Ola Abugharbiyeh, MA, MACP, RCC
Hello and thanks for your interest in my services! 
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors . I specialize in trauma therapy and relationships counselling.  I focus on working with adult survivors of childhood trauma, betrayal trauma, accidents, and various relationships issues (codependency, boundary setting, interdependence).
I also work with attachment based insecurities, anxiety, depression, work related stress, burnout and unresolved past relationships. In my practise I also work with issues related to limerence, obsessive compulsive thoughts and behaviour, open relationships and ethical non-monogamous relationships.
 I merge EMDR with trauma based somatic experiencing, DBT, clinical hypnotherapy, mindfulness based cognitive behaviour therapy MBCT and MBSR, Internal Family Systems, EFT and AEDP focusing on the context of each client’s goals for treatment and know where to point the targeting sequences.
The adaptive information processing model, embodied, somatically-informed affect regulation skills guide my practice as we aim to create and maintain a healthy collaborative therapeutic alliance to facilitate the efficacy of our time together.

Academically, I hold a Master degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University in New Brunswick. I also hold two other Master degrees in Human rights and development studies, Psychology and adult education. 
Professionally, I have had extensive training in various relevant fields (Please see training and specialization below).

Professional Development

• Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
• Addictions and Mental Health (Complex Issues)
• Emotionally Focused Family Therapy EFT (Couples and Family Therapy)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
• Sensorimotor Somatic Experiencing  
• Grief and Loss Therapy
• Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors (Internal Self-Alienation)
• Complex Trauma (CPTSD)Training
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Bowen Therapy (Family Therapy)
• Clinical Hypnotherapy
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy DBT
• Diversity and Culture
• LGBTQIA2s+, open relationships and ENMs
• identity inclusion and allyship
• Immigration, settlement and integration
• Early Psychosis Intervention
• Emergency First Aid 1-2
• REIKI (Levels 1-3)
• Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy
• Use of the Body in the Therapeutic Process
• Clinical Supervision and Consultation

 
Strengths

• Therapeutic alliance: Positive and nurturing
• Trauma: Neurobiology-oriented holistic approach
• Adults and teens: Resolve childhood and adulthood trauma and attachment issues
• Couples: Emotional and sexual Intimacy and infidelity
• Family Conflict Resolution: Parenting, Co-parenting, separation and divorce, preservation and reunification
• Grief and Loss
• Release of longstanding subconscious blocks
• Immigration, settlement, and racial or ethnic intergenerational trauma
• Identity Crisis and dissonance
• Self Esteem and confidence

I am extremely passionate about psychotherapy and clinical counselling. I have been privileged to hold hope for my clients while providing them with evidence-based modalities on their journey towards healing. My utmost focus is to help my clients achieve the aspired liberation from emotional, cognitive and internalized blockages. Besides private funding, I also collaborate with ICBC, and CVAP.
Services are provided in English and/or Arabic.

​For me, this career path is a passion and science. I practice  evidence-based modalities towards  healing, flourishing and thriving.

Personally
My family and I chose to immigrate to this beautiful province and call it our second home. We left a  successful life to challenge ourselves with open mindedness and perseverance. I originally come from a mixed family (Palestinian and Italian). I was born and raised in East Jerusalem and received education internationally and in Canada.
Prior to committing to a full-time private clinical practice,  I  worked in education, management and clinical supervision for over 20 years. My previous  experiences in Canada as a senior manager in various organizations have provided me with a platform to work with various issues related to mental and social health and manage and supervise counsellors and paraprofessionals in the fields of individual, couples and family counselling. My role as a therapist is the closest to my authentic self and life purpose.

I am looking forward to walk with you on the path towards healing and transformation.

Ola Abugharbiyeh