Nice to meet you!

I live with my partner and two weird and wonderful kids in North Vancouver. I’m a registered Master’s level Social Worker with 20 years experience working closely with people at the toughest time in their lives.

My own adverse experiences and intense curiosity about people inspired my focus on healing and recovery from trauma. I fully believe in our ability to thrive after tough experiences.

Meeting a new therapist can feel nerve wracking! My clients describe me as deeply warm, unwavering, genuine with a very sharp memory. In our work we will co-create a treatment plan so our work is transparent and clear. Although we can do many advanced approaches together, one of the most profound experience we can have is to be fully felt and sincerely cared for while we repair really hard stuck spaces.

In my off hours you can find me baking with my son (so…many…cookies), knitting an insane sweater, talking with my teen about dystopian books or hiking with my husband in matching outfits. I love taco’s with hot sauce, printmaking and watching SNL clips that make me gutturally laugh ;)

My specialties include :

• Developmental/Attachment trauma

• CPTSD & PTSD

• Dissociation

• Anxiety

• Recovery/Estrangement from narcissistic or emotionally immature parents

• Childhood Abuse and Neglect

• Religious Trauma

• Sexual Abuse and Assault

  I look forward to doing meaningful work together!

Laura Vander Steen, BAPsych, MSW, Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDR CIT

Laura’s Education and Post graduate training