Strength in Heart Counselling

Strength in Heart Counselling We're here to help, no matter where you are, or what your budget is!

A team of 15 counsellors in Victoria & Cobble Hill, BC & online across Canada who support individuals (ages 15+), couples & families to transform their pain into strength.

Stress, relationships, work pressures, and personal challenges can build up over time, and many people try to manage it ...
04/17/2026

Stress, relationships, work pressures, and personal challenges can build up over time, and many people try to manage it all by themselves.

Therapy offers a space where you can talk openly, explore what's going on, and begin to work through things in a supportive environment.
A place where you can start unpacking what's been on your mind. Because that kind of support can make a real difference.

Book your therapy session today and take the first step toward feeling more supported.

Boundaries are a way of protecting your time, energy, and emotional wellbeing. But many people struggle to recognize whe...
04/15/2026

Boundaries are a way of protecting your time, energy, and emotional wellbeing. But many people struggle to recognize when their boundaries may need strengthening.

Some common signs you might need strong boundaries include:

- Feeling constantly overwhelmed by others' needs
- Saying yes when you really want to say no
- Feeling drained after certain interactions
- Feeling responsible for other people's emotions
- Having little time left for yourself

Healthy boundaries aren't about pushing people away. They're about creating space for healthier relationships and protecting your own wellbeing. Learning how to set and maintain boundaries is something many people explore in therapy.

๐— ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ฌ๐˜ƒ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—พ๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜๐—ฒ, ๐—ฅ๐—ฆ๐—ช: ๐—” ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ช๐—ต๐—ผ ๐—š๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—œ๐˜!If you've been searching for a therapist who understands the complex...
04/13/2026

๐— ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ฌ๐˜ƒ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—พ๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜๐—ฒ, ๐—ฅ๐—ฆ๐—ช: ๐—” ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ช๐—ต๐—ผ ๐—š๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—œ๐˜!

If you've been searching for a therapist who understands the complexities of trauma, addiction, grief, burnout, and alternative relationship structures without judgment, Yvonne Paquette brings both clinical depth and real-world understanding to the therapy room.

Yvonne specializes in:
โ€ข Trauma-informed counselling
โ€ข Kink-affirming therapy and ethical non-monogamy (ENM)
โ€ข Anxiety, depression, and stress
โ€ข Grief, loss, and addiction support
โ€ข Front-line and workplace burnout
โ€ข Identity work and self-empowerment

CVAP & ICBC coverage available.
Her approach blends Internal Family Systems, trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, and harm reductionโ€”creating a space where you can be fully honest about your experiences and feel truly seen.

At Strength in Heart Counselling, Yvonne supports clients in Victoria, BC and online across Canada. She's currently accepting new clients.

Ready to work with a therapist who understands complexity? Book a free consultation today.

Learn more about Yvonne: www.strengthinheart.ca/meet-yvonne

Stress is a normal part of life. In short bursts, it can even help us stay focused and respond to challenges. But when s...
04/13/2026

Stress is a normal part of life. In short bursts, it can even help us stay focused and respond to challenges. But when stress becomes ongoing, it can begin to affect how the brain functions.

Chronic stress keeps the body's stress response activated for longer periods of time. Over time, this can affect areas of the brain involved in memory, emotional regulation, and decision-making.

Some common effects of chronic stress include:

โ€ข difficulty concentrating
โ€ข feeling emotionally overwhelmed
โ€ข trouble sleeping
โ€ข increased irritability
โ€ข feeling mentally exhausted

The brain and nervous system are closely connected. When stress levels remain high for long periods, it can become harder for the body to shift back into a calm and regulated state.

Learning ways to manage stress and support the nervous system can help restore balance over time.

When painful memories keep shaping your present, it can feel exhausting to carry the past alone.EMDR therapy offers a st...
04/12/2026

When painful memories keep shaping your present, it can feel exhausting to carry the past alone.

EMDR therapy offers a structured, evidence-based way to help your brain process distressing experiences so you can move forward with more clarity, calm, and confidence.

At Strength in Heart Counselling, we offer EMDR therapy in Victoria, BC and online across Canada. Our compassionate therapists support clients who are ready to heal from trauma, PTSD, anxiety, grief, and negative self-beliefs in a way that is both effective and deeply client-centred.

Ready to explore EMDR? Book a free consultation today and take the first step toward healing.

Learn more about EMDR therapy: www.strengthinheart.ca/blog/2026/3/27/emdr

Some weeks just feel heavier than others. When work is busy, responsibilities pile up, or emotions are running high, it ...
04/11/2026

Some weeks just feel heavier than others. When work is busy, responsibilities pile up, or emotions are running high, it can be easy to push through and ignore what you're feeling. But supporting yourself during stressful times can make a big difference.

- Lower expectations where you can. You don't have to do everything perfectly during stressful periods.
- Give yourself moments to pause. Even a few minutes to breathe, step outside, or reset can help calm your nervous system.
- Stick to simple routines. Basic habits like eating regularly, getting sleep, and moving your body can help your mind feel more stable.
- Talk to someone you trust. Sharing what you're going through can help reduce the emotional load.

Stressful weeks happen to everyone. Supporting yourself through them is part of taking care of your mental health.

A lot of people wait until things feel completely overwhelming before reaching out for support. But therapy isn't only f...
04/10/2026

A lot of people wait until things feel completely overwhelming before reaching out for support. But therapy isn't only for moments of crisis.

Many people come to therapy when they notice things like feeling constantly stressed or anxious, struggling with boundaries or relationships, feeling emotionally drained, or just wanting to understand themselves better.

Therapy can be a space to pause, reflect, and work through what's been weighing on you. You don't have to figure everything out on your own.

- If you've been considering therapy, this could be a good time to start. Book a session today to begin the conversation.

Emotions can feel intense at times, especially when stress builds up. Regulating emotions doesn't mean ignoring or suppr...
04/07/2026

Emotions can feel intense at times, especially when stress builds up. Regulating emotions doesn't mean ignoring or suppressing them. It means finding ways to acknowledge what you're feeling while helping your nervous system settle.

Some things that can help include:

- Naming what you're feeling. Simply identifying the emotion can help create space between you and the feeling.
- Slowing down your breathing. Deep breathing can signal your nervous system to calm down.
- Moving your body. Even a short walk can help release emotional tension.
- Giving yourself time to process. Not every emotion needs to be solved immediately.

Learning how to regulate emotions is a skill that develops over time, and it's something many people work on in therapy.

A lot of people live with anxiety for a long time before they ever consider talking to someone about it. They push throu...
04/05/2026

A lot of people live with anxiety for a long time before they ever consider talking to someone about it. They push through busy days, overthink things at night, and assume it's just something they have to deal with.

But anxiety doesn't have to stay that way. When you understand why anxiety shows up the way it does, you can find practical ways to manage it when it starts to take over.

Healthy communication in relationships isn't about never disagreeing. It's about being able to express thoughts and feel...
04/04/2026

Healthy communication in relationships isn't about never disagreeing. It's about being able to express thoughts and feelings in a way that allows both people to feel heard and respected.

Some qualities of healthy communication include:

โ€ข listening with the intention to understand
โ€ข expressing feelings clearly rather than blaming
โ€ข asking questions instead of assuming intentions
โ€ข being open to hearing a different perspective
โ€ข taking breaks when conversations become too heated

Good communication also involves emotional safety - feeling able to share honestly without fear of judgment or dismissal.

Like many relationship skills, healthy communication is something that can be learned and strengthened over time.

EMDR therapy is now available in our Victoria office as well as online, anywhere in Canada! ๐ŸŒฑEMDR (Eye Movement Desensit...
03/28/2026

EMDR therapy is now available in our Victoria office as well as online, anywhere in Canada! ๐ŸŒฑ

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a proven, evidence-based approach that helps heal trauma, anxiety, PTSD, and distress. Our compassionate therapists guide you through gentle, targeted sessions, empowering you to reclaim your life and find hope again.

Book a free consultation today and take your first step toward healing: https://www.strengthinheart.ca/emdr-therapy

๐—™๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—บ ๐—ฆ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐˜†: ๐——๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐——๐—•๐—ง ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐˜†Feeling overwhelmed by big emotions or stuck in patterns you want to chang...
03/27/2026

๐—™๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—บ ๐—ฆ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐˜†: ๐——๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐——๐—•๐—ง ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐˜†

Feeling overwhelmed by big emotions or stuck in patterns you want to change? DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) is a practical, skills-based approach that helps you move from emotional overwhelm to steadier ground.

Learn about the 4 core DBT skills and how they work, plus how to get started with a ๐—ณ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ-๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜‚๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป.

๐Ÿ“ Victoria | Cobble Hill | Online Across Canada
๐Ÿ”— Book Your Free Consult Today

Read Full Article: https://www.strengthinheart.ca/blog/2026/3/2/from-spiraling-to-steady-dbt-therapy-in-victoria-online-across-canada

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Victoria, BC

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Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm

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