Welcome!
My name is Rhianna Williams, I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC #19779), holding a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology and an undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care.
Originally from the West Kootenay region of B.C., I grew up in a family impacted by significant adversity. These early experiences instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and connection to community. My career journey began with a desire to find a meaningful career and to better understand the people, places, and experiences that shaped my early life.
Before becoming a RCC, I worked for over a decade as a Youth and Family Outreach Counsellor and Youth Care Worker in both the
not-for-profit and public healthcare systems. I held a number of roles, including working with youth in hospital and community outreach settings who were struggling with mental health challenges, addictions, and homelessness. I also worked with families involved in the foster care system, served as a Women's Stopping the Violence Counselling, restorative justice case facilitator, and provided adaptive and therapeutic recreation.
My Approach
In my counselling practice, I draw on a number of therapeutic approaches and theories. My work is grounded in a bio-psycho-social perspective, meaning we explore how you are functioning across your neurobiology, thoughts, emotions, and relationships. I work extensively with the nervous system, helping clients understand what optimal functioning looks like for them.
In counselling, I support clients in learning to track their stress responses so they can avoid going from 0–100 and better recognize when they are beginning to enter a stressed state of fight, flight, or freeze. This approach is especially helpful for those experiencing anxiety, addictive behaviours, relationship issues, the impacts of childhood trauma, or emotional overwhelm. Together, we work to build awareness, increase capacity, and support more adaptive responses to stress.
In our work together, we focus on understanding attachment patterns, strengthening emotional regulation, and developing skills for more intentional and effective communication. This process supports greater self-understanding, reduced stress, and improved overall well-being and life satisfaction.
I am trained in the Gottman Method for couples counselling, Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, CBT, Somatic Psychotherapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Attachment Theory, and a trauma-informed approach to mental health care. I integrate tools from these modalities based on your unique needs and goals in counselling.
Education & Training
Education
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Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University
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Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria
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Dual Diploma in Child and Youth Care & Social Service Work, Selkirk College
Additional Training
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Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy
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Gottman Method Couples Therapy
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Emotion-Focused Family Therapy
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Nature-Based Therapy
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Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
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Positive Discipline Parenting
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San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training
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Occupational Awareness Training Fire Fighter Culture and Trauma, Emergency Workers Trauma