in life and opportunities for self-discovery
• Learning how to expect and embrace change
• Learning how to find and sustain a healthy support system

My intention is to support you to learn to trust yourself and stand in your own power. It is from this place that your gifts will come alive and continue to unfold throughout your life.

I also enjoy incorporating elements of play and laughter into my sessions to further connect with my clients – sometimes, laughter really is the best medicine!

Areas of Passion

My passion is to help clients cultivate a new relationship with the pain they experience. We all hold pain, and by learning how to be in relationship to it and work with it (rather than resist it) we can utterly transform our relationship with ourselves and others.

I am skilled at working with clients in addiction recovery and love to offer long-term support and trauma healing for those on a recovery journey. I have experience supporting war veterans, first responders, residential school survivors, and extreme trauma survivors.

I am also passionate about attachment theory (how we learn to do relationships – consciously and unconsciously based on our experiences in our families of origin) and relational healing. I enjoy working with clients who are exploring personal growth and working through relationship issues. I can also help with examining and shifting your perspectives about sex, sexuality, and pleasure.

I’ve worked with hundreds of clients in my 17 years of counselling and addictions support work and I know that with commitment and support, healing is inevitable.

Client’s Words of Love

“I have been working with Davis for over a year now and I find his approach very aligned with my needs. While he seems quite intuitive, he is also very curious and careful not to make assumptions – he ensures that he asks me for clarification. These are all attributes I really value.”

“When I started working with Davis I was struggling with a number of physical issues that I felt were connected with unresolved trauma. In reflecting back on the past 15 months of work, I recognize that I have incorporated a number of positive changes in my life which has led to a significant reduction in physical pain as well as more connectedness with those around me.”

“I find myself more present and able to navigate the stresses and challenges of day to day life with more flexibility and resilience. I also appreciate being able to set the pace of our interactions and focus on items that are meaningful to me. However, there is also a respectful challenge by Davis to not avoid difficult topics either.”

Experience, Education & Training

Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC #2406) with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of BC (ACCT)

Relational Somatic Therapy Program, 2 year training with Opening to Grace led by Mariah Moser, 2016 – 2018

Assistant teacher for Relational Somatic Therapy training program, 2020-2021

Breathwork Coach & Educator, 12 year apprenticeship with Kriya Yoga master Prakesh Shankar Vyas, 1995-2007

Sunshine Coast Health Centre (SCHC) in Powell River, BC, Sober Recovery Coach, Somatic Counsellor, 2007-2023: Worked primarily with clients on a 1:1 basis providing counselling, self regulation tools and helping them walk towards a life of new meaning and purpose. Additionally, ran the Occupational Stress Injury Program for first responders and war veterans with PTSD.

MDMA Assisted Therapy Training Program with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, 2021 

Sober Recovery Coach Certification

Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training, Canadian Institute for Crisis Intervention

Suicide Intervention Training, Canadian Institute for Crisis Intervention

Crisis Intervention Training, Canadian Institute for Crisis Intervention

Availability

I am currently available for online sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30am – 4:00pm.

Session Prices

Individual Counselling: $150 including GST for 60 minutes | $210 including GST for 90 minutes