Amy Dreyer (she/her) - student counsellor
If you’re someone who thinks deeply, feels a lot, or has been carrying things on your own for a long time, we might be a good fit. You may be feeling disconnected from yourself, questioning beliefs or relationships that once felt steady, or wanting to feel more grounded and steady in who you are. I’m here to sit with the tender, tangled, and often unseen parts of you without judgment.
I offer virtual counselling to youth and adults across British Columbia, providing a supportive space to slow down, make sense of what you’re carrying, and feel less alone in the process. My work centres on helping clients reconnect with themselves in ways that feel meaningful, compassionate, and aligned with their values.
People I Work With
Youth (13+)
Young adults
Adults
I support clients navigating:
Depression and low mood
Seasonal affective challenges
Relationship concerns (individual therapy)
Self-worth and self-esteem
Faith transitions and religious harm
Gendered expectations
Emotional expression
People-pleasing and boundary struggles
Nervous system regulation (fight-flight-freeze-fawn)
Identity loss or confusion after breakups, moves, or life transitions
Perfectionism and self-compassion
Immigration and cross-cultural transitions
I work with people of all genders and sexual orientations.
Do any of these sound familiar?
“I don’t know who I am anymore, and I want to find myself again.”
“I have a hard time saying no”
“I think I’m a people-pleaser. What now?”
“I still believe in God, but I’m angry at the church.”
“I’m questioning everything I used to believe.”
“I want to understand what’s going on in my mind and body.”
“I think I need to learn how to feel my feelings.”
“I want help making sense of my relationship patterns.”
Therapeutic Approach
I aim to offer a collaborative and compassionate space where you feel seen and understood. I bring warmth and curiosity to the work, and I’m also honest and direct when that feels supportive. I care about how it feels to be together in the therapeutic space and my intention is to work at a pace that allows trust and safety to build over time. My approach is grounded in respect for both your individual experience and the wider contexts that shape it.
Rooted in Relationship: I show up as a real human, not a blank slate. There is room here for insight and “I don’t knows,” for seriousness and humour, and for showing up and connecting as our authentic, human selves. My approach is informed by attachment theory, which explores how early relationships shape the way we relate to others and ourselves over time.
Body-Aware: Many of us learn to disconnect from our bodies in response to stress, overwhelm, or cultural pressure. Often, our bodies communicate things before we have words for them, and part of our work may involve learning to listen to those signals with curiosity. I also work with an awareness of the nervous system, including common stress/trauma responses such as fight, flight, freeze, and fawn (people-pleasing).
Context-Aware: I work from a systemic, feminist, and trauma-informed perspective. In our work together, this means I pay attention to how power, privilege, culture, and oppression might shape our lives and relationships, while also holding space for individual nuance and personal meaning. I recognize both the influence of systems and the individual complexities of being human.
Education
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Trinity Western University (in progress)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Simon Fraser University (2017)
Additional Training
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Trauma (Level 1)
Religious Trauma and the Nervous System (RTI)
Introduction to Sand Tray Therapy
Nature-Based Therapy (Human–Nature Counselling Society)
Facilitating DBT Skills Groups
Motivational Interviewing (Foundational)
Gottman Couples Therapy (Level 1/2 in progress)
Registration
Awaiting registration with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)
A Little More About Me
Originally from South Africa, I immigrated to Canada at age 16, an experience that continues to shape how I understand identity, belonging, and adaptation. My background in social psychology informs how I think about power, systems, and the broader contexts that shape mental health. In our work together, I aim to hold space for both your personal story and the environments you’re navigating.
Outside of the therapy room, I’m often happiest near the ocean or on local trails, soaking up sunlight whenever possible. I enjoy good coffee, podcasts, time with my two dogs, and the occasional 5K run (sometimes enthusiastically, sometimes not).
Amy offers virtual counselling to clients at a reduced rate while she awaits completion of her studies. She plans to register with the BCACC to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC).