Olivia Bates, RCC

Welcome — I’m so glad you’re here!

My name is Olivia, and my path to becoming a counsellor grew from a deep appreciation for human connection and the healing power of feeling truly seen and heard. This belief was shaped early on, watching my dad quietly navigate life with type 1 diabetes, and witnessing not only its physical impact, but the emotional toll of carrying so much alone. It taught me something I hold close in my work: no one should have to struggle in silence, and healing happens best through connection.

I take a client-centred approach, grounded in warmth, trust, and authenticity — with space for laughter, because it often gets lost when life feels heavy. I aim to create a safe, supportive, collaborative, and culturally-sensitive environment where you can show up just as you are, and where we can explore all of life’s complexities together.

My work is informed by Psychodynamic and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) approaches. I believe that gently exploring early life experiences and unprocessed emotions at your pace can help us better understand current patterns, beliefs, attachment styles, relationships, protective mechanisms and ways of coping. I also draw from strength-based and solution-focused approaches, as I truly believe you are the expert in your own life. My goal is to help you reconnect with your authentic self, rediscover your strengths that may have been dimmed by really difficult experiences, and recognize your inherent power, resilience, worth, and capacity for growth!

I work with individuals and couples navigating stress, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, identity, life transitions, low self-esteem, and relationship challenges.

You’re invited to show up as yourself, exactly where you are in your healing and self-discovery journey — because wherever you’re at is okay, even if its not where you expected to be. I look forward to meeting and walking alongside you!