Poran Poregbal

About Poran

Poran Poregbal is a seasoned mental health clinician, holding dual registration as a Clinical Counsellor and a Registered Social Worker. With over three decades of experience in the field, Poran has dedicated her life to supporting individuals, couples, and families through culturally attuned, trauma-informed, and person-centred care. She is completing her Doctorate in Counselling and Psychotherapy, further deepening her commitment to scholarship and transformative practice.

Poran’s therapeutic approach is rooted in a humanistic and existential framework. She believes meaningful change arises when people are offered a safe space to explore their thoughts and emotions without judgment, when they feel seen, heard, and empowered. Guided by these principles, she works collaboratively with her clients to help them navigate the complexities of trauma, mental health, and identity.

Poran’s academic and professional journey spans social work, anthropology, ethnology, and counselling psychology. Her work has consistently centred on the intersections of mental health, social justice, and cultural understanding. Since 2004, she has served as both a Victim Support Specialist and a Clinical Counsellor–Psychotherapist, supporting survivors of trauma, crime, gender-based violence, and systemic marginalization.

Worked and educated in Sweden, Poran earned her Social Work degree from the University of Stockholm in 1994 and completed a diploma in Ethnological Science at Umeå University in 1998. Fluent in Swedish, she carries the values and practices of the Scandinavian social welfare model, which continues to shape her holistic approach to care.

After immigrating to Canada, Poran pursued graduate studies in Counselling Psychology at Adler University in Vancouver, graduating in 2008. Deeply influenced by Adlerian principles of community care, prevention, and social interest, she found GV Counselling, a non-profit mental health agency committed to culturally responsive trauma therapy. From 2009 to 2018, Poran led this organization as Executive Director, therapist, supervisor, and mentor. She created and facilitated numerous training programs for emerging therapists, immigrant mental health professionals, and front-line service providers—always centring equity, inclusion, and lived experience.

In clinical practice, Poran specializes in treating PTSD, trauma recovery, childhood and sexual abuse, domestic violence, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, parenting challenges, and intergenerational trauma. Her work integrates the latest evidence-based practices while remaining grounded in the lived realities of the people she serves.

Poran’s contributions to the field have been recognized with multiple awards: the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors awarded her twice (2011 and 2014), and the District of West Vancouver honoured her with a Community Award for Health, Wellness, and Activity in 2014.

Today, alongside her private practice and doctoral research, Poran offers educational workshops, public seminars, and community-based initiatives. She is passionate about dismantling stigma, uplifting marginalized voices, and creating spaces of healing and liberation, especially for those navigating layered identities as immigrants, women, and survivors.