Kirstin McKinnon

About Kirstin

Website: https://mckinnoncounselling.ca

Email: [email protected]

Address: Qualicum Woods, Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K 1B1

I’m Kirstin, a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a Nurse Practitioner in Qualicum Beach.

You might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck in survival mode, or having difficulty getting enough sleep. I work with adults who want to tools and strategies to manage stress, change their emotional patterns, regulate their nervous system, and improve their sleep. Maybe you have a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. Maybe your mind doesn’t slow down, even when you want it to. Maybe you find yourself reacting in ways that you want to change. Or maybe you notice that you tend to push down emotions to keep going. I provide individualized counselling support to help you feel calm, connected and well-rested.

I am also a CBT-I provider for chronic insomnia.

I find that I can’t be a nurse without also being a counsellor, and I can’t be a counsellor without also being a nurse! Counselling and Nursing naturally complement one another. It allows me to take a whole-person approach to care and to see the “big picture” of someone’s life and their struggles. Being both a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Nurse Practitioner allows me to understand, and work with, the interconnections between mind, body, emotion, and spirit. I understand how our biology and health conditions impact our emotional and mental health, and how our emotional and mental health impact our physical health. Having this knowledge also helps me in addressing each person’s unique needs, and in creating a plan for improving their wellbeing.

I help clients create change in their lives primarily with the use of Emotionally Focused Therapy, Polyvagal, Internal Family Systems Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. One of the benefits of integrating these modalities is that they take therapy beyond just talking! Each of these therapies make room for practices such as guided imagery, visualization, and connecting with inner supports which can make therapy feel more real and impactful.

Starting something new can feel uncertain. If you are considering seeking counselling, I welcome you to book a free 15-minute consultation to see if this is a good fit for you.