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.

Laura Avila counsellor in BC

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 | 2021

  • Somatic Attachment Therapy
    The Embody Lab | 2023

  • Trauma 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 | 2022

  • The Sexually Competent Therapist
    Allura Sex Therapy Centre | 2021

  • Dreams and Dream Interpretation
    The Adler Centre | 2021

A designation of BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.