You do not have to have it figured out before you start.
Homa Papaei is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia (UBC). She has over 22 years of experience internationally, including 15 years in Canada. She works with clients in English, Farsi, and Turkish.
Homa believes that each person can work through their negative thoughts or experiences to live life in a meaningful way. She sees her role as exploring with the client the different pieces of their life and understanding how those pieces function together.
Her areas of expertise are eating disorders, relationships, trauma, and anxiety. Depending on what the client needs, she draws on trauma informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, Emotion Focused Family Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Attachment Theory.
Clients tell her the change shows up in ordinary ways first. Sleeping through the night again. Getting on better with family and the people closest to them.
If you are reading this, you have probably been thinking about it for a long time, and something has been hurting that whole time. Let us walk through this together.
Book a free 15 minute call.
My office is located in the heart of Vancouver
It is natural to want to manage problems on your own, but seeking therapy can provide you with new perspectives and tools to handle challenges more effectively. Here is a few things to consider if you need to talk with a counselor:
Therapy can occasionally make you feel worse before you feel better, especially in the early stages. This can happen as you begin to address painful memories. However, if this feeling persists, it is important to address it with your therapist. Together with your therapist, you can review your goals, or your counsellor might consider a different therapeutic approach.
Not at all! Therapy can benefit everyone. Counselling is a tool that can help you to understand yourself better, improve your relationships, and manage stress.
Therapy can provide a space to discuss anything in your mind, like personal growth, and developing strategies for everyday problems.
Many people might feel unsure about what to discuss when they first start counselling. Your therapist can guide the conversation and ask quotations to uncover what’s important for you to talk about.
This is a hard question to answer. The duration of therapy can vary widely. Depending on individual needs, goals, and circumstances. If it is a short-term therapy lasting between 5 to 8 weeks, it focuses on specific issues or skills, such as managing anxiety in social situations. Long-term therapy might delve deeper into personal growth, past trauma, or ongoing mental health challenges.
Also, different approaches change the length of therapy, For example, brief therapies like solution-focused therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are designed to be shorter, while psychodynamic therapy may take longer.
Finding a therapist who is a good fit for you is important. There are some factors to consider. First, make sure your therapist is licensed and has experience dealing with the issues you wish to address. Also, therapeutically, what is her therapeutic approach? Therapists use different methods. It’s important to find a therapist whose approach resonates with you or feels right.
Additionally, you should feel comfortable and safe talking openly with her. Consider practical aspects such as location, availability, and whether they accept your insurance. And most importantly, schedule an initial consultation, which can be a good opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for their style and personality.
It’s perfectly normal to try out a few therapists before finding the right one. Effective therapy often hinges on the strength of the therapist-client relationship, so take your time to find someone who feels like the right fit for you.
Let's start with a 20-minute complimentary consultation which will give you a better idea about the upcoming journey.
