It's so nice to meet you.
My name is Kristen, and I'm a registered counsellor and yoga teacher based in Vancouver, Canada. My therapeutic approach arises from over 25 years of exploring the connection between mind and body. I'm inspired by both Eastern and Western perspectives of the psyche that honour the wholeness of the human being. My life’s journey has been shaped by a love of natural wellness, movement, and meditation. As a young adult, I began a dedicated yoga practice, studying yoga philosophy and earning my yoga teacher certification (YA-RYT), along with my designation as a continuing education provider with Yoga Alliance (YACEP). My bachelor's degree in fine arts (BFA Hons) from the University of British Columbia inspired an appreciation for ancient philosophy, mythology, and the dimension of the soul in human development. Recently, my studies in counselling psychology and somatic therapy have deepened my understanding of the mind–body connection, and I'm a registered mental health counsellor (RPC-P) with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association. Supporting people on their healing journey is both an honour and a heartfelt commitment to a holistic tradition that reaches back in time and forward into the future.
“The mind that perceives beauty is the mind in meditation."
~ Dr. Vasant Lad
My personal healing journey
At 29 years old, I developed chronic inflammation and pain in my body. I soon realized that my crisis was more than physical - it was psychological and spiritual. During that time, I learned many lessons about the mind-body connection and the psychobiological roots of pain. I unexpectedly found myself in the role of a yoga instructor and educator, with the challenge of rebuilding my practice from the inside out. Every movement, every breath, every thought took on new meaning for me, and this time, I was paying attention. Over the next decade, a team of skilled teachers, holistic health practitioners and mentors came into my life, and their support guided me into deeper connection with my empathy and sensitivity. In time, I learned to listen to the wisdom of my body and hold space to process the life experiences, emotions and core beliefs that had impacted my nervous system so deeply. I cultivated a container of compassion and equanimity inside of myself to truly heal. There, I discovered the inner treasures of gentleness and strength, the fine balance that freed me to live with greater authenticity and meaning.
Following the golden thread
Both Western psychology and Eastern philosophy on the body, mind, and spirit have shaped my perspective on healing. Through my journey, I've come to understand that the inner path is woven together by a golden thread of timeless wisdom. In addition to counselling psychology and somatic therapy, I've studied traditional yoga therapy and Ayurveda, human anatomy and physiology, shamanic healing systems and esoteric wisdom traditions. These studies have strengthened my belief that integrating the body (soma), mind (psyche), and spirit (pneuma), guides us toward wholeness. I’m currently exploring Relational Somatic Therapy, drawing inspiration from Peter Levine’s concept of the “unspoken voice”—the body’s innate intelligence expressed through sensation and feeling. By attuning to our inner wisdom, we begin to unravel patterns of conditioning and return home to our authentic nature. Every step toward healing is an act of love that we choose for ourselves despite the presence of fear. It's through the power of the heart that we continue forward until the shadows transform into light, and we can see the beauty that is present in our lives.
