Queer Affirming Trauma Therapy and Couples Counselling online and in-person in Vancouver
Meet Sam, IFS and Somatic Therapist + Fellow Human
Hi, I’m Sam!
(they/them)
I’m a Registered Clinical Counselor offering somatic therapy, parts work, and couples and relationship counseling in East Vancouver and online. My practice is proudly queer and trans-inclusive and sex-positive. I’m queer, non-binary, neurodivergent, and passionate about creating a welcoming space for anyone who wants to explore their inner landscape.
My work as a therapist is deeply influenced by my own personal therapeutic journey. Ongoing therapy, group work, somatic and contemplative practices have guided and transformed me, shaping how I show up as both a therapist and a fellow human navigating this complex world.
As a longtime practitioner of yoga and lineage-based tradition, I bring an animate worldview to my work, one that honors interconnectedness while staying open to mystery. Rather than offering answers, I support people in finding their own meaning, with an orientation toward right relationship and greater harmony with natural rhythms.
Outside of my practice, I find pleasure in being immersed in nature, hiking, hanging out with trees, playing with clay or curling up with a good book. I’m also a proud co-parent to Willow (a corgi) who brings joy and exasperation to my days.
Common Topics Brought Up in Session
Post-traumatic growth from developmental trauma and/or childhood sexual abuse. Shame resilience. Building secure attachments. Purity culture. Feeling and voicing wants, needs, and desires. Queerness. Gender identity and expression. (Re)establishing self-trust. Embodying consent. Co-regulating with nature. Feeling emotions in the body. Ancestral or inherited trauma. Setting healthy boundaries. Expressing anger. Sex after sexual assault. Meditation. Non-monogamy. Creativity. Hypersexuality. Compulsive behaviors. Process addictions. Intimacy. Taking accountability for harm. CPTSD. and more
My Approach to Therapy
Relational
I believe the therapeutic relationship is a powerful space for growth and healing. You’ll be invited to explore what’s unfolding in the “here and now” between us. This could be noticing patterns of protection, making visible how power is operating, or working through and repairing ruptures. This focus on the therapy process offers an opportunity to deepen self-awareness, build trust, and practice new ways of relating.
Somatic
Somatic therapy invites the body into the therapeutic process. This approach doesn’t see you as a problem to solve or a person to fix. Instead, it’s about cultivating your interoception, your ability to feel and sense within. We’ll explore how your body might be holding onto residue from the past that is ready for resolution. By allying with the wisdom of your animal body and protective responses, we can support you toward greater health, aliveness, and presence. Learn more here.
Making Space for Multiplicity
Parts Work, or Internal Family Systems Therapy, recognizes that our psyche is made up of many different parts. We reflect this naturally in everyday language when we say things like, “Part of me wants to stay in the relationship, and part of me doesn’t.” By getting curious about these different parts, we can gain deeper insight into our patterns while cultivating a compassionate understanding that brings relief to psychological distress. I have specialized training in working with parts, particularly for complex trauma. Learn more here.
Approaches I use:
Attachment Theory
Process Oriented Relational Work
I also do relationship therapy with couples of all orientations, as well as family relationships and friendships.
Eductation, Trainings & Certifications
Registered clinical counsellor #16715
Masters in Counselling from City University of Seattle
Bachelor in Social Work from the University of Victoria
Certificate in Feminist Narrative Therapy
Somatic Experiencing Advanced Training
Rebloom Somatic Trauma Resolution Practitioner
San’yas Indigenous cultural safety training
Internal Family Systems Level One (IFSI)
Foundations of Somatic Abolitionism
VITA (Vital Integrated Tantric Approach) Certified Sex and Relationship Coach
Somatic IFS level 1 + 2 from the Embody Lab
Stepping Stones: 16 week Internal Family Systems Training
Intimacy From The Inside Out (IFS Level 2) Couples Therapy Training
Therapsil Psylocibin-Assisted Therapy Training
Trauma-Informed Internal Family Systems with Colleen West
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Training with Field Trip Health