Trauma Counselling

You Show Up for Others Every Day.

But who helps you carry the weight of what you've seen and felt?

Trauma Counselling for First Responders and Healthcare Professionals

As someone on the front lines—whether you're a paramedic, nurse, firefighter, doctor, dispatcher, or care provider—you've witnessed more than most people ever will. The intensity, the loss, the helpless moments—they don’t always stay at work.

  • You might feel on edge, anxious, or emotionally numb.

  • Maybe you’re haunted by images you can’t unsee; flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts.

  • Or you’ve become distant from the people you care about, avoiding anything that feels too much.

You may be asking:
Why can’t I shake this? What’s wrong with me?

You might feel:
I’m supposed to be strong. I’m the one others count on.

I understand the unique pressures of your work and the toll it can take.

At Fine Balance Counselling & Yoga Therapy, I offer a space where your experience is met with deep respect, not judgment.

You are not broken. You are carrying the cost of caring deeply in a high-stakes world.
And you don’t have to carry it alone.

Here’s how we’ll work together:

1. Start with a Safe Connection
 We'll build a relationship grounded in trust and compassion, at a pace that feels right for you.

2. Gently Explore and Release
 We’ll explore your experiences without overwhelm, and work to reduce symptoms like:

  • Flashbacks and nightmares

  • Hypervigilance and anxiety

  • Emotional shutdown or numbness

  • Guilt, shame, or self-blame

3. Regain Your Ground
 You’ll learn simple, effective tools to help you feel more in control:

  • Grounding skills for when you’re triggered

  • Techniques to calm your nervous system

  • Boundaries to protect your time and energy

  • Communication skills for personal and professional life

You’re already strong. You don’t have to be alone too.
 Trauma therapy offers a path to healing, not by erasing what’s happened, but by helping you carry it differently.

Book a free 15-minute consultation to get a feel for how I work and whether this feels like the right next step for you.

With the right support, it’s possible to:

  • Feel less reactive and more grounded

  • Reconnect with yourself and others

  • Rediscover your purpose and resilience

  • Carry the weight of your work without it costing you everything

You’ve faced more than most, and healing is within reach.

You Carry the Weight of Crisis.

But who helps you process what you’ve lived through?

Trauma Counselling for First Responders, Healthcare Workers & Others Navigating Life-Altering Experiences

You’re trained to respond when lives are on the line.
Whether you’re a paramedic, nurse, firefighter, ER doctor, police officer, military member, or public safety professional, your role often exposes you to the worst moments of people’s lives.

The job requires strength, but it also takes a toll.

You may be living with:

  • Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories

  • Irritability, anxiety, or emotional numbness

  • Trouble sleeping or feeling safe

  • A sense that you’re always "on" — and never off duty

The truth is: you’re human. And even the strongest people need space to process.

You’re Not Alone in This

At Fine Balance Counselling & Yoga Therapy, I offer trauma-informed care to people from many walks of life. If you've experienced overwhelming or life-altering events, therapy can help you feel grounded, safe, and supported again.

I support:

First Responders, Public Safety & Military Personnel
You’ve likely witnessed things others can’t imagine: violence, loss, repeated emergencies. I offer a safe and confidential space where you don’t have to explain the culture of your job, just how it has affected you.

Healthcare Professionals
Working in medicine can mean constant pressure, moral injury, and burnout. You might carry the weight of what couldn’t be fixed, or feel emotionally shut down to survive. Therapy helps you reconnect with yourself and with what matters.

You Don’t Have to Carry This Alone

Whatever your story, healing is possible. You’ve supported others through some of life’s most difficult moments. Now, you deserve that same care.

Let’s take the next step together—at your pace, on your terms.

Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation.

From Monica Kovach:

“With a wise, calming presence, you help your clients trust themselves deeply. When working with you, people learn to turn inward for guidance.

Your website should help potential clients feel grounded, supported, and inspired. Use an earthy color palette and organic design elements to connect with your ideal clients.”

Testimonials

  • “Our clients struggle with a variety of complex mental health and addiction issues, behavioral problems and medical conditions. Nicole has put in a tremendous effort into the development and implementation of a program that meets the unique needs of our clients and enriched their overall treatment and recovery. Nicole works with care and compassion on the complex issues of our clients providing creative solutions in an independent and effective manner. She has developed strong therapeutic relationships with the clients, and has been helpful in the development of treatment plans and provided quality Yoga Therapy for our centre. In my opinion, she is an excellent Yoga teacher and therapist and is dedicated to her professional work.”

    Steven Henne, MA, RCC, Clinical Practice Lead, Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions

  • “Down to earth. Engaging. Delightful sense of humor. Experienced. Knowledgeable. All these words capture my experience of Nicole–as a person and as a teacher. As a practicing yogi and as a student of yoga, I love my classes with Nicole. As a psychologist, I continue to refer patients, clients, and friends to her because I value what working with Nicole can add to person’s life and healing journey.”

    – Eva DeHaas, Ph.D., Registered Psychologist, Yoga Student

  • “I have known Nicole and her work as a yoga therapist for many years. Nicole and I have collaborated in the past in delivering an exercise program to patients with chronic depression. Her work with this vulnerable group is most impressive. I receive nothing but positive endorsements from my patients who work with her. I continue to regularly encourage physical activity for my patients and if yoga is the intervention they prefer – the go-to person in our community is Nicole.”

    Ron Remick, MD, FRCP(C), Medical Director, Lookout Housing and Health Society

  • “Nicole is a very grounded, intelligent, friendly, and often funny teacher. She has the ability to teach from a place of real education, both in terms of what she’s done, and what she’s experienced in her own life. She knows how to set students at ease and create a space for them where they can learn and grow on their own terms. I loved learning from her, and I love working with her!”

    Julie Peters, Studio Director at Ocean & Crow Yoga/Space

  • “Nicole has worked with me one on one, doing therapeutic yoga. She is knowledgeable, patient and creative as a teacher and yoga therapist. She is attentive to all my physical limitations and has improved my flexibility and strength tremendously. She is committed to excellence in all of her practice. It has been a joy to work with her.”

    Jurhee Zimmerman, R.N. B.Sc.N., M.Ed., Executive and Team Coach

  • “As an education consultant, I have a caseload of children who have sustained an acquired brain injury and who continue to experience both physical and psychological complexities as a result of accidents. Nicole has proved to be an essential member of a multidisciplinary team as her work addresses both physical and psychological domains through her work as a yoga therapist. She is sensitive and extremely flexible in her approach, tailoring her work to the uniqueness of each child. In every situation in which she has worked the client expressed extensive positive regard for both her and the results of their efforts. She is a forerunner in her field!”

    J. Zarudzka M.Ed.

  • “Your authenticity is your power. Your passion is contagious. Your commitment and accessibility (emotional and spiritual) is inspiring. You facilitate with fact and insight. A wonderful experience.”

    Participant, The Therapeutic Relationship Training, Ajna Yoga Victoria, BC, 2014