Integrated Healing for a Purposeful Life
MEET YOUR THERAPIST
Hey, I’m Heather!
My name is Heather Whalen and I'm a Registered Social Worker (RSW) providing virtual counseling services in British Columbia. I have been practicing as a mental health therapist for 15 years and I am passionate about supporting individuals on their journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
First, I would like to offer a warm welcome and thank-you for being here. I am so excited and honoured to be your therapist on your healing journey! I believe that we each hold the answers to our own healing and emotional wellness within ourselves.
As your therapist, my intention is to guide you through this process by holding a nurturing space for you to share your experiences, feelings, and concerns so that we can get to the root of any mental or emotional blocks that may be holding you back from living your most authentic life. Together, we will explore ways to heal from past trauma, improve your connection to yourself and others, deepen your sense of belonging and self-compassion, and live a more embodied life. As your therapist, my mission is to serve as your guide by asking questions and offering insights for personal reflection, emotional growth, and to help cultivate self-awareness. I will offer a variety of tools and techniques to help alleviate mental distress, process difficult life experiences, and become more attuned to your body and emotions.
I look forward to working with you as you embark on your path to healing and personal growth.
“WHEN WE CONTEMPLATE THE MIRACLE OF EMBODIED LIFE, WE BEGIN TO PARTNER WITH OUR BODIES IN A KINDER WAY.”
— S H A R O N S A L Z B U R G
AREAS of FOCUS
Eating Disorders
I specialize in the treatment of eating disorders and body image issues, working with clients who struggle with distorted thought patterns around food and eating, disordered eating behaviours, body dysmorphia, low self-esteem/self-worth, and feelings of anxiety and perfectionism.
Relational Healing
Our mental wellbeing can be gauged by the quality of our relationships. If our relationships are strained, dysfunctional, and tumultuous then we cannot truly thrive. This includes our relationship to ourselves as well as our relationship to others.
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy uses body based interventions in order to access deeper levels of healing that may not be accessible using talk therapy alone.
As a trauma informed yoga teacher and certified meditation teacher I may bring body-centered healing practices into our therapy sessions as an adjunct to psychotherapy if clients are interested.
HOLISTIC APPROACH
I work from an integrated holistic approach that includes a person's emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
I use a combination of traditional talk therapy where we explore deeply held belief systems that may be causing you distress, as well as somatic therapy (or body-centered therapy) that incorporates awareness of sensations and emotions in the body, breath work practices, and gentle movement as a holistic healing modality.