Meet Shawna

Shawna Bergsma

Counselling Intern, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

CURRENTLY OFFERING LOW COST THERAPY

Feeling vulnerable and discussing deeply personal things can be terrifying; however, feeling lost, hurt, or out of control arguably feels worse. Engaging in therapy will likely be a big step for you; therefore, I will always prioritize offering a space that feels safe, respectful, and nonjudgmental. We may have had different life experiences, but I am committed to helping you feel listened to, respected, and supported during our time working together.

I have always been drawn to helping people. I have worked in community and hospital settings for over 17 years, supporting individuals and families struggling with mental health and addiction issues, life transitions, relationship conflict, intimate partner violence, grief and loss. My reason for helping others has always been pretty simple: I just want people to realize that they are worthy of having a great life, and that it is ok to not have all the answers. We can choose to allow life’s struggles to overwhelm us, isolate us, or prevent us from fully living, or we can fight back and become even better versions of ourselves in the process. I’d be honoured to help you discover this for yourself. I’m here to help.


Issues I treat:

  • life transitions
  • anxiety and depression
  • self-esteem/self-acceptance
  • grief and loss
  • coping skills and mindfulness
  • holistic wellness
  • setting healthier boundaries
  • communication issues
  • relationship difficulties
  • gender-based violence
  • school/workplace stress
  • challenging and changing negative beliefs

My approach:

I hold a lot of value in providing a safe, respectful, and nonjudgmental space for those I support. I don’t believe that there is one type of therapy that works for everyone; rather, I use a variety of tools depending on your unique needs and goals, based on models such as motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, humanistic therapy, and cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). My hope is that through therapy, you will learn how to feel more confident in yourself and your decisions, and that you are able to move in the direction where there is more peace and laughter rather than stress or pain. My goal for you is that you learn to recognize the importance of being kind and patient with yourself, of loving yourself, and of taking care of yourself in order to heal and thrive.

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