About Carly
This is the story I really wanted to tell.
Welcome. I’m glad you’re here—and if what brought you here feels heavy, I hope this page helps you decide whether I might be the right person to walk alongside you.
What I believe about counselling
I don’t believe counselling is about fixing people. I believe healing happens when we no longer have to carry life’s burdens alone.
My role isn’t to tell you who you should become or to have all the answers. Instead, I hope to create a relationship where you feel deeply understood, emotionally safe, and free to explore whatever brings you here. Together, we’ll make sense of your experiences, discover the patterns that have shaped your life, and work toward the kind of change that feels meaningful and lasting.
My work is grounded in attachment theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy because I believe our relationships—with others and with ourselves—have a profound impact on how we experience the world. At the same time, every client is unique, so I thoughtfully integrate person-centred, strength-based, cognitive behavioural, and solution-focused approaches to meet your individual needs.
A few lives lived before this one
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent five years teaching elementary school in Singapore and Canada. Then I followed a very different path—training in pastry arts in France and co-founding a wholesale bakery that I owned and operated for more than a decade. Those experiences taught me about leadership, creativity, stress, uncertainty, and the courage it takes to begin again.
My husband and I are parents to two incredible boys, and our family’s story has been shaped by both adoption and in vitro fertilization. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the complexity of family life, identity, belonging, resilience, and hope—and they continue to inform the empathy, curiosity, and hope I bring into the counselling room.
Outside of counselling, you’ll usually find me hiking a trail, experimenting in the kitchen, spending time with family, or enjoying quiet moments in nature. These are the places that help me slow down, reconnect, and remember what matters most.
Training & credentials
I completed my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) at Yorkville University, following my practicum at Comox Valley Counselling in Courtenay, where I now practice. Registration with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) is currently pending.
Therapeutic approaches
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT/EFIT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Person-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Strengths-Based Therapy
Additional training
- Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) Essentials
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Fundamentals
- Working with Family Estrangement
- The Psychological Impact of Infertility
- Non-Violent Communication & Anti-Racism Response Training
You can also find me on Psychology Today and at Comox Valley Counselling.
“Life’s hills often feel a little less steep when we don’t have to climb them alone.”
One idea has become an anchor for both my life and my work
If you’re carrying something heavy, I’d be honoured to walk alongside you.
My hope is to be someone who walks alongside you with compassion, curiosity, and care as you navigate whatever season of life you’re in.
Book your free consultationIn person in Courtenay · virtual & phone across BC · individuals aged 10+