Counselling in Victoria, BC

Registered therapists serving Greater Victoria:
Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Langford

Good therapy doesn’t happen because you found someone nearby — it happens because you found someone right. Charlaine has spent over three decades in the human services field, building a practice grounded in that belief: that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is what drives real, lasting change.

Charlaine Robinson herself is Victoria-based, and brings over a decade of clinical experience to her work with individuals navigating trauma, life transitions, and the lasting effects of difficult experiences. Whether you’re looking for in-person support at one of our Victoria offices or prefer the flexibility of a virtual session from anywhere in BC, we’re here to meet you where you are.

Our Approach to Counselling

Healing isn’t linear — and a good therapist knows not to treat it like it is. We don’t arrive at sessions with a fixed plan; we arrive with a set of tools, a genuine curiosity about your experience, and the flexibility to adjust as your needs evolve.

We draw on a range of evidence-based approaches — EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, somatic integration, and emotion-focused therapy among them — and we use what fits, not what’s convenient. Every treatment plan is built around the person sitting across from us.

At the heart of everything is a simple commitment: to provide a safe, confidential space where you feel genuinely heard — and where your pace, your autonomy, and your dignity are respected throughout.

Person's silhouette with an ocean sunset — representing self-reflection, inner calm, and the transformative process of counselling in Victoria, BC
Diverse group of adults laughing and connecting — representing the wide range of people who seek counselling and therapy support in Victoria and Greater Victoria

Who We Help

People come to us at very different points in their lives. Some arrive in the middle of a crisis. Others have been carrying something difficult for years and are finally ready to set it down. Most are simply looking for a space to do the work — honestly and without judgment.

  • Adults

    Life has a way of accumulating — stress, grief, old wounds, new pressures. Our adult counselling services provide a dedicated space to slow down, make sense of what you're carrying, and build a path forward that actually fits your life.

  • Youth and Adolescents

    The teenage years can be genuinely hard, and young people deserve the same quality of support as adults. We work with youth aged 16–19 navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity, and family conflict — with approaches tailored to where they actually are developmentally.

  • First Responders and Veterans

    Victoria is home to a significant military and emergency services community, and this population is central to our practice. Charlaine has over 35 years of personal and professional experience with RCMP members, Canadian Armed Forces personnel, Coast Guard, firefighters, and paramedics — and understands the unique pressures of those careers in a way that goes beyond training.

  • Families

    When something is wrong at home, everyone in the household feels it. Our family counselling services help address the patterns and dynamics underlying conflict, communication breakdown, and relationship stress — not just the surface symptoms.

  • Indigenous and First Nations Clients

    We offer trauma-informed, culturally sensitive counselling for First Nations and Indigenous individuals, including support tailored to intergenerational trauma, systemic harm, and community loss.

Our Victoria Counselling Services

From our two Victoria locations, we offer a full range of therapeutic services delivered by a registered counsellor with over a decade of specialized clinical experience.

  • Adult Counselling

    One-on-one therapy for adults working through anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, burnout, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. Available in 50 or 80-minute sessions, in-person or online. → View all adult counselling services

  • EMDR Therapy

    Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is the clinical foundation of our trauma work. Charlaine Robinson is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, one of the most advanced levels of EMDR certification available, with over a decade of experience using this approach to help clients process trauma and reclaim their lives. → Learn more about EMDR trauma counselling in Abbotsford

  • Trauma and Abuse Counselling

    Whether you're a survivor of childhood abuse, domestic violence, workplace trauma, or sexual assault, our approach is careful, paced, and built around your sense of safety. We don't push — we follow your lead. → Explore our trauma specializations

  • Youth and Adolescent Counselling

    Therapeutic support for young people aged 16–19, addressing anxiety, depression, self-esteem, trauma, suicidal ideation, and family conflict. View all counselling services

  • Family Counselling

    Support for families navigating communication breakdown, relationship stress, domestic conflict, and the strain of major life changes. View all counselling services

Hands gently holding a pine branch with pinecones — representing care, growth, and the nurturing approach to counselling services at Charlaine Robinson & Associates in Victoria, BC

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."

— Carl Rogers

An open wooden door looking out to a bright coastal landscape — representing the first step toward healing and counselling support in Victoria, BC

Getting Started

Is Simpler Than You Think

The decision to reach out is usually the hardest part of the whole process. What comes after is a lot more straightforward than most people expect.

  • Step 1: Reach out.

    Call us, email, or book through our online form. Our office assistant will take the time to understand what you're looking for and connect you with the right fit — not just the next available slot.

  • Step 2: Your First Session.

    Your initial session runs 50 or 80 minutes depending on your therapist. It's a conversation, not an assessment — a chance to share what's brought you in, ask whatever's on your mind, and get a genuine sense of whether it feels right.

  • Step 3: Begin your work.

    In-person sessions are available at our Victoria offices on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with additional availability online throughout the week. Virtual sessions are available province-wide.

Meet Your Victoria Therapist

Our Victoria practice is led by Charlaine Robinson — EMDR therapist and a recognized EMDRIA Approved Consultant.

Charlaine Robinson, MA RCC - EMDR therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Victoria BC

Charlaine Robinson

MA, RCC, CCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant & Certified EMDR Therapist

Charlaine has over 30 years of experience in the human services field, and has dedicated her career to helping people heal from trauma, PTSD, abuse, and the lasting effects of difficult life experiences. She is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant — a designation that recognizes advanced mastery in EMDR and qualifies her to provide clinical consultation to other EMDR therapists.

Her background is unusually broad: she has specialized expertise in working with first responders, RCMP members, military veterans and their families, women survivors of abuse and domestic violence, and people navigating complex trauma and grief.

Looking for in-person therapy in Abbotsford, or prefer online sessions from anywhere in BC? Our Abbotsford team — Shawnda Johnston, Rajvinder Heer, and Melissa Michaud — are also available for virtual sessions with Victoria-area clients.

In-Person in Victoria — and Online Across BC

We offer in-person counselling at our McKenzie Avenue office in Victoria, as well as secure virtual sessions for clients throughout British Columbia.

Our Victoria Office:

(In-Person Sessions on Wednesdays & Thursdays)

Online & Mailing Address:

We see clients from across Greater Victoria, including Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, and Sidney. Virtual sessions are available for clients throughout British Columbia.

Prefer to meet online? Virtual sessions are available throughout BC — same therapist, same quality of care, from wherever you are.

Question mark speech bubble — representing common questions about counselling and therapy services in Victoria, BC

Frequently Asked Questions

No referral needed. You can reach out directly by phone, email, or online form and we’ll take it from there. Some extended health plans request a physician’s referral for reimbursement purposes — worth checking your plan before your first session.

Anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief, relationship difficulties, burnout, low self-worth, abuse recovery, Operational Stress Injury, and more. If you’re not certain whether what you’re dealing with is something we work with, just ask — we’d rather have that conversation than have you wonder.


Sessions are $170 for 50 minutes or $235 for 80 minutes. Official receipts are provided for extended health benefit claims — many plans cover registered clinical counsellors.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a research-backed trauma therapy that helps the brain process and move past difficult memories. Charlaine is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant — one of the highest levels of EMDR certification — and has used it with clients for over a decade. Whether it’s the right approach for you is something she’ll explore together with you in your early sessions.

Absolutely. Virtual sessions are available throughout BC and work exactly the same way as in-person — just from wherever you are. Many of our Victoria clients prefer the flexibility of online, especially for early morning or evening appointments.

You don’t need to be certain before reaching out. A lot of people contact us before they’ve fully decided — that’s completely fine. There’s no commitment attached to getting in touch, and no pressure once you do.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Whatever brought you here, we’re glad you found us. Reaching out is the hardest part — and you’ve already done it.

 OR CALL 250-507-9527

OFFICE HOURS

Charlaine Robinson

Monday – Wednesday
9:30 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday (online)
9:30 am – 6:00 pm

Shawnda Johnston

Sunday
9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Monday – Wednesday
9:30 am – 7:00 pm

Melissa Michaud

 Every other Tuesday/Thursday 
3:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Rajvinder Heer

Wednesday
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Administrative Hours

Monday – Thursday
10:00 am – 4:00 pm