Hi, I’m Laura Avila
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a member in good standing with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. Born and raised in beautiful Barcelona (Spain), I aim to honour my Mediterranean roots in everything I do, which to me translates into bringing warmth in all my interactions. As an immigrant I understand the difficulty of navigating extreme life changes and new social and cultural dynamics, but I also aim to search for the light in the darkest places and bring humour to the process of healing.
My STORY
After finishing my Bachelor of Arts in Spain, I spent a few years exploring Europe and North-America until I found home in Vancouver, BC. Further self-exploration and questioning of traditional systems that shape our world brought me to the realization I wanted to do more, and my deep passion and understanding of human relationships pushed me to pursue further education to empower others and assist them during their path to growth. I now have a Master’s in Counselling and I have had the honour to work with a wide variety of populations, which allowed me to choose my specialty in relationships, intimacy, and sexuality.
My work
In my practice I show up authentically using a sex-positive, feminist, anti-oppressive approach. I am trained in Brief Therapy Models -like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Adlerian Psychology, Emotionally-Focused Therapy for couples, and Somatic Therapy. I use an integrative approach to my practice, drawing from my focus in Attachment Theory and Neuroscience, as well an intuitive understanding of relationship dynamics. Every client is different, which means every session looks very different. Drawing from my academic training and my personal understanding of human beings, I aim to creatively adapt my work to your very specific needs.
My TRAINING
Master’s in Counselling
City University of Seattle | 2021Somatic Attachment Therapy
The Embody Lab | 2023Trauma Informed Practice Training: Level 2
Trauma Informed Practice Institute | 2023
Trauma Informed Practice Training: Level 1
Trauma Informed Practice Institute | 2023
Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples
Vancouver Centre for Emotionally Focused Therapy | 2022The Sexually Competent Therapist
Allura Sex Therapy Centre | 2021Dreams and Dream Interpretation
The Adler Centre | 2021