Hi, I’m Lisa Bylsma, M.Ed., RCC

I have always been a curious person. I find life and people endlessly intriguing. I really enjoy getting to know someone and coming to understand them. It brings me joy when I see clients make sense of themselves and their experiences. I find for most people, this process of understanding how the pieces of their puzzle fit together, helps provide some sense of resolution and validation. Once a person can understand and accept themselves, I find they are usually in a place to begin making the changes they need in their life.

In over 20 years of working with people and 12 years as a counsellor, I have come to strongly believe that people make sense. It may not be obvious or straightforward, but it is possible to come to an understanding of yourself, your emotions, and your struggles. I strive to listen deeply, to be genuine, and to really see you. I have been told people feel comfortable with me and that my presence is calming. I think this comes from my accepting, compassionate approach. I fundamentally believe we are all doing our best with what we’ve got right now. And sometimes we need extra support from a counsellor (or family or friends or others) to help when we are struggling.

Education & Experience

I knew early on that I wanted to work with people and decided in high school that I wanted to become a counsellor. Since then, I have worked with people in many different contexts: on a distress line, in a university counselling centre, in a family support program, in a forensic youth facility, in a women’s shelter, conducting research, facilitating groups, and teaching undergraduate students. In these roles, my favourite thing was to be able to sit with a person one-on-one, to get to know them, and to figure out how I could support them in the role that I had.

Since graduating with my Master of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta in 2010, I have worked as a counsellor within government and non-profit organizations helping children, youth, adults, couples, and families. I have supported people with a range of challenges including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, sexual abuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, anger, grief and loss, life transitions, substance use, and more.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #9438) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC).

Theoretical Orientation

If you have an interest in counselling theories, you may want to know how I align in this respect. I am a humanistic counsellor with a strong foundation in person-centred therapy. I also draw heavily from existential, Gestalt, narrative, mindfulness, emotion-focused, attachment, somatic, and systems approaches. I regularly incorporate solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), as well as motivational interviewing (MI). I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). In my work with couples, I draw from Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and the Developmental Model. I engage in regular professional development and consultation. My ongoing reading on topics and themes from psychotherapy, psychology, and philosophy continue to inform me and my approach.

My Approach

I truly see myself and clients as equals in our work. I am not someone who will tell you what to do. You are the expert on you, your experiences, your emotions, your relationships, and so on. I see my role as walking alongside you and supporting you in understanding yourself, figuring out what brings you relief (and providing ideas if needed), connecting with your values, and making changes that make sense for you. I strive to remain humble, to treat others with respect, and to provide clients with choice. I seek feedback regularly and want to know when something isn’t working for you or meeting your needs.

I am non-pathologizing and believe the range of normal is wide. I strive to be flexible in my work with clients and to adapt my approach to suit your needs. I aim to understand you in a whole way and to recognize you exist within a particular context. I love to learn and am continually seeking information and opportunities to stretch and grow; some of my recent interests include deliberate practice, psychotherapy effectiveness research, and critical mental health discourse.

I also have a soft spot for social justice and think it’s important to create a world that is fairer and more equitable for everyone. Sometimes that means lobbying our government to make changes, protesting, or simply providing someone with the space to feel seen and heard. I recognize that our current systems do not work for everyone and that increasingly people are isolated, feel there is something wrong with them, and question how they can find a place in this world. I also see how there is a mental health industry that benefits from peoples’ struggles and even, often inadvertently, perpetuates them. I am reflective and analytical of my own work and the systems and structures which exist, always looking for ways to improve.

My Life

In my personal life, I am married and have two children. I enjoy getting outside to explore and relish the beauty of Vancouver Island. I’ve lived here since 2013 and still marvel at how lucky I am to call Nanaimo home.

A designation of BC Association of Clinical Counsellors