Supporting You on Your Journey
Online EMDR Therapy
Dena Marie Gysel, MEd, RCC | Counselling and EMDR Therapy
Counselling is a journey that enables you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in a supportive and non-judgmental environment, facilitating personal growth, self-awareness, healing, and positive change. This journey can help you gain insight into your experiences, develop coping strategies, and work towards resolving specific issues, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
My Philosophy
I am incredibly dedicated to providing authentic and compassionate support to others and aspire to create connections built on understanding and trust. My counselling approach is to create a safe, caring, and calm space for you to look at your life and to support you in finding some answers to “what’s going on”. My practice is informed by the principles of human psychology, connections in relationships, and lived experiences.
My primary therapy method used in session is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) which supports clients in getting to the root of their current concerns through the processing of trauma or other distressing experiences from the past. Other methods used are person-centered (the client is always the expert in their story), trauma informed (our past influences who we are), and emotionally focused (our emotions guide us).
My Approach
Experienced Registered Clinical Counsellor Supporting Change & Healing
To support you on your journey, I have a Master’s in Education in Counselling from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), a professional association that has confidence in the experience and qualifications of their RCC’s. I am also a Certified EMDR Therapist and a member of EMDRIA (EMDR International Association). Additional training includes Person Centered Counselling, Solution Based Therapy, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
I have many years of experience supporting adults across British Columbia who are living with the effects of trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, relationship challenges, and difficulties with boundaries and emotional regulation. Much of my work focuses on helping individuals understand how past experiences continue to shape their thoughts, emotions, and reactions today. Through a trauma-informed approach, our work together supports healing at a deeper level—helping you feel more grounded, find greater balance, and reconnect with a sense of safety and clarity. Over time, you may begin to notice increased resilience, improved emotional regulation, and a renewed sense of confidence in your ability to move forward and create meaningful change in your life..
What You Can Expect from Our Counselling and
EMDR Sessions
Our counselling and EMDR sessions are grounded in safety, compassion, and collaboration. From the very beginning, the focus is on creating a calm and supportive space where you can explore what is happening in your life at a pace that feels right for you. You are never rushed into sharing more than you are ready for, and your experiences are always met with respect and care.
Sessions include gentle exploration of current challenges, emotions, patterns, symptoms, and triggers, supported from a trauma-informed and EMDR-focused lens. Rather than focusing on the problem, EMDR counselling supports you in understanding how past experiences may be influencing your present and helps you develop greater emotional awareness and regulation. Throughout our work together, you remain the expert in your own story, while EMDR therapy offers guidance, tools, and steady support to help you feel more grounded, connected, and confident as you navigate life’s challenges.
“Healing begins the moment you feel safe enough to tell your story.”
~ Unknown
Is Counselling and EMDR Therapy the Right
Next Step for You?
People often begin counselling when they notice patterns that no longer feel helpful or when life feels overwhelming, confusing, or emotionally heavy. You may be seeking support for anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, past experiences, or a general sense of feeling stuck. Counselling offers a space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with yourself. It can support you in gaining clarity, strengthening emotional awareness, and moving toward greater balance, healing, and self-trust in your life.
If you feel ready to explore counselling and EMDR therapy, you’re welcome to reach out to schedule a free 15 minute initial consultation to see if this support feels like the right fit for you.