The Empathic Hand Counselling
About
Catherine Falkner(She/Her), RTC, BFA
​My path to becoming a counsellor did not begin in a classroom, it began through my own journey of transformation.
Like many of the people I work with, I once struggled with feeling fully seen. I found myself trying to be who I thought others needed me to be, often abandoning parts of myself in order to feel accepted and loved. The sensitive, creative parts of me sometimes felt like they were “too much,”or "not enough." Trusting my own inner voice was not always easy.
In 2015, a series of life-altering events invited me to pause and ask deeper questions about who I was and how I wanted to live. What followed was a profound journey of healing, self-acceptance, and reconnection. During this time, I experienced a spiritual awakening that ultimately guided me toward the work I do today.
Because of this journey, I understand how vulnerable it can feel to look inward and begin welcoming the parts of ourselves we may have learned to hide. In my work, I invite clients to approach themselves with curiosity and compassion, creating space for every part of their experience, even the messy or uncertain ones.
My approach to counselling is both grounded and creative. I am a Transpersonal Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC #3332) with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada and hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Simon Fraser University.
My background in the arts deeply influences how I work. Creativity, imagination, and embodied awareness are powerful ways of understanding ourselves, especially when words alone are not enough.
Rather than applying a single method, I meet each client where they are, supporting them in reconnecting with their inner wisdom and capacity for healing.
Outside of my work as a counsellor, I continue to nurture my own wellbeing through creativity, reflection, and self-care. Art remains an important part of my life and a way I stay connected to curiosity, expression, and meaning.
I believe that sensitivity, creativity, and depth are not weaknesses, they are powerful guides toward living a more authentic and meaningful life.
I integrate several therapeutic approaches, including Somatic work, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Bowen Family Systems, person-centered therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Gestalt.
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