Deanna Smith, RTCshe/her
Counsellor
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Also available by telehealth: British Columbia
Stop feeling so stressed, change old patterns, and build relationships that feel good to be in.
About
You may look like you’re holding it together, but inside you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or far from yourself. Maybe you keep putting everyone else first, reacting in ways you don’t like, or wondering why the same patterns keep showing up. You may even understand where some of this comes from and still find yourself repeating it. In relationships, you may care deeply about each other but feel stuck in the same fight, disconnected, or unsure whether to work on the relationship or separate.
Therapy with me is part conversation, part problem-solving, and part gently uncovering the patterns underneath it all. We’ll get curious about the emotions, needs, old beliefs, and protective strategies that show up, then find practical ways to respond differently. I also work with men who want to better understand anger, shutdown, and relationship patterns.
I believe therapy should feel like a real conversation, not a cold clinical interview. I’m warm, curious, and direct when it’s helpful. There’s room for all of you here, even if you don’t have the right words yet. Finding the right therapist in Nanaimo can feel overwhelming, and there are SO many on this website! Trust your gut, you’ve got this :)
Specialties
- Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Couples therapy
- Stress management
- Life transitions
- Spirituality
- LGBTQ+ identity
- Family conflict
Approaches
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Somatic / body-based
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Psychodynamic
- Narrative therapy
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Mindfulness-based
- Gottman method
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Works with
- Adults
- Couples
- Older adults
- LGBTQ+
- Families
- Working professionals
Sessions
Languages
- English
Logistics
- Fees
CA$165per session
Individual sessions $165/60 min, couple sessions $265/90 min.
- Insurance
Accepts: TELUS Health
Insurance coverage depends on your specific plan. I recommend checking your policy details or contacting your provider to confirm benefits & insurance coverage.
Licensed or authorized in
Frequently asked questions
- Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?
- Yes. Evening appointments are available Monday-Wednesday. Every other Saturday morning is also available.
- I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help. Isn’t this just more talking?
- You won’t just talk, and I won’t just listen. Together we figure out what’s going on underneath the surface. You’ll leave sessions with insights, practical tools, and support that’s specific to you. Many clients say things like, “I never thought of it that way” or “That really helped.” Real change is possible.
- I don’t even know what’s wrong. I just don’t feel like myself.
- That’s something I hear a lot. You might feel off, flat, short-tempered, or just not like you. Maybe you’re tired of pretending everything’s fine. That feeling is worth paying attention to, and it’s a good place to begin.
- What if one of us is more ready for couples counselling than the other?
- That’s common. You don’t both have to arrive with the same level of comfort or certainty. What matters most is a willingness to be curious, to listen, and to try something different.
- Do you work with relationships that aren’t traditional couples?
- Yes. I work with couples, partners, co-parents, consensually non-monogamous relationships, and other relationship dynamics. I also work with parents and adult children who are trying to repair after hurt, distance, or estrangement.
Credentials
- Diploma, Transpersonal Therapeutic Counselling, Clearmind International, 2023
- Certificate, Opening to Grace: Relational Somatic Therapy, Opening to Grace, 2024