Counselling is a boat that carries you across rough waters to a new shore. 

When words are both kind and true, they can change our world.  — Buddha

It is challenging being a human. Regardless of who you are, suffering, confusion and heartache are part of life. However, counselling can turn these difficulties into doorways for growth, healing, and transformation.

Counselling offers the opportunity to: enhance self-acceptance and compassion; overcome destructive habits; process childhood experiences, gain insights; summon courage and experience deep well-being.

If you believe that wellbeing arises when body, heart, mind and spirit are integrated, you will resonate with my approach.

As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), my approach to counselling is holistic. I integrate Science, Psychology, and Spirituality. With recent developments in neuroscience and insight into the nervous system, we know that psychology and physiology are intimately connected. On some level we are all yearning to have a deeper, richer experience of who we are and our lives. This yearning is the portal into spirituality.

Here are the key aspects of my clinical practice:

Trauma/Nervous System

Trauma is a physiological and a psychological event.

Fascinated by the body and its inherent wisdom, I’ve studied  somatic work for years. Somatic work brings  awareness to body sensations and feelings to access realms of deep knowing.

By attending to the body in this way, stagnant energy becomes liberated as vital life energy. This restores regulation to the nervous system and alleviates trauma symptoms. I have studied Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Transformation and Bringing the Body into Practice.

Couples Counselling

As a couples counsellor, I am informed by Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) developed by Dr. Sue Johnson. I have studied with Dr. Johnson and worked closely with her colleague, Gail Palmer.

EFT focuses on attachment and bonding in relationships. EFT helps clients understand and make sense of their emotions. By organizing and distilling emotions, EFT uses present time to create a new positive experience in the here and now.

EFT takes steps to create a more secure bond and develop more trust to move the relationship in a healthier, more positive direction. It’s very inspiring to work with couples as they let down their defences, and their words of love become an experience of love. As safety and understanding deepen, the couples move closer to an intimate and satisfying connection.

Gender transitioning

I provide hormone readiness assessments for individuals wishing to transition gender.

Mindfulness

It’s exciting that the research on mindfulness and neuroscience is burgeoning. Neuro-plasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself, indicates that change is possible on any level, at any age, under any conditions.

The rich tradition of Yoga has much to offer us. I’ve been teaching Yoga since 2001. As a Yoga therapist I use simple yogic practices to help manage anxiety and stress.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a natural complement to mindfulness. While mindfulness cultivates a non-reactive awareness of thoughts and emotions, cognitive behavioural therapy addresses the content of our thoughts. It is our distorted thinking that creates suffering. When we can change our thinking pattern, we change our perception of ourselves, our lives and the world.

Contact and fees

It’s important to choose a counsellor that you feel comfortable with and trust. Feel free to contact me for a free 20 minute consultation.

FEES:

Individual counselling: $170/60 min plus GST
Couples counselling: $195/60 min plus GST
(some spots available on a sliding scale)

Ocean Lum, MA, RCC
Holistic Counselling
Integrating Counselling, Mindfulness & Yoga

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.” —Einstein