4 Best Trauma Therapists Vancouver

At The Centre for Gay Counselling, our therapists specialize in providing online, trauma-informed, and queer-affirming counselling for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks.

Under certain circumstances, we may not be the right private practice to meet your mental health needs. Here are some examples where our counselling services may not be the ideal fit:

• You’re looking for therapy covered by ICBC or CVAP.

• You’d like free or sliding-scale Vancouver trauma counselling.

• You’d prefer a female-identifying trauma counsellor.

• You’re looking for in-person therapy in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Luckily, we’ve listed some Vancouver-based therapists below that incorporate these factors into their counselling services.

4 of the best Vancouver trauma counsellors:

1. Jordan Gruenhage (he/him)

With more than a decade of research and specialized training in 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health, Jordan is dedicated to addressing the unique challenges and experiences of queer men. He creates a warm, safe, and playful atmosphere that provides great comfort to clients.

Jordan specializes in assisting gay men to gain a deeper understanding of their emotions, heal from past traumas, and grow their sense of self-worth.

• Credentials: Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC).
• Education: Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, IFS Level 1, EMDR Basic Training, and Level 1 and 2 Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
• Google rating: 5/5
• Lumino health rating: 5/5
• Specialty areas: Trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD (CPTSD), emotion regulation, gay men’s mental health, 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health, sexual orientation, self-worth, self-esteem, family of origin issues, and shame.
• Learn more about Jordan

2. Rachel Moxham (she/her)

Relational, feminist, and psychodynamic lenses inform Rachel’s approach. She collaborates with clients to help them confidently and authentically engage with the world. Rachel often explores internal and interpersonal patterns that restrict possibilities with her clients. Her sessions are conversational, but her reflections and questions guide the conversation in new directions that clients might not typically go with friends or loved ones. Rachel often addresses paradoxes like the desire for freedom and stability or the need for growth and safety. She finds these paradoxes a productive place to challenge constricting narratives and foster growth.

• Credentials: Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC).
• Education: Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Sex Beyond Binaries: Re-envisioning Sex Therapy for Every Body, Kinky Mind and Body–The Psychobiology of Kink, San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and Non-Violent Communication Level 1.
• Lumino health rating: 5/5
• Specialty areas: Trauma, religious trauma, relationships, sexuality and eroticism, non-monogamy and polyamory, non-traditional family counselling, depression, anxiety, and grief.
• Learn more about Rachel

3. Cameron Grunbaum (he/him)

Cameron walks alongside clients, emphasizing compassion, teamwork, and respect. He supports emotional awareness and growth, offering feedback to help clients feel focused, confident, and calm. His approach combines evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). Cameron blends these different approaches, often starting with ACT and CBT to manage emotions, then moving to deeper transformational work focused on the root causes of issues using approaches like EFT and EMDR.

• Credentials: Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC).
• Education: Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, EMDR, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
• Google rating: 5/5
• Specialty areas: Trauma, PTSD, CPTSD, acute stress disorder (ASD), developmental trauma, men’s issues, anger management, highly sensitive people (HSP), introversion, stress management, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationships, and life transitions.
• Learn more about Cameron

4. Ravin Aulak (she/her)

While Ravin’s training and education are important aspects of her practice, she emphasizes the significance of human connection above any skills or techniques. Her lived experience, compassionate nature, and the unique qualities that make her who she is are brought into the therapy space to connect with the authentic and vulnerable parts of the self that her clients so courageously share in their work together. Ravin strives to create a safe space where clients feel deeply seen, heard, and empowered to heal.

• Credentials: Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC).
• Education: Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) & Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), and Lifespan Integration Level 2.
• Specialty areas: Trauma, adult children of immigrant parents & bi-cultural identities, anxiety & depression, body image & disordered eating, burnout, emotion regulation, grief & loss, parenting & caregiving, personal growth & meaning, and relationship difficulties.
• Learn more about Ravin

FAQs about trauma counselling:

How do I know if I need trauma counselling?

People typically seek trauma therapy after a traumatic event, series of traumatic events, or after recognizing they experienced childhood trauma.

Some common traumatic experiences include witnessing a traumatic event, experiencing a natural disaster, discrimination, childhood abuse, sexual violence, physical or sexual abuse, family violence, emotional abuse, death of a loved one, relationship ending/divorce, and health issues/injury.

Some typical trauma symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and feelings, low mood, depression, feeling overwhelmed, physical symptoms of stress and anxiety, panic attacks, nervous system dysregulation, and relationship issues.

Even if you don’t resonate with all the symptoms and experiences listed above, if you suspect you may benefit from counselling, it’s often worth scheduling a consultation with a counsellor to discuss your challenges further.

What type of counselling is best for trauma?

The best approaches for healing trauma tend to be process-oriented and go beyond traditional talk therapy. The most effective and common types of treatment for healing trauma are Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).

At The Centre for Gay Counselling, we’ve found that IFS and EMDR have been very successful for the types of mental health issues our 2SLGBTQIA+ clients are often feeling stuck with. For example, EMDR is usually most helpful for suffering related to acute or single-incident trauma. In contrast, IFS is typically better for complex trauma (CPTSD) because you can explore with nuance, pacing, and compassion.

What is the difference between a therapist and a trauma therapist?

The primary difference between a general or “regular” therapist and a trauma therapist is the therapist’s education, experience, training, and credentials. A trauma therapist is likely to be trained in one of the approaches to trauma therapy listed above and have a good understanding of different theories related to trauma.

Our counsellors at The Centre for Gay Counselling have extensive experience helping clients who feel stuck find relief. They also take a holistic and hope-filled approach to helping their clients informed by their training in EMDR and IFS.

Is therapy worth it for trauma?

You may be wondering if counselling for trauma is worth it, especially if you’ve tried therapy before and found that it didn’t help. If you haven’t worked with a therapist who specializes in trauma before, these are some of the expected benefits:

• Identify triggers.
• Establish a sense of safety in your mind and body.
• Develop practical coping skills and tools.
• Lower traumatic symptoms.
• Process and integrate traumatic memories, feelings, thoughts, and sensations.

Each person’s psychotherapy journey is unique, so it’s essential to have a sense of what you’re hoping to get out of the counselling process and find a counsellor who can support you with your counselling goals.

Get the support you need to heal from trauma.

At The Centre for Gay Counselling, we deeply believe in the inherent value and potential of every person in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Our mission is to help you get unstuck and achieve greater well-being through trauma-informed and 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming therapy.

Our clients’ resilience and stories inspire us daily. It’s a true privilege to support our 2SLGBTQIA+ peers in improving their lives and relationships so that they can enjoy life more.

Ready to start? Click the button below to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with one of our counsellors. It’s an opportunity to connect with your therapist and develop a plan to start improving things.