Therapists near Courtenay helping Lgbtq with Grief Amp Bereavement

Dr. Kirstin Dolby, PhD opened Head Strong Counselling Services & Academy of Traumatology in 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counselling, and a PhD in Counseling & Psychological Studies with a focus on trauma and indigenous mental health from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. In addition to her internships at Pacific Therapy, Kirstin completed a Trauma Counselling Internship in India in 2016 with the Regent University Center for Trauma Studies. Kirstin is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with BCACC, a Certified Canadian Counsellor with CCPA, a Certified First Responder Counselor with Academy Hour, and Certified Clinical Traumatologist with the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology. She specializes in working with survivors and first responders, including international deployments with her most recent deployment being to Cameroon, Africa in 2021. Kirstin is also a Certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist and Consultant-in-Training. EMDR is an effective, research-based therapy that can assist clients in working through trauma, chronic pain, addiction, anxiety, and even help with performance enhancement. Kirstin takes a client-centered approach utilizing a holistic wellness model. She believes the foundation to good therapy starts with rapport and the therapeutic relationship between client(s) and counsellor. She works with all age groups and has experience with individual, couples, and family therapy, as well as facilitation of support groups and workshops. She has experience helping clients work through trauma (complex and simple), PTSD, mental health disorders, depression, anxiety, separation, parenting and grief. Outside of the counselling office, Kirstin also works part-time as a Youth Ministry Director with the local Salvation Army Corps. She is passionate about youth and loves investing in the lives of future generations, including her own four sons. Kirstin lives in beautiful Courtenay, BC on Vancouver Island with her husband of nineteen years and their boys. And, of course, in her “spare” time Kirstin can be found in any region of the globe volunteering her time to help fill the gap in mental health care.