Anda Vintila (she/her) MA, RCC
BA, MA, Registered Clinical Counsellor
Therapy Formats: Virtual & In-Person
I speak English
Accepting New Clients
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I’m passionately devoted to supporting people in coming into safer relationship with their emotions, thoughts, and body sensations in order to feel more fulfilled in their lives. I often find that when we feel disconnected from our innermost Self, we also feel disconnected from our place in the world and perhaps in our relationships.
I often support clients in forming or re-establishing this connection through developing a greater sense of awareness of their nervous system states (and how they can re-shape their nervous system to support mind-body regulation), of their patterns, of their emotions, and of the thoughts that contribute to their challenging experiences.
I am particularly sensitive to the impact of early life experiences of my clients as these developmental years are considered to be foundational to how we view ourself, how we show up in relationships, our capacity to self-regulate, and in the formation of our self-protection responses.
I strive to create a safe, compassionate, collaborative, and empowering environment that can support and contain the process of change. My mission is to create a relationship together where I can be alongside and guide you into feeling more connected to yourself – mind, body, soul – and to life.
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My approach to therapy is highly influenced by a blend of various somatic (body-centered) trainings I have taken over the years, my own personal inner work, and incredible mentorship. The therapeutic process can include somatic therapy and nervous system reshaping, dream work, shadow work, inner child re-parenting, mindfulness, family constellations, and Jungian aspects.
Since most of us have been injured within our relationships, attachment research and my own personal experiences have demonstrated that healing also occurs within relationships, not solely through individual inner work. In our relationship, my mission is to show up as an anchor and guide to support your healing.
In our sessions, I will provide a space where together we can learn how to witness and honour all that we are showing up with. I support people in staying connected to their body in order to learn how to recognize and move through the ebbs and flows of emotional states, internal beliefs, and patterns that no longer serve their well-being.
Through increasing this mind-body awareness, I have seen clients develop greater tolerance and resilience for uncomfortable feelings and sensations as well as an increase in their capacity to rest into ease, comfort, and aliveness within themselves and in their relationships.
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My journey to becoming a psychotherapist began in my early life where my parents and I immigrated to Canada from Romania (post-communism) when I was 8 years old.
As a very sensitive and empathetic child, this transition was very difficult for me (and also for my family). Throughout elementary school and high school, I met only a few who were from different places or who seemed to be balancing differing cultural values – I noticed a lack of feeling reflected through the rest of my peers. Although I did my best to integrate, I often found myself split inside and wondering where I truly belonged.
Belonging is an inherent human need – it was imperative for our survival throughout history and it still is now. Looking back, I recognize that since my parents were working so hard to survive in Canada, they didn’t have the energy to have these conversations and fully support me in adapting. Although my childhood and teen years felt difficult, I was able to form deep friendships that to this day are part of my family. My early life experiences led me to become very curious about the impact of our developmental years on the way we relate to ourselves and in our relationships – especially the connection between what we long for in our adult selves and what our child self didn’t receive.
Given my experiences and inherent curiosity towards our multidimensional experience of being human, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Victoria and a Master’s degree in Counselling at City University. In between my Bachelor's and Master’s degrees, I traveled throughout Europe and Asia which reconnected me to others who also had intersecting identities – these years supported my own reconnection to Self.
I also have extensive training in various Body-Centered Psychotherapy methods which I continue to immerse myself in learning so I can support clients in processing trauma and challenging patterns through the mind and body.
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• Difficult early life experiences and trauma
• Relationship issues
• Disembodiment
• A perceived loss of self or disconnection from self
• Emotional dysregulation
• Communication
• Self-esteem and worthiness
• Grief
• A sense of powerlessness and shame
• Abandonment fears
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Dreams
• Life transitions
• Relational and attachment wounding
• Spirituality
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Psychotherapy and therapeutic coaching for individuals and couples.
Individual session - 50 min: $180
80 min: $250
Couples session - 50 min: $200
80 min: $270
Accepts Extended Health Coverage (for clients in BC)
