About Elena
Welcome to True Nature Counselling, a holistic private counselling practice located in Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island. We will all experience personal challenges in our lives. Sometimes these challenges are too much to manage on our own and it can be helpful to seek support from a professional.
At my core, I’m a heart-and-feelings activist. My life’s work has been devoted to supporting people in connecting with their true nature—mind, body, and soul.
I began my career working for a Non-Profit in the field of Adventure Therapy, offering outdoor recreational experiences to individuals navigating physical and mental health challenges throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. This work focused on reducing barriers to help people access the healing power of nature and, in turn, connect with deeper parts of themselves.
A growing desire to explore the inner landscape of healing and personal growth led me to yoga and mindfulness. I completed a 200-hour teacher training in Mindful Therapeutic Hatha Yoga with Cathy Ward in Spain, and a Yin Yoga training with Bernie Clark and Diana Batts. I developed an adaptive yoga program designed to make the benefits of yoga accessible to all, regardless of physical and cognitive abilities. Soon after, I earned a Master’s in Counselling from Adler University and became a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC).
My approach draws from various therapeutic modalities, including Somatic and Relational Therapy where I studied with Mariah Moser, Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Informed Practice, and Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry. I tailor my work to each individual, guided by their unique hopes and goals for counselling.
Beyond formal training, I’ve learned deeply through lived experience—I am the daughter to parents who worked in helping professions. Working with people is in my bones! I’ve learned immensely through travel, living abroad, and the many shades of the human journey: heartbreak, grief, loss, disappointment, feeling lost, burn out, challenging transitions and more. I understand the courage it takes to sit in the client seat, and I am here for all of it.
I once heard counselling described as the “healing arts,” and I wholeheartedly agree. It takes artistry to meet the dynamic, ever-evolving nature of the human psyche. My intention is always to co-create a space where you feel seen, supported, and celebrated in the full expression of who you are. I love this work, and it remains a true honor to accompany people as they explore their inner landscapes.
I look forward to meeting you should our paths cross.
Warmly,
Elena