Emily Laing, MPCC-P, CPCA
Registered Professional Counsellor
Hi, I’m Emily,
Having grown up in Victoria, BC, I've always had a connection to Vancouver Island. After living in Vancouver for over a decade, I've recently made my way back. Coming back has given me a renewed appreciation for the place I grew up in and the life I've built along the way.
I think our experiences, relationships, and the roles we take on all influence how we see ourselves, but they don't tell the whole story.
I believe there’s more to you than what you've been through, the roles you take on, or the stories you've carried.
I’m interested in helping you develop a fuller understanding of yourself: how you’ve come to see yourself, the things you’ve adapted to, what matters to you, and what you might want for your life going forward.
My approach is collaborative, reflective, and down to earth.
I value open conversation and believe that understanding yourself more deeply can change how you experience your life.
I want to help you make sense of your experiences, recognize the patterns that have influenced you, and make room for parts of yourself you may have overlooked, questioned, or learned to hold back.
Who I Work With
I provide individual counselling for young adults, adults, and parents or caregivers, from different backgrounds, experiences, and stages of life.
I’m drawn to work with young adults and adults around identity, self-worth, people-pleasing, boundaries, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and the pressure it takes to keep everything together.
I commonly work with people looking for support with navigating:
Not sure where your concerns fit? That's okay. You don't need to know exactly what you need help with to reach out. We can talk about what's going on and figure out whether counselling might be a good fit.
My Approach
I’m interested in understanding how people came to be who they are, the patterns and coping mechanisms they’ve developed along the way, and whether these patterns are still working for them.
I draw from a variety of modalities, all tailored to what might be the best fit for you!
I might draw on CBT to gently question unhelpful thinking patterns or use DBT skills to build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and more intentional responses to difficult situations. I want to support people to understand how their experiences might be held in the body and shape how they feel, respond, and relate to the world.
I view people as more than their suffering. I aim to understand the whole person–their strengths, relationships, values and the ways they’ve adapted to move through life and this is where strengths-based counselling comes through.
I draw on a range of counselling approaches, including:
Somatic Therapy
We'll draw on what feels useful while keeping your unique way of experiencing the world at the centre of our work.
What You Can Expect From Me
Approachable
I want you to feel comfortable - day one.
Warm and open
I want you to feel comfortable showing up as you are. I'll bring warmth, openness, curiosity, and a genuine interest in understanding your perspective.
Humour (when it fits)
Our conversations can be thoughtful, supportive, challenging, and sometimes uncomfortable. And there's room for humour, too. Therapy doesn't always have to be serious.
Curiosity
I'm interested in asking questions, exploring different perspectives, and getting curious about the things we might take for granted.
Collaboration
I won’t assume I know what's best for you. I want to understand how you make sense of your experiences and what feels meaningful to you. Sometimes looking at something from a new angle can open up possibilities we hadn't considered.
Change that feels like your own
I don't believe change has to mean becoming someone else. Sometimes it starts with understanding yourself more deeply, questioning beliefs or expectations you've come to accept as truth, or recognizing parts of yourself that deserve more room.
Together, we can explore what feels right for you, without losing sight of who you are.
A Little About Me
Movement is a bit part of my life and has helped shaped my interest and passion for Somatic Therapy techniques.
I’ve had a longstanding interest in clothing as a form of self-expression, and I’m drawn to work and experiences that allow me to be of service to others. I value good company, a sense of community, and making time for the people in my life.
My experience in community-based support has given me the opportunity to work alongside women from a wide range of backgrounds and life circumstances. It has shaped my understanding of how varied people's experiences can be, and how important it is to understand each person within the context of their own life.
Finding The Right Counsellor Matters
Counselling is personal. You don't have to choose a counsellor just because they have the right credentials on paper.
You should feel comfortable with them. You should feel heard. And you should feel like you can actually be yourself.
If you're not sure whether I'm the right fit, I'm happy to have a conversation and help you figure that out. And if someone else in the collective is a better match, I'll help connect you with them.
Ready to see if we're a good fit?
We offer FREE 15-minute consultations to get to know each other.