Associate CounsellorRoxanne Hahn, RTC
About
** I am currently accepting new clients (in-person and online) for individual counselling.
I am a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC #3128) and a member of the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT).
My desire is to create a safe space for you to explore your inner world while being an objective guide. The expectations of society may seem overwhelming at times; getting a job, going to school and fitting in socially. Together, we can find the tools that suit your unique person to help you navigate through this world with more ease.
I offer counselling for children (ages 7+), teens and adults in the following areas:
- Anxiety and Depression
- Grief and Loss
- Self Esteem and Self Worth
- Self-Harm
- Body Image
- Life Transitions (immigration, career change, etc.)
- Post-Addiction Recovery
- Relationship Struggles (attachment, communication, boundaries, family dynamics)
- Navigating non-conventional relationships, including polyamory
- Social media use and addiction
- Neurodiversity challenges and integration for all ages (autism, ADHD etc.)
- Trauma – both childhood and intergenerational
- 2SLGBTQIA+ Positive Counselling
- Chronic Health Struggles
- Bullying
- Behavioural Problems
- Building Social Skills
- Academic Challenges
About Me
I was born in South Africa and from the ages of four to 16, I experienced many challenges, particularly in my childhood home. My initial caregivers were people that I could not look up to provide safety, presence and affection during significant developmental stages of my life. This left me feeling unsafe and gave me a negative outlook on the world. I assumed people always had bad intentions, and that I had to work or perform to receive love. To protect myself from these worries I became hypervigilant, constantly scanning my surroundings for potential threats. The energy I used to self-protect began to impact my relationships. I had a difficult time connecting with people as my mind was always preoccupied with what could go wrong.
After South Africa, I spent half of my childhood in the United Kingdom followed by a move back to South Africa in my early teen years, and a final move to BC at age 15. While I can feel gratitude for these experiences today, immigrating multiple times in those younger years had a variety of challenges and impacts. Adapting to new cultures every few years meant leaving friends behind and I often felt like an outsider, constantly learning how to fit in.
Since my early twenties I have embarked on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth, which began by questioning: what causes us to react the way that we do to our external environment? I attended workshops that helped me connect with myself and my body, allowing me to become more present and not get caught up in my thoughts. I gently peeled back the protective walls that I had built to keep me from feeling the pain and shame, which began in my shaky childhood. I found comfort in yoga and its teachings and discovered a lot about myself during many solo travels exploring the world.
I found that the world wasn’t that scary after all, and it was how I nurtured myself and my relationships that created the safety and connection that I craved. This realization led me to pursue a career in counselling, as I want to support people in finding that connection to themselves and others as I did.
I am passionate about using the knowledge that I have acquired from my educational and life experience, to help others feel liberated enough to live into their fullest authenticity.
Counselling Philosophy / Therapeutic Approach
I have an anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach to counselling, which is grounded in the understanding that trauma exposure can impact an individual’s neurological, biological, psychological and social development.
My intention is to build a trusting relationship with you where I can provide support and help you have insight into your unique needs and motivations. I also want to help you work with any internal and external barriers that may be holding you back from living the life that you desire.
I believe we all have the innate wisdom to find our way and having a compassionate, trained counsellor can help make the way become more clear.
My approach is informed by a number of counselling modalities which include:
- Bowen Family Systems (exploring the complex interactions between family members)
- Internal Family Systems (befriending all parts of ourselves)
- Transpersonal Theory (integrating the spiritual and transcendent aspects of the human experience)
- Attachment Theory (exploring the effects of early caregiver relationships, on social emotional development)
- Person Centred Therapy
- Play Therapy
Specialized Niche: Neurodiversity
Children: I support children 7+ with a focus on a variety of challenges, including self-esteem, social skills, bullying, anxiety, depression, and behavioural issues. I have almost 5 years of professional experience working with neurodiverse children, creating a safe space for them to learn and grow through role-playing, storytelling, and play.
Teens: I support neurodivergent teens in navigating a neurotypical social world, with a focus on social cues, social skills and expectations from family and friends. We may also explore areas such as creating a solid sense of self and finding a balance between connection and autonomy.
Adults: I offer a safe and welcoming space for neurodivergent adults to discover and celebrate their authenticity and grow their sense of empowerment. I support adults in some of the following areas: social and relational skills, building executive functioning skills and understanding sensory needs.
Experience, Education & Training
- Addictions Counselling Skills Certificate, Vancouver Career College (2013)
- Diploma of Professional Counselling, Vancouver College of Counselor Training (2018-2019)
- Bowen Family Systems Training, Living Systems (2020-2022)
- Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher Training, Yoga Outreach (2021)
- Yoga Therapy Training, International Association of Yoga Therapy (2023-2025)
Availability
I am available for in-person and online sessions on Mondays from 2pm-8:30pm, Tuesdays from 9am-1:30pm and Fridays from 11:15am-5pm.
Session Prices
Individual Counselling: $135 including GST for 60 minutes | $190 including GST for 90 minutes