About
Vanessa Vandergaag
Vanessa (she/her) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Canadian Certified Counsellor, Certified yoga teacher, and mom to three little adventurers. Through her career, she has used a blend of CBT, nature-based therapy, and mindfulness to support both youth and adults. Vanessa has over 8 years experience supporting youth who have faced adversity with family violence and mental health complexities. With a double degree in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership and Psychology, she has guided many adventure-based activities, led group therapy sessions, including for youth struggling with addictions. She specializes in providing compassionate support for new families and women’s perinatal mental health.
Whether she is on a mountain or in an office; she is passionate to hear people’s stories and help them connect to their values, create a sense of belonging, and navigate meaningful change in their lives.
Vanessa acknowledges that she lives, works, and plays on the unceded Witsuwit’en territory.
“The person is not the problem.
The problem is the problem.”
— Narrative therapy founders Michael White & David Epston
Who We Are
Vanessa offers a grounded, non-judgemental, trauma-informed, collaborative approach that focuses on your lived experiences. She does not shy away from the difficult parts of the healing process, but will move through them safely, with curiosity, and in a way that honours your story.
Vanessa integrates the following therapeutic modalities into her practice: Narrative therapy, Solution-focused therapy, Somatic therapy, Mindfulness, Nature therapy, Attachment theory, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
Education
Masters of Counselling Psychology
University of Athabasca, 2023
Bachelors of Psychology
Mount Royal University, 2015
Bachelors of Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership
Mount Royal University, 2012