Our Team
Shauna Burns-Thomson
(she/her)
MSc., RCC
Shauna provides phone and virtual/video counselling to clients across British Columbia. She enjoys working with adults of all gender identities and sexual orientations through individual or partnered sessions.
Through an inclusive, collaborative and trauma-informed lens, Shauna has a vested interest in helping clients learn about stress and related disorders, trauma, and healthy sexuality during various adult life stages so that they can live their best, most fulfilling life possible.
Recognizing the connection between the mind and body, Shauna takes a holistic approach to fostering wellness in a way that works for each unique client. Shauna strives to hold space for clients as she meets them where they are at, walking alongside individuals as they explore their individual healing journey.
Shauna’s work with couples supports the development of relational safety, open and healthy communication patterns, connection, and a deeper understanding of one another. While one of her areas of specialization is sex therapy, the work she does with partners extends into other realms of their relationship as well.
Shauna specializes in assisting clients with healthy sexual development, including, but not limited to:
Enhancing communication
Conflict resolution
Rekindling romance
Bringing elements of play into the intimate relationship
Gaining empowerment in identifying and articulating sexual wants, needs and fantasy exploration with partners
Challenging problematic sexual narratives
Demystifying the sexual experience
Dismantling sexual shame
Vulva-owner's sexual health and wellness
Sexual dysfunction
Low libido
Gender identity and/or orientation exploration
Addictive sexual behaviours
Coping with problematic sexual interests/behaviours
Shauna also has a great deal of experience working with clients facing the impacts of stress and trauma, winning a national award for her work in supporting the mental wellbeing of public service personnel. Shauna recognizes that trauma presents differently based on each person’s journey, and works with individuals and partners based on their unique experiences.
Shauna supports clients experiencing stress and effects of trauma such as:
Coping with trauma from childhood and beyond
Intergenerational trauma
Compounded traumatic experiences
Institutionalization
Systemic oppression
Experiences of sexual abuse
Addiction
Post Traumatic Stress Responses
Burnout
First Responder fatigue and/or experiences
Issues unique to partners/spouses of First Responders
Critical Incident Stress Management follow up
Anxiety
Depression
Understanding the stress response
Emotional dysregulation
Developing effective coping strategies
Releasing the hold of stress and trauma within the body
Shauna’s approach to counselling blends together techniques from Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Somatic-based Therapies, based on the needs of her clients.
With a passion for lifelong learning, Shauna has completed a Master of Science in Psychology and is currently working on earning a PhD in Clinical Sexology. She has completed EFT Level 1 and 2 training, as well as supplementary Understanding Emergency Worker Trauma and Understanding Firefighter Culture & Trauma training to support her work with first responders. Shauna has training and experience supporting neurodiverse clients, both individually and in partnered sessions. She has several years working with clients in both non-profit and public service settings. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC).
Shauna is happy to acknowledge her privilege to live, work, learn and play on the traditional, unceded and ancestral lands of the Matsqui and Sto:lo peoples, giving thanks to the many teachers she has encountered whom allow her to honour this land and its people in a respectful and better-informed manner.
Rate
$150+GST per 50 minute session (individuals)
$175+GST per 50 minute session (couples/partners)