Expert In-Person Therapy (Nanaimo) Services in Canada

Step 1: Making Your First Connection

Taking the first step toward counselling takes courage. We understand this. At Bee Here Counselling, we've designed our initial contact process to feel welcoming and supportive from the very beginning.

What to Expect

Your journey begins with a free 15-minute consultation. This brief conversation allows you to meet Melissa Davies, our registered clinical counsellor, without any commitment or pressure. Think of it as a gentle introduction where you can share what brings you to counselling and ask any questions you might have.

During this consultation, you'll discover how we work together. We'll discuss your needs briefly. You'll get a sense of whether our approach feels right for you. This conversation can happen in person at our Nanaimo office, over the phone, or through a video call, whatever feels most comfortable for you.

How to Reach Out

We offer several ways to connect with us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Online Booking: Visit our website to schedule your free consultation
• Phone: Call during business hours to speak with someone directly

What Happens Next

After your consultation, if you decide to move forward, we'll schedule your first full session. This intake appointment lasts about 50 minutes and serves as the foundation for your counselling journey. You'll complete some intake forms that help us understand your background and current concerns. We'll discuss your goals. Together, we'll begin mapping out how counselling can support you.

Our office is located at 1601 Bowen Road in Nanaimo, offering a warm and welcoming space for in-person sessions. If you prefer, we also provide online and phone sessions to accommodate your needs and comfort level.

Preparing for Your First Contact

Before reaching out, it might help to think about what you hope to gain from counselling. Consider any questions you have about the process. Remember, there's no need to have everything figured out before you call. That's exactly what we're here to help you with.

If you have extended health benefits, gather your insurance information. We offer direct billing with many providers, including First Nations Health Authority, Pacific Blue Cross, Green Shield Canada, and SunLife, among others.

Frequently Asked Questions

You're Not Alone

Many people feel uncertain about their first contact with a counsellor. This is natural. We honour wherever you are in your journey and whatever has brought you to consider counselling. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, grief, trauma, or simply seeking personal growth, we're here to support you with compassion and understanding.

Your healing matters. Your story matters. And taking this first step, even if it feels small, is actually quite significant. We're here when you're ready.

Step 2: Assessment & Goal Setting

Your intake session is where we begin mapping your unique healing journey together. This isn't about fitting you into a box. It's about understanding your story, your strengths, and what you hope to achieve through counselling.

What to Expect During Your Assessment

We'll spend about 50 minutes getting to know each other. I'll ask thoughtful questions about your current concerns, your background, and what brought you to counselling today. You might complete some brief questionnaires that help me understand how you're feeling about things like mood, anxiety, or stress levels. These aren't tests you can pass or fail. They're simply tools that give us both a clearer picture of where you're starting from.

Some people worry about being judged during assessment. Let me ease that concern right away. This process is entirely collaborative. You're the expert on your own experience, and I'm here to listen, understand, and work alongside you.

Setting Goals Together

Goal setting happens naturally as we talk. Maybe you want to feel less anxious in social situations. Perhaps you're hoping to process a difficult experience. Or you might be seeking better ways to manage stress or improve relationships. Whatever brings you here is valid and important.

We'll identify what success looks like for you personally. Short goals keep us focused. Medium length goals help us track meaningful progress over time. And sometimes we'll explore bigger picture aspirations that give your healing journey direction and purpose, helping you envision the life you want to create beyond our work together.

What to Bring and How to Prepare

Assessment Methods We Use

I use gentle, evidence based tools to understand your experience better. You might complete brief questionnaires about mood and anxiety levels. We'll explore your cultural background and how it shapes your perspective. I'll ask about your relationships, coping strategies, and what's worked well for you in the past.

These assessment approaches help me understand not just your challenges, but your incredible strengths and resilience. Every person brings unique wisdom to their healing process. My job is to recognize and build on what's already working in your life.

Creating Your Treatment Plan

Based on our conversation and assessment, we'll develop a flexible treatment plan together. This might include approaches like mindfulness techniques, cognitive strategies for managing difficult thoughts, or somatic practices that help you reconnect with your body's wisdom. If you're interested, we might also explore creative approaches like art therapy or holistic practices like Reiki.

Your plan will be uniquely yours. We can adjust it anytime as you grow and change through our work together.

Common Questions About Assessment

Will you diagnose me? Diagnosis isn't always necessary or helpful. We focus on understanding your experience and finding effective ways to support your wellbeing. If a formal diagnosis would be beneficial for treatment or insurance purposes, we'll discuss this together.

What if I don't know what my goals are? That's completely normal and perfectly okay. Many people start counselling feeling unclear about what they want. We'll explore this together, and your goals will become clearer as we work.

How long does assessment take? The formal intake is one 50 minute session, but assessment is really an ongoing process. We'll continue learning about what works best for you throughout our time together.

Remember, this is your space and your process. You set the pace. You choose what to share and when. My role is to provide a safe, culturally responsive environment where you can explore, heal, and grow at your own rhythm.

Step 3: Ongoing Therapy Sessions & Treatment

Your healing journey continues. Each session builds on the last, creating momentum toward your goals. We work together as partners in this process.

What Each Session Looks Like

Every session follows a gentle rhythm. We begin with connection. How are you feeling today? What's been happening since we last met? This check-in helps us understand where you are right now, in this moment.

The heart of our work happens next. Here, we dive deeper. We might explore your thoughts through cognitive behavioural approaches, helping you notice patterns that no longer serve you. Sometimes we'll use mindfulness techniques, grounding you in the present moment through breathwork or meditation. Art therapy might call to you, offering a way to express what words cannot capture.

Our sessions are flexible. Dynamic. Responsive to your needs. If you arrive feeling overwhelmed, we might focus on emotional regulation skills from dialectical behavioural therapy. When you're ready to explore deeper wounds, we'll use somatic approaches to help your body release what it's been holding.

Therapeutic Techniques We Use Together

Your treatment is uniquely yours. We draw from many approaches, selecting what resonates with your healing style and current needs.

• Mindfulness practices help you stay present and reduce stress through meditation and breathwork
• Cognitive approaches support you in identifying and shifting unhelpful thought patterns
• Emotional regulation skills teach you to navigate intense feelings with greater ease
• Creative expression through art therapy provides alternative ways to process experiences
• Body-based work including somatic therapy and energy work to release stored tension
• Strength-focused methods that build on your existing resilience and capabilities

Between-Session Support & Practice

Healing doesn't pause between appointments. We'll create meaningful homework that extends your progress throughout the week. These aren't assignments to stress about. They're invitations to practice new ways of being.

You might keep a gratitude journal. Simple. Three things each day that sparked appreciation. Or practice the mindfulness techniques we explore together, even for just five minutes. Some clients find thought tracking helpful, noticing patterns in their thinking without judgment.

Creative homework might include expressive writing or art. Movement practices like gentle yoga or walking meditation. Self-compassion exercises when your inner critic gets loud. Progressive muscle relaxation to ease anxiety.

Common Between-Session Activities:

• Daily mindfulness or breathing exercises
• Journaling for emotional processing and gratitude
• Practicing new communication skills in real situations
• Self-care planning and implementation
• Grounding techniques for managing difficult moments
• Creative expression through art, music, or writing

Tracking Your Progress

Growth isn't always linear. We'll notice the subtle shifts together. How you respond to stress differently. The way your relationships evolve. Your increasing ability to be present with difficult emotions.

We use simple check-ins to track how you're feeling about anxiety, depression, and overall wellbeing. No complicated forms or clinical jargon. Just honest conversations about what's improving and what still needs attention. You'll help guide these assessments, sharing what feels most important to measure.

Some weeks will feel like breakthroughs. Others might feel slower, more challenging. Both are part of healing. We celebrate the victories and hold space for the struggles, always moving toward your vision of wellness.

Your Role in This Partnership

You are the expert on your own experience. I bring the therapeutic tools and training. Together, we create something powerful. Your feedback shapes every session. Your pace determines our rhythm. Your goals guide our direction.

This collaborative approach means you're never a passive recipient of treatment. You're an active participant in your healing. We'll regularly check in about what's working, what isn't, and how we might adjust our approach.

Support Between Sessions

While our formal work happens during scheduled appointments, you're not alone between sessions. We'll establish clear communication boundaries that feel supportive without creating dependence. You'll know exactly how to reach out if you need guidance on practicing your homework or if questions arise about our work together.

For crisis situations, we'll create a safety plan that includes local emergency resources and crisis lines available 24/7 throughout British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.

Step 4: Progress Evaluation & Completion

This is your moment. The time when we pause together and truly see how far you've traveled on your healing journey. Progress evaluation isn't about reaching some perfect destination. It's about recognizing growth, celebrating resilience, and preparing for the path ahead.

Recognizing Your Progress

Growth happens in waves. Some changes feel dramatic and obvious. Others whisper quietly through your daily life, showing up as moments of calm where chaos once lived, or confidence where doubt used to reign.

We'll use several gentle assessment tools to measure your progress:

• Mood and anxiety questionnaires that track how you're feeling compared to when we first met
• Relationship and daily functioning scales that show improvements in your connections with others and daily activities
• Personal goal reviews where we celebrate the objectives you've achieved and acknowledge ongoing aspirations
• Your own reflective insights about changes you've noticed in yourself

Signs You're Ready for Completion

Readiness looks different for everyone. You might notice you're handling stress with tools that feel natural now. Relationships may feel more authentic and connected. Perhaps you're sleeping better, communicating more clearly, or simply feeling more like yourself again.

Common indicators include:

Creating Your Maintenance Plan

Healing isn't a destination you reach and never leave. It's an ongoing relationship with yourself that deserves continued attention and care. Together, we'll create a personalized maintenance plan that honors your unique needs and circumstances.

Your plan might include:

• Daily practices like mindfulness exercises, journaling, or movement that keep you grounded
• Weekly check ins with yourself using simple questions about your emotional and physical wellbeing
• Monthly goal reviews to ensure you're staying aligned with your values and aspirations
• Seasonal life assessments that help you adapt to changing circumstances and growth
• Crisis planning so you know exactly what to do and who to contact if you need immediate support

Ongoing Support Options

Completion doesn't mean goodbye forever. Think of it as graduation with an open door policy. Life brings new challenges, transitions, and growth opportunities. We're here when you need us.

Available support includes:

• Booster sessions for tune ups and skill refreshers
• Crisis appointments when life throws unexpected challenges your way
• Transition support during major life changes like career shifts, relationship changes, or family developments
• Annual wellness check ins to celebrate continued growth and address any emerging needs
• Referrals to specialized services if new needs arise that would benefit from different expertise

Celebrating Your Achievement

Take a moment to truly absorb this accomplishment. You showed up for yourself when it was difficult. You trusted the process when uncertainty felt overwhelming. You practiced new skills even when they felt awkward or challenging.

This isn't just about symptom reduction or meeting clinical benchmarks. This is about you reclaiming your life, your relationships, and your sense of possibility. You've developed tools that will serve you for years to come and insights that can't be taken away.

Your courage to seek support and commit to growth has created ripple effects that extend far beyond our sessions together. The relationships in your life, the work you do, and the way you move through the world all reflect this transformation.

Moving Forward with Confidence

As you step into this next chapter, remember that seeking support was a sign of strength, not weakness. The skills you've developed and the insights you've gained are now part of who you are. Trust yourself to use them.

Life will continue to present challenges and opportunities for growth. That's not a sign that therapy didn't work. It's a sign that you're living a full, engaged life. And now you have the tools and self awareness to navigate whatever comes your way.

We're proud of the work you've done and excited about the future you're creating. Remember, our door is always open, and your continued wellbeing matters to us deeply.