Meet Sheila, RTC

Counsellor in Victoria BC

Sheila Gauthier, [she, her], RTC

“I will help you navigate life’s toughest moments so you can reconnect with your strength, resilience, & the possibility of a brighter future.”

Currently Accepting New in Office Clients for Individual Counselling

My approach

Person-Centered. Solution Focused. Strength Based. Trauma Informed/Sensitive Practice.

I will support and help you to overcome, accept, or grieve the situations in your life that have you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, angry, or disempowered. I consider the counselling space between us to be sacred and worthy of respect.

People have said I am genuine and grounded. I believe myself to be curious and compassionate. I care & I listen deeply. I have a long list of life experiences & I bet you do too. 

Sometimes in our lives there are no answers. Sometimes the problem cannot be solved. Sometimes we must surrender & surrendering can be simple but also layered & complex.

We will work together to bring forward your strengths, adaptability, resilience & self-compassion in a way that will increase your capacity for a better life than what you are currently experiencing. 

I believe that showing up for counselling with your own curiosity and willingness is a great place to begin. I look forward to sitting with you and hearing your story.

Individual Counselling: 1 hour (50 minute)session $135

My Story

If you’ve experienced grief, loss, or the profound impact of death, you may resonate with my deep connection to longing and the innate desire to belong to something greater than myself. Losing my mother as a child has left a persistent and unyielding mark on my life. This loss has profoundly shaped my way of being, allowing me to bear witness to the many forms of loss that weave through the fabric of life.

I am in partnership and also co-parent a neurodivergent young adult (AuADHD) who is an absolute treasure. Parenting has profoundly influenced my understanding of justice, oppression, and inclusivity. It’s evident that we all have work to do—not just with one another, but also within the systems that shape our lives.

Now in the postmenopausal phase of life, I embrace self-compassion and prioritize caring for myself in ways that restore and replenish my body, mind, and spirit. Through intentional rest, stretching, breathing, and creative outlets (writing, photography, & telling jokes 🙂 that I think are hilarious), I’ve discovered a deeper connection to myself than ever before.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of counselling adults navigating grief, life transitions, assertiveness, boundaries, relationships, and communication challenges. I’ve also supported individuals dealing with anxiety, situational depression, and the unique struggles that neurodivergent traits can bring in a world often designed for neurotypical experiences.

Areas of focus

  • Life transitions, grief and loss

  • Postmenopause

  • Stress, burnout, fatigue, overwhelm, depression

  • Boundaries: defining your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual limits

  • Assertiveness, finding and strengthening your voice

Education & Training

  • Diploma of Professional Counselling

  • Compassionate Inquiry Workshop, with Dr. Gabor Maté

  • Life Coaching Certification

  • Autism Essentials, by Reframing Autism

  • Trauma-Informed Mental Health Care for Neurodivergent Populations, by Therapist Neurodiversity Collective

  • Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, San’yas

  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASSIST)

Professional Memberships & Affiliations

  • Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) #2984 - Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT)

  • The Art of Living Foundation

  • Therapist Neurodiversity Collective

Book a Session

To book a session with Sheila please book online or fill out the following contact form: