Hi there,
I’m Erica Steward, a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Highly Sensitive Person who truly enjoys the simple things in life. When I’m not supporting clients, you’ll often find me beach combing, browsing thrift stores, or singing.
​
I embrace every opportunity to learn and grow, whether through clinical supervision, peer consultations, post-graduate training, or personal therapy.
As I’ve mentioned, I’m a Highly Sensitive Person, and for much of my life, I felt different—like no one quite understood me. I noticed things others didn’t, felt things more deeply, and often wondered if something was wrong with me. It wasn’t until I discovered the term Highly Sensitive Person that things started making sense.
​
Looking back, I can see how my sensitivity shaped me. I was the kid who burst into tears when overwhelmed, hated being the centre of attention, and struggled to make friends. I could sense the slightest shifts in people’s moods, the tiniest changes in my environment, and this often left me feeling different.
This is what inspired me to become a counsellor and support other HSPs. Not being understood can feel incredibly lonely. The same is true for anxiety and grief—so often, we’re caught up in expectations about how we should feel or act, leaving little space to just feel what’s going on inside, without judgement. That’s why I’m passionate about creating a space where you can be fully seen and supported as you are.​
At the heart of my practice lies a collaborative, holistic, person-centered, and strength-based perspective. This is really just the foundation of my view that my clients are the experts in their own lives. They possess intimate knowledge of what their experiences feel like and they are well-acquainted with their past strategies of healing.​​
​
Furthermore, I don't believe counselling can be reduced to a one-size-fits-all model. The complexity of human experiences deserves careful consideration of numerous factors. Therefore, I draw upon a diverse range of modalities, meticulously selecting the most suitable approaches for each individual. ​​​​
Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems is a gentle and transformative approach that views individuals as multidimensional. These many dimensions are referred to as parts, each with its own feelings, thoughts, and roles. These parts can represent different aspects of ourselves—like the inner critic, the nurturing side, or the parts that carry pain from past experiences—and sometimes they don’t always get along.
​
Through IFS, we create space to listen to these parts with compassion and understanding. The goal is to bring harmony to these parts, helping you feel more whole, balanced, and at peace. It’s a deeply healing way to address anxiety, grief, trauma, and so much more.
This is the main model I use with all my clients!
Education and Training
-
Registered Clinical Counsellor, BCACC #19522
-
MA in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University
-
BA in Psychology, Simon Fraser University​
-
AA in Psychology, Capilano University
​​​
-
IFS & HSP: Working with the Highly Sensitive System Workshop
-
Internal Family Systems Level 1, IFS Institute
-
Internal Family Systems, Stepping Stone, IFSCA
-
Emotion-Focused Therapy Level 1, VCEFT
-
Emotion-Focused Therapy, Psychwire
-
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Psychwire
-
Traumatic Loss Facilitator Training, BCBH
-
Grief and Loss Diploma, Online Counselling College
-
Mindfulness Certificate, Online Counselling College
A designation of
BC Association of
Clinical Counsellors