Lianne Labistour (she/her), BA., MA., Clinical Counsellor & Mediator
So much of what causes stress and heartache today seems universal: being angry or disappointed in yourself or others. Feeling anxious, rudderless or downright blahhh. Being overwhelmed or enraged at whatever system you’re in—then feeling stuck. Aching for loved ones to step up and do what’s right—whether that’s your partner sharing the workload fairly, your teens getting off their phones, or your family finally seeing you for who you really are.
I get it because I’ve lived it.
People tend to seek me out because I’m clear-headed, sincere and deeply hopeful. I start by having people share a bit of their story and current concerns and go from there. I focus on what feels helpful for you — sometimes that’s having a safe sounding board, other times that’s having a co-problem solver with tools and strategies right beside you.
Sometimes we’ll focus on emotions — unpacking and feeling them. Other times we’ll turn our attention to motion by looking at taking tiny steps toward a life you’d prefer. The work we do will feel supportive –- always. It might even feel energizing or liberating. And when it’s tricky or tough, I’ll help you navigate. (And, as odd as it sounds, we might even end up having a few laughs as we go.)
My truest passion is in helping people sort through relationships and all their messy, complex moments. This includes working on the connection you have with your own Self. That might look like getting clarity on why things feel hard, validating that you’re entitled and able to switch things up, and finding ways to become your own compassionate, wise counsel.
A significant part of my work also focuses on partnership challenges: working with folks going through separation or divorce, mediating co-parenting plans, and helping people navigate relational upheaval in all its forms. Family estrangement is a subject that’s particularly close to my heart, and something I’ve researched and written about extensively. I work sensitively and empathetically with this (wildly painful) reality from both perspectives — those initiating estrangement and those being estranged from it.
In all, I draw on a lengthy career in communications, as well as my own experience as a wife, parent, stepparent, stepchild, and fellow vulnerable human. I’ve also picked up invaluable insights by completing the Family Mediation program at the Justice Institute of BC and training as a Collaborative Divorce Coach.
I’m currently seeing individuals (teens to seniors), as well as couples and families.
Our work together will use a few different trauma-informed lenses:
Internal Family Systems — honouring the ways different parts of you have carried/adapted to past and current difficulties and seeing what new strategies could await
Emotion-Focused Therapy — exploring your early attachments, and how emotions show up in your life and body, including through gentle somatic work
Couples Therapy — drawing on my learnings from Gottman Levels 1 & 2, Emotion Focused Couples Therapy and IFIO (IFS for couples) we will examine ways to address conflict and spot opportunities to increase joy, play, intimacy and connection
Narrative Therapy — unpacking the stories you tell about your life, and considering writing and living a whole new story by aligning with values that feel right to you
Systems, Feminist & Queer Theories — recognizing that our experiences don’t exist in a power vacuum and that social, cultural and socio-economic realities affect us all…a lot
If you’re keen to meet online with someone empathetic who throws in the occasional sports metaphor or TV reference for good measure, let’s talk. When I’m not at work, you’ll find me walking my ding-dong of a dog, hanging with my teenager and husband, or kiteboarding and skiing with some pals.
thx!
Meet with Lianne
If you are interested in receiving counselling from Lianne, please click the button below or email lianne@seahorsecounselling.ca