Shannon Paton

I believe everyone deserves a space where they can feel seen, heard, and truly supported.  In our sessions, I aim to create a grounded, compassionate environment where you can explore your inner world whether you're navigating grief, burnout, emotional overwhelm, or relationship challenges.  While therapy can be challenging, I believe it can also include humour, hope, and a sense of ease.  My role is to work collaboratively with presence, curiosity, and care as we move toward meaningful change.

Over the past eight years, I’ve supported children, youth, adults, couples, and families in a variety of clinical and community settings. Today, I specialize in working with:

• First responders and veterans navigating stress, burnout, trauma, or preparing for/integrating psychedelic experiences
• Those working through burnout, people-pleasing, and harsh inner critics
• Parents seeking reconnection and emotional regulation with their children, teens, or adult children using Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
• Anyone processing grief or loss, whether recent or long-held, clear or complicated

My approach is integrative and emotion-focused, helping clients move through stuck emotional patterns, reconnect with themselves and others, and find clarity through life’s transitions.  I draw from my advanced training in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (preparation and integration), as well as from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and the Gottman Method for couples.

I also bring lived experience from growing up in a first responder family, spending time in the outdoors and in music communities, and moving through significant personal losses—real-life experiences that continue to shape the way I support others today.

Outside the therapy room, you’ll find me recharging with long walks in Pacific Spirit Park, practicing yoga or strength training at the gym, snowboarding in Whistler, traveling, going to concerts, or training my sweet Border Collie who works alongside me. 

I offer both in-person therapy in Vancouver and virtual sessions across Canada.  You’re invited to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if we’re a good fit.