Therapy in Vancouver, BC for parents, caregivers, families, and adults navigating the hard parts of relationships and change.
Life doesn’t always go as expected and it can really hurt.
You may not be where you thought you’d be. (That’s so normal).
We can work with that.
When families or individuals face life transitions, we may end up feeling isolated, blamed or tired. Maybe we feel hopeless, like we have tried everything.
Whether you are a parent navigating a teen’s transition to adulthood, or feeling disconnected from your adult child, or an older adult asking yourself What do I do with the last 3rd of my life? —
Having someone alongside you with experience, practical knowledge and compassion can help. Someone who doesn’t judge and understands shame and feelings of failure.
I have 30 years experience working with Vancouver families, and I am the parent of three adult children. I’ve experienced the self-discovery that can happen in the last third of life.
There’s very little I haven’t seen folks work through and recover from, ending up stronger than before.
Land acknowledgement
I live, work, and serve on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
I’m grateful to live and practise on these lands, and I acknowledge the ongoing relationship Indigenous peoples have with this territory, past and present.
I offer warm, practical, focussed, non-judgemental support for parents, teens, and adults navigating change, conflict, grief, shame & transition.
My goal: to support you and equip you with tools that make positive change possible, bringing back hope and confidence.
About Mary Anne
Grounded. Practical. Experienced.
By your side.
I believe that people can find their way through hard, often very painful, times. I have seen it firsthand.
Most of us are doing our best with the tools, knowledge, and type of support we have. What we need isn’t more blame — it’s clarity, targeted support, new strategies, and someone who can help you see a different path forward.
Often it isn’t about doing more, it is about doing things differently.
Ways we can work together:
a few consultations can give you the tools and framework to make noticeable changes,
working together over a few months can support you further,
devoting more time to going deeper if change doesn’t come easily.
Working collaboratively we will put together an approach based on what is happening for you, in your life.
When things are back on track, 30-min follow-up coaching sessions are available.
My Values
Hope
Even if things feel stuck, change is possible. It just might mean trying something different.
Acceptance
We all have things we wish we had done differently. I’ve heard a lot, and you are welcome here.
Connection
Parenting, healing and growth were never meant to happen in isolation. You don’t have to do this alone.
Education & Credentials
BA in Psychology
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Registered with the BC College of Social Workers (RSW)
Member of the BC Association of Social Workers
30 years working with families
Parent of three adult children
Areas of Practice
What brings people in
Transitional seasons of life—when life, our roles or who we think we are changes—can bring unexpected challenges. Maybe the overwhelm and pain of life is too much to handle alone. Maybe we never expected to be acting this way. Maybe we never thought that we would face such intense struggles with family and relationships. These challenges might look like:
navigating difficult relationships with teens or adult children
changing how we approach our youth when we’re concerned about substance use or mental health
entering later stages of life and asking deeper questions about identity, meaning, connection, and what comes next.
Parent–Teen & Parent–Adult Child Relationships
From conflict and disconnection toward clearer communication and more connected relationships.
Supporting Parents of Children with Mental Health Challenges
Practical and emotional support for parents whose young person is struggling with anxiety, depression, school refusal, and emotional dysregulation.
Later Life Transitions
For people entering a new stage of adulthood and asking deeper questions about identity, meaning, and what comes next.
Supporting Parents of Children with Substance Use Issues
Finding ways to parent when a young person is engaged in substance use, or spending too much time in activities that aren’t seeming to be helpful and at the same time, staying connected in the relationship.
Shame & Self-Judgment
Therapy for people carrying guilt or the feeling they've somehow failed — especially in parenting and relationships.
Grief
Support through loss, relationship grief, and the emotional transitions that come with life shifting unexpectedly.
In their words…
How I Work
Therapeutic approaches
I work collaboratively and conversationally.
While therapy can absolutely involve deeper emotional work around grief, shame, identity, or life transitions, I also believe people are looking for strategies and ideas they can immediately use in their day to day lives. Especially in parenting work, I often help clients leave sessions with concrete tools, practical shifts, and a clearer understanding of what’s happening underneath the conflict.
In addition to those listed here, I also draw from: trauma-informed practice, solution-focused therapy, harm reduction & feminist theory
Click through to learn more about each approach.
Services, Fees & Policies
Services, fees & policies
I offer both in-person therapy in Vancouver and online sessions via Zoom. A limited number of sliding scale spaces are available — please reach out to find out more.
Payment & Insurance. I accept e-transfer or cash for in-person sessions. Receipts provided for insurance reimbursement. No direct billing.
Sliding scale available. A limited number of reduced-fee spaces are held for those who need them. Please reach out to discuss.
Cancellations: Please provide at least 24 hours' notice. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice may be subject to the full session fee.
What to expect
How therapy works with me
01
A real conversation
Our first session is a conversation with questions to help me understand what’s bringing you here and what would be most helpful. I want you to feel understood and supported right away.
02
Practical tools
Many folks leave their first session with a practical tool, a shift in perspective, or a clearer understanding of what’s happening underneath the conflict or overwhelm.
03
Collaboration & customization
Therapy with me is collaborative, grounded, and practical. Some people come for ongoing support, while others only need a handful of sessions to regain clarity and direction. Sometimes clients return months later for a “refresher.”
Come to a place where someone gets it.
Get in touch
Ready to take the first step?
A discovery call is free, no-obligation, and a chance to ask questions and see whether working together feels right. You don't need to have anything figured out before you reach out.
In person
Vancouver, BC
Online
Zoom
FAQs
Things people often wonder before getting started
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That’s actually very common. Parents/caregivers often feel stuck when they’re the only one willing to seek support, but meaningful change can still happen. Often when one person shifts the way they respond, the entire dynamic begins to change.
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Many parents come to me feeling exhausted, discouraged, and out of ideas. Often, it’s not that they’ve failed — it’s that they’ve been trying to navigate something incredibly difficult and don't always have the right support or tools. I am here to provide some things that might be more effective
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Absolutely. Most of my work is just with the parents/caregivers. Supporting parents can often have a powerful impact on the overall relationship and family system. When parental responses change often this has a positive impact on others behavior.
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There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some people benefit from ongoing therapy, while others come for a handful of sessions to gain clarity, tools, or support during a specific challenge.
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Both. I believe insight matters, but I also know people want support they can use in real life. Especially in parenting work, I often offer practical tools, strategies, and ways of responding that clients can implement right away.
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You are not alone in that feeling. Parenting can bring up fear, helplessness, frustration, and pain in ways people rarely talk about openly. Therapy is a space where you can speak honestly without judgment.
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I also work with teens and older adults, navigating substance use issues, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions — including people entering later stages of adulthood and asking deeper questions about identity, meaning, and what comes next.
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Online therapy can feel surprisingly personal and connected. Many clients appreciate the comfort and flexibility of being in their own space while still receiving meaningful support.