Christina Gaspar

Registered Clinical Counsellor

I care about working with each and every client to recognize their unique strengths and struggles, and figure out together what works for them, (even if it means getting creative!)

I believe in steering away from seeing pain as pathology, and instead, being with you in the human experiences that make you who you are, and recognizing the strengths that you already possess. Fundamentally, I understand and work with how trauma impacts the body, and recognize the wisdom of the body in therapy.

My background is as a music and theatre teacher of over 15 years. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BCACC, and have a Master’s of Education in Counselling Psychology from UBC. I have extensive training in Focusing and Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy (IFOT), which involves tapping into your body’s internal resources for healing. I have further training in trauma-informed practice, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), TheraPlay, Synergetic Play Therapy, and somatic therapy.

I work with adults, children, youth and families, in areas such as trauma, addiction, eating disorders, self-harm, depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, gender identity, grief, and more. 

My biggest goal as a counsellor is to make my work accessible. I believe anyone is capable of doing this work, no matter where you are in your life. As a person with my own lived experiences with mental and physical health challenges, I recognize how accessibility means meeting people where they are. I recognize how forces like sexism, racism and other forms of discrimination show up in our stories, and how these can introduce real challenges to living the life you want.

My goal is to always show up for you in these moments, and make sure you have a safe place to work through your experiences with these issues.

Aside from my work as a counsellor, I have a sweet puppy named Tycho, who dreams of being a therapy dog and joins me on adventures in our camper van.

When I’m not working, I love to spend time with my nieces and nephew, as well as swimming on a team, (or even just in the ocean,) going to music shows and playing traditional Portuguese folk music.

CONNECT WITH ME

I currently am available for new clients.

I work with an interdisciplinary team of health professionals at Foundry,Vancouver Coastal Health, in North Vancouver.

Learn more at foundrybc.ca/northshore