Mihaela Launeanu
PhD., RCC
I cultivate presence, generous listening and openness in meeting with each client. I strive to understand and value each client’s unique way of being, and I encourage clients to become themselves, live authentically, and take responsibility for how they live. I trust that each person is endowed with freedom and capacity to decide for themselves how they can live meaningfully.
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My therapeutic style is grounded in the existential approach as I find this the most encompassing foundation to encounter the dilemmas, struggles, joys and sufferings that we experience as human beings. I also enjoy integrating a variety of expressive approaches such as sand tray, visual art, or movement therapy. I acknowledge the impact that power, privilege and oppression exert on my clients’ suffering. My practice is aligned with feminist, critical theory and relational-cultural stances.
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I have worked as psychotherapist since 1999, first in Europe and then in Canada. Before starting my private practice, I provided psychotherapeutic services in hospitals, prisons, mental health agencies, inpatient and outpatient programs, university counselling centers and community agencies.
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I enjoy everything that sparks my creativity and curiosity. I love the beauty of nature and the endless possibilities in B.C. for hiking, biking, kayaking and skiing. I cherish my moments of solitude and reflection, and I delight in stimulating conversations, thought provoking books and movies, and embarking on new adventures.
Education | Experience
M.A. Clinical Psychology (University of Bucharest)
M.A. Counselling Psychology (University of British Columbia)
PhD. Psychometrics & Research Methodology (University of British Columbia)
Graduate Diploma in Existential Counselling (GLE – International, Austria)
Graduate Diploma in Existential Psychotherapy (GLE – International, Austria)
Therapeutic Approach
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Existential
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Experiential and emotion focused therapies
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Cognitive and dialectical behavioural therapies
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Motivational interviewing and action and commitment therapy
Services Offered
Individual Therapy
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complex relational trauma including developmental trauma, moral injury, betrayal trauma, spiritual or religious trauma and dissociative disorders
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body image, disordered eating and eating disorders
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existential transitions including loss and grief, career transitions, developmental transitions or spiritual concerns including loss of meaning and purpose in life
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displacement, nostalgia, issues pertaining to immigrants, refugees and marginalized populations
Relationship Therapy
Emphasis on helping couples communicate better; becoming aware of and respecting each other’s attachment style; repairing their attachment injuries; recovering from broken trust, infidelity, or betrayal; rekindling passion and desire in their relationship; or dealing with sexual difficulties or fertility issues.
Family Therapy
Supporting parenting issues, intergenerational communication and conflict, children’s behavioural difficulties, anxiety, depression or ADHD, understanding familial patterns and dynamics stemming from family of origin, and blended family dynamics.
Supervision
Clinical supervision using an existential phenomenological approach that prioritizes therapist’s personal experience in working with their clients and deepens the understanding of interpersonal dynamics unique to supervision. Research supervision offering guidance to graduate students and other professionals throughout all stages of a research project.