Rita Girn

Rita leads with her heart. She acknowledges the privilege of this work and the courage required to engage in therapy. She truly believes we are all looking for connection, belonging, and compassion, whether that is from the outside world or from within ourselves. Rita is honoured to walk alongside her clients and hold space for their most vulnerable and true self. Rita's purpose as a therapist is to provide specialized services that make sense for her clients and their goals as they grow and learn. She finds great delight in seeing people heal the wounds of the past, live more wholeheartedly in the present, and have a clear vision and tools for their future. Rita has a deep passion of removing stigma, normalizing the emotions that come along with life transitions, systematic discrimination and providing therapy to those who identify within the BIPOC population. As a counsellor, Rita will work with you to increase your awareness to gain a deeper understanding of your needs and develop skills to improve your relationship with yourself and others. Philosophically, she truly values the Adlerian approach which focuses on the individual, their sense of belonging, and how their perspective about themselves, their relationships and the world impact their daily lives. Rita believes we all have a story to share and looks forward to hearing yours while supporting you to create the change you desire. Rita specializes in working with those who have experienced trauma, loss and perinatal mental health. Perinatal mental health includes: those trying to conceive, those that are pregnant and those in the postpartum period. A variety of thoughts, feelings and behaviours come up at each stage and are different for each person. Those thoughts and feelings associated with this decision and process of trying to conceive, pregnancy, and postpartum period can be all over the spectrum (positive, negative, scary, overwhelming, etc.). Society portrays and expects this period to evolve in a certain way and for parents to react in a very specific manner. There is so much internal and external pressure on those wanting to be parents and those who are parents. On top of these expectations there is such stigma when individuals, couples and caregivers do not fit the mold of what is expected. This period can be very overwhelming and isolating and may not follow the route you wanted or expected and that’s where I can help. The perinatal population also includes related concerns of: infertility, grief and loss, traumatic birth, relational and couples counselling, postpartum depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and rediscovering your identity and relationship after childbirth. Rita is a Registered Social Worker (#10026) with the BC College of Social Workers and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (#12511) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She is also Certified Perinatal Mental Health Clinician and Certified EMDR Therapist.