Gartshore Counsellor
Ian Gartshore

Ian Gartshore, M.Th., R.C.C. #2560

Ian has been working professionally with individuals and families for more than 30 years. His clients are also his teachers; he learns from them and incorporates this learning into his practice with other clients. Consequently his clients feel respected, and they make significant progress.

 

Ian firmly believes that good things come out of disasters, pain, failure and such. He has proven this in his life, and witnessed it in the lives of at least one thousand clients. Indeed, without pain, few of us make meaningful (and needed!) changes in our lives.

 

As a fully trained Marriage and Family Therapist that includes Doctoral work in this field, and as a trained supervisor of students, Ian brings knowledge, wisdom and experience to his practice.

 

Ian is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC #2560).

 

His clients get results.

 


Bonnie Bergen, Masters of Counselling, C.C.C.

 

Bonnie has an extensive background with clients of Special Needs and their families. She holds 2 counselling diplomas and a Master’s degree in Counselling.

 

Bonnie loves working with people, and places a high priority on connecting with her clients so they may do their best work.

 

She is developing skills in several areas and is particularly interested in modalities called Emotionally Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.  These help clients feel secure and do better in relationships, an area of passion for her.

Bonnie is also trained in EMDR, a clinically-proven method of assisting clients work through shocks and traumas.

 

Bonnie works with kids, adults and couples, promoting understanding while developing communication skills that serve people well, whether they be in the context of family, marriage, work, school or life in general.

 

Bonnie is a warm, caring, intuitive and focused therapist.

 

She looks forward to supporting you in experiencing a meaningful relationship.

 

Bonnie Bergen has been verified by Psychology Today.

Click here to see her profile.

 


Ian is again honoured to be named one of Nanaimo's best marriage therapists.


Do you want to contact Ian or Bonnie? Please go to the Contact Us page.


Videos

This first video reveals something of why Ian loves working with couples, especially helping them untangle their relationship so that they can then safely engage in a truly meaningful, loving, relationship.

 

Note: the sound quality is poor. Do turn up your volume.

A Shaw T.V. Interview

 

 

Here is Ian being interviewed as he shares how we can live better in many ways.

Ian was also promoting the non-profit counselling agency he founded.

 

Click here to see the half hour interview or click on the picture below.


Words of appreciation from former clients

Ian Gartshore
Effective Counselling

"Thank you for doing what you do. It has changed my outlook on life." "Thanks for everything; I have more control, confidence and hope now." (Men's group dealing with anger issues.)

 

"We can't thank you enough for all your patience and words of wisdom this year. You truly have taught us a lot." M & M, Parksville

 

"Thank you so much for your skills, your ear, and your passion for your community. You have been an invaluable source for me to learn from." K.M., Nanaimo

 

"I cannot thank you enough for the difference you have made in my life. Now that I don't feel so ashamed I feel ready to move my life forward now -get a job and make something of me." P. B., Nanaimo.

 

"I just want to thank you for the work you did with Larry and I. Things are a lot better for both of us. We will always be grateful that we found you. All counsellors are not equal, you know. We have the occasional slip backwards and then catch ourselves and go back in the right direction." C.L., Nanaimo

 

"I want you to know that the sessions I had with you were very helpful to me." C.R., Parksville

 

"There are a lot of things I really appreciate about you. Your gentle strength, compassion, patience, authenticity, encouragement, sincerity, humility and kindness are but a few. I felt incredibly grateful for your presence in my life. It was a timely, welcome blessing and encouragement to me. Thank you for believing in me even when/if I didn't believe in myself. I can see that you truly and deeply care about and love people and that is why you do what you do and do it SO well. This is something I initially recognized in you. Now I have experienced it and KNOW it to be true" A.A., Errington

 

"Thank you for listening and helping me to listen. I appreciate your kind encouragement and your wisdom." Janine, Nanaimo

 

"Just knowing you has given me hope and trust and safety and so many hidden treasures from your depths... You are a gift from God, Ian." A friend in Nanaimo going through a difficult time.

 

"You offer such a safe, open and trusting space that is both comforting and encouraging of taking the risk to access my vulnerabilities. I feel 'lighter' and more hopeful for which I am truly thankful."

 

"Thank you for being such a very safe place for me. You have helped me create a safe place inside of me." Mary F, Nanaimo

 


Formal Education

Ian's formal education is eclectic, ranging from electronics to spirituality to therapeutic counselling. As a therapist he earned a second Master's degree (see below) and received over 1000 hours of supervised clinical training in the specialised field of marriage and family therapy.

 

Ian's post-Master's degree in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy was earned from Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ont, in 1994. His thesis can be downloaded from: http://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/806/

 


Click this link to Ian's profile on the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors website


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