Open Space Counselling

10/07/2025

Meet our newest reduced-cost counsellor, Abigail! Abigail is finishing her Master's degree in Counselling at Adler University, and she already has a ton of clinical experience under her belt.

Abigail is an expert at meeting you where you're at, bringing a balance of warmth and holding you accountable. She’s grounded and astute, friendly and practical, and she's receiving exceptional clinical training and supervision from our director, Elana Sures!

Abigail has exceptional skills to support clients with:

🌀relationship issues
🌀burnout
🌀imposter syndrome
🌀perfectionism
🌀cultural identity

Abigail sees teens, adults, and couples at a reduced rate, online and in person at BOTH our Kitsilano and North Shore clinics. Abigail's a unicorn -- evenings and weekends available! 🦄🦄

Head to the link in our bio to book a FREE consultation with Abigail.

06/11/2025

Our North Shore location is growing so fast, and we’re super excited to announce that we are hiring!

We’re looking for a therapist willing to see clients in person at our North Shore clinic in Lower Lonsdale, as well as remotely.

Experience and interest in couples counselling as well as women’s mental health is required.

If you are a Masters-level therapist who loves community and is as much of a therapy nerd as we are, head over to the link in our bio to apply for a position with our North Shore team.

06/11/2025

If you can use ChatGPT to plan your meals, write your term paper, and create a capsule wardrobe… then, surely you could use it for therapy??

Well, wonder no more. In this month’s blog post, Elana, our clinic owner (and seasoned therapist to boot) weighs in on her recent sesh with her ChatGPT bot, Elise 👩🏼‍🦳.

We won’t give away her hot take here, but it is definitely worth a read 🧐.

Link in bio!

06/03/2025

Have you ever wondered about what therapy with a ChatBot is like? I tried it, and was pretty surprised! It also made me realise, when we ask "Can AI replace therapists?" we're not asking the right question.

The debate about AI and therapy falls into two camps: “We’re doomed!” or “AI could never replace human therapy!” But what about both together?

05/05/2025

As a therapist and clinic owner, I’m obsessed with what constitutes “good therapy.”

And when we think about what makes therapy effective, we usually think of the therapist — and for good reason! Our profession absolutely deserves your scrutiny. 🧐

Aaand…it turns out that clients play a pretty significant role in how effective therapy can be. That’s not about shifting the blame or responsibility to clients — it’s actually to empower you. We can shape the process in order to improve our own outcomes! 😮

If you’re in therapy right now, why not try out one (or more of these strategies)?

Number 4 is my fave btw (both as a therapist and a client 😉).

03/20/2025

Do you live, work, or hang out a lot on the North Shore?

Good news for you - we have a new location opening SO soon! 🤩

As of April 1, Open Space Counselling is coming to Lower Lonsdale!

Thats riiiight, we are in the sweetest spot in North Van.

If you’ve experienced highway driving and looking for a parking spot in North Vancouver (wtf), you’ll be happy to hear this.

We landed a place with:

✅visitor parking
✅5 min walk from the SeaBus terminal
✅20 min drive from East Van (with minimal highway, take exit 23A)
✅in a secure building shared with other health professionals (and it’s dog friendly…because, North Van)
✅evening, weekend, and weekday hours, 7 days a week

And did I mention, it is right by the water… picture going for a post session waterfront walk to reflect.

Or taking a picturesque Seabus from Downtown Vancouver to and from your session.

Or going for a forest walk to integrate all your juicy therapy takeaways.

Everything we offer at our Vancouver counselling clinic will be offered in North Vancouver!

So if you’re looking for:

-Couples Counselling
-S*x Therapy
-Anxiety Counselling
-EMDR Counselling
-Teen Counselling
-Postpartum Counselling
-Grief and Loss Counselling
-Trauma Counselling

Or any other type of therapy to help you navigate through whatever you are going through right now, you can find it at our new North Shore location.

👉Want to get connected with a therapist at the new location?

The easiest thing to do is to fill out our Match With A Therapist form. You’ll be prompted to choose which location you’d like to go for therapy.

You can also choose your own therapist using our self-service filter on our Meet Our Team page.

📍Our new address is suite #301 – 267 West Esplanade, North Vancouver.

Vancouver residents: please share this widely!

-The Open Space Counselling Team

03/10/2025

Anger isn’t the enemy. It’s the messenger. 🚨

For too long, anger has been labeled a “negative” or “secondary” emotion; something to breathe through or push aside.

But what if anger is actually good for you? 🤔

1️⃣ Anger is a signal, not the problem.

It tells you when something is wrong, when your boundaries are being crossed, or when action is needed.

2️⃣ Anger ≠ Rage

Anger can be constructive. It’s when anger merges with fear, helplessness, or shame that it can spiral into something destructive.

3️⃣ Anger helps you set boundaries.

The frustration you feel is actually pointing you toward what needs to change.

Maybe it’s a friend who keeps flaking, a partner who undercuts you, or a world that feels kinda messed up.

Anger can be powerful - but you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Therapy can help you process it, understand it, and channel it in a way that serves you.

You can book in with your therapist or find a therapist using our “Match With A Therapist” program!

Form is in our bio!

The Open Space Counselling Team

02/26/2025

What we need more of ⬇️

Open conversations about mom rage and what it really looks like.

Because of the name, many assume it’s about moms being mad at their kids - but that’s not always the case, especially with young babies.

Like everything, it’s a nuanced topic.

Our program doesn’t just give you strategies to prevent mom rage moments.

It helps you make foundational shifts in how you talk to yourself, set boundaries, and take care of yourself.

With these tools, you can regain a sense of steadiness and balance with both your partner and your kids.

👉 Comment “MRR” and we’ll send you more info about the program!

Let us know if you have any questions!

Elana M.Ed., RCC, Owner + Director, Open Space Counselling

02/24/2025

🚨 You have homework! (That’ll actually help you!)

I might sound like a broken record at this point but ICYMI, mom rage does NOT mean you’re a ‘bad mom’.

It IS about unmet needs.

When you constantly feel unheard, exhausted, or like you’re falling short, it makes so much sense that frustration bubbles over.

But the good news is, you’re not stuck in this cycle!

You can take real, practical steps to manage and even prevent mom rage.

Here’s where to start:

✅ Notice your triggers

✅ Let go of perfectionism

✅ Prioritize your needs too

✅ Ask for support (you don’t have to do this alone)

And if you feel like you’re ready to manage your mom rage once and for all ⬇️

Inside Mom Rage Reset, we’ll help you unpack the real reasons behind your anger and give you the tools to create a calmer, more connected home.

👉Drop ‘MRR’ in the comments, and we’ll send you all the details.

The Open Space Counselling Team

02/17/2025

How to start moving past it👇

Do the opposite of what anxiety wants.

Anxiety wants us to avoid, overthink, or shut down. 

But the way out of the infinity loop is to acknowledge the feelings beneath the anxiety (name them!) and make choices based on what you truly need, not just what your anxiety is telling you to do.

Easier said than done, I know!

If you need help to manage your anxiety, we can help.

Follow for mental health support and solidarity. 

The Open Space Counselling Team

02/15/2025

Whatever your feelings about Valentine’s Day, it’s a great excuse to get yourself a little treat 😊

As always, if you need someone to talk to, individually or as a couple, our qualified therapists are here to help.

The Open Space Counselling Team

02/13/2025

Ever scroll your way into a bad mood? Same.

I’m sure we’ve literally ALL done this since, it’s 2025 and you’re reading this on Instagram. 

Social media has a way of making us feel worse - even when we were feeling good a minute ago. 

Partly because we’re not just seeing people’s lives; we’re seeing the best parts of their lives, while we’re sitting in the full, unfiltered chaos of our own.

So maybe we rethink how we use it.

Post like you’re having a real conversation, not curating a highlight reel.

And if scrolling starts messing with your mood?

Close the app. It’s not worth it.

(Easier said than done, I know).

Need someone to talk to?

We can help you find your therapist soulmate with our Match With A Therapist program.

The form is on our website!

-Elana M.Ed., RCC, Owner + Director Open Space Counselling