Samantha Short, MA, MSEd, RCCshe/her

I'm Samantha, Clinical Director of Calm Waters Counselling Collective, and I work with individuals, couples, and groups ages 16 and up. I'm not going to sugarcoat things: I believe good therapy is honest, warm, and practical. I draw on DBT, CBT, and a person-centered approach to help clients build real skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. I specialize in Borderline Personality Disorder, suicidal ideation, self-harm, depression, anxiety, and substance use, and I hold space for all of it without judgment.

My style is direct but caring. I'll challenge distorted thinking, name patterns I'm noticing, and also tell you 'I hear you' and 'you get to be upset about that.' I give credit where it's due, and I'm honest when something isn't working. I use pop culture references, humor, and real conversation because therapy doesn't have to feel stiff to be effective. I'm also queer-allied and sex-positive, and I work to make sure every client feels genuinely seen.

I run a team of skilled counsellors at Calm Waters, and together we offer individual sessions, couples counselling, and virtual skills groups including a DBT-based skills group and an anxiety skills group. Sliding scale options are available through our team. I'm also able to provide urgent support for those impacted by Tumbler Ridge. Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation and let's figure out if we're a good fit.