Ryan Tompkins

About Ryan

Hello. I’m Ryan Tompkins and I live on Vancouver Island, in the beautiful small town of Ladysmith. Ladysmith has been my home for over 30 years. Prior to that I grew up in the suburbs of Vancouver.
I spent the first half of my career serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, and this is where my interest in human behaviour and helping began. Witnessing first-hand the effects of trauma on serving members, spurred my interest in post-traumatic stress and the emotional struggles of the human condition. I committed myself to an education in counselling with a specific focus on traumatic stress, PTSD, addictions, and mental health. I finished my Bachelor of Social Work at Vancouver Island University, then completed my Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. I commenced my doctoral studies, again at Yorkville University, in Counselling and Psychotherapy in September 2020 and will complete this program in the Fall of 2023, with a specific focus on trauma and how this is presented and treated in session.
I was very fortunate to study trauma from one of the best teams in the world, under the directorship of Dr. Bessel Van de Kolk, at The Trauma Center in Boston, MA, as well as Dr. Kathleen Chard, who co-developed Cognitive Processing Therapy.
With a history of working in post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and concurrent disorders. I believe in the power of healing. I’ve witnessed it firsthand 100’s of times. Often, I find clients want to be fixed. However, the fix often comes when they learn who they are; their values, beliefs, and what is important to them. Trauma heals when you connect the mind back with the body, learn about what is happening, what your internal monologue is saying, and how all of this is connected. Why you may be behaving, feeling, or acting a certain way. My practice comes from connection; what is termed as the therapeutic relationship. Without this, research has shown it is difficult to achieve counselling goals. I work diligently at being authentic, honest, supportive, and empathetic to maintain this alliance.
The second most important aspect of helping clients, is my own journey. I come to this profession with my own history, that required me to seek professionals in this field for my own recovery. I know through my own experience, that one of the most difficult things to do, is to ask for help. I do specialize in the following areas:
– Traumatic Stress and PTSD
– Developmental Trauma
– Addiction and Chemical Dependency
– Anxiety and Depression
– Couples Counselling
I look forward to being your support, and to help bear witness to your experiences, while offering a safe, supportive, and caring environment.