tasha johal

Tasha Johal, Registered Clinical Counsellor. Vancouver, BC

i value the importance of carrying compassion into my sessions so that my clients can explore and celebrate themselves. i believe in the capacity for meaningful, positive growth when the right environment is created.

i bring with me many years of experience working with mental health and a background in crisis intervention, deescalation, and distress management. my education has emphasized trauma, cultural identity, and interpersonal relations. i enjoy helping my clients cultivate an experience where they can work through stuck points, identify harmful patterns, and begin moving through the world in a way that does not cause more pain.

i am a South Asian woman of colour. i also bring with me the lived experience of navigating a bicultural identity. growing up within a culture that places stigma on mental health, i recognize the value of a space that allows someone to be seen.

i hope to create and hold this space for you.

  • you are your expert. although our work is collaborative, your needs and who you are ultimately guide the counselling process.

    i approach therapy holistically, through a trauma-informed lens. i do not focus solely on psychological diagnoses or the mind. our work together will explore who you are as a whole being.

    to ensure your counselling experience aligns with who you are, it is important for me to learn about your lived experience. for this reason, early on, our work may rely more heavily on family systems therapy.

    i emphasize culturally responsive therapy. in session, we will make space for discussions about your cultural background, beliefs, and perspectives.

    every client is unique. no two nervous systems are the same, so no technique is the same. i regularly incorporate a variety of therapeutic modalities into my work (e.g., somatics, mindfulness, CBT, emotion-focused, narrative). every session can be different, depending on (1) what your nervous system needs and (2) what your nervous system has capacity for.

  • Bachelor of Arts: Psychology, Minor in Family Studies, UBC

    Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University

    Post-Graduate Certificate in Global Mental Health: Trauma & Recovery, Harvard Medical School

    Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate, The Embody Lab

    Healing Trauma Master workshop, Dr. Peter Levine

    EFIT (Emotion-Focused Individual Therapy) & Trauma Level 1, Vancouver Island Centre for Emotionally Focused Therapy

    Social Inequality in Global Pandemics, University of British Columbia

    Nightmare and Anxiety Dreams in Times of Crisis, Dr. Leslie Ellis

    Introduction to Self-Compassion, Kristin Neff

    Sessions, Esther Perel

    Navigating the Ambiguity of New Relationships, Esther Perel

    Sex and Trauma, Allura Sex Therapy Centre

    Integrating Sex + Couples Therapy, Allura Sex Therapy Centre