Vanessa Hayton, BA.Psych, Counselling

Associate counsellor

Hello I'm Vanessa.

I work with people on a diverse range of challenges such as self-esteem, depression, anxiety, lack of fulfilment, life transitions, relationship issues, family issues, feeling stuck and unable to change. Maybe you’re showing signs of depression, feeling really stuck in life, have lost your sense of purpose, or can’t seem to find your path. Whatever it is that brings you here, I'm so happy that you found me.

I like to take a holistic approach when I counsel my clients and I understand how challenging being a human can be. The dedication of oneself to the task of self-development and personal growth through counselling is a worthy one at any point and time in one’s life. Whatever challenge you are facing, I'm here to help you navigate it authentically with presence, integrity, and intention.

Welcome to counselling!

Work with me

Counselling office at Ocean Bay Wellness

Therapeutic Approach

In my practice, I utilize an eclectic approach that is tailored to meet the individual needs of my clients. I believe in creating a non-judgemental space built in collaborative practice to enhance the counselling process. The following practice modalities guide my approaches to practice:

Motivational Interviewing
Solution Focused Brief Therapy
Empowerment Theory
Strengths Based Approaches
Feminist Approaches
Cultural Competency Frameworks

While incorporating these practice modalities, I also hope to convey empathy, warmth, and transparency to the clients that I work with. Ultimately, my goal as a counsellor is to empower clients as they create real change in their lives.

Ocean Bay Wellness counselling office located in Port Moody, BC

Personal Story

Having lived in the lower mainland my whole life, I feel immensely privileged to live surrounded by such natural beauty. I feel that my mixed background (Chilean, and Anglo Canadian) has given me a juxtaposed understanding of both the importance of collective unity and independence. My interest in mental health began in my childhood, observing how my family coped with their own trauma and mental health struggles prompted me to pursue a career in psychology and social work.

Not fully understanding what my family was going through, I attempted to learn more about their experiences through my psychology studies.

Several years ago, I began struggling with depression and anxiety due to feeling overwhelmed by everything around me. I felt aimless without direction in life which truly gave me a sense of dread. These feelings became unbearable especially at the sudden conclusion of an unhealthy relationship. I believed these feelings would never truly go away. It felt strange having these complicated emotions while studying about them, as if they were simply a theoretical concept.

Realizing that I could not cope with these feelings alone, I sought out counselling. The experience was very beneficial for me, and required me to reflect deeply on the difficult emotions I had been avoiding. It took a lot of work, but I am now in a much better place. This experience solidified for me what I wanted to pursue in life, giving me a purpose, a reason to continue forward with this important work. Through my practice, I aim to guide people through their own life journey as they bravely share their own vulnerabilities.

Ocean Bay Wellness' Counsellor UBC graduate in Psychology

Educational Background

I have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a minor in health and society. Throughout my studies, I learned about biopsychology and the inherent connection between physical, emotional, and spiritual health. I also learned about the nuances of both intimate partner and family relationships. In addition to my psychology major, my minor deepened my understanding of these imbalances by recognizing how socio-economic status, gender, and social inequalities lead to health disparities. This is of great concern for me because of the diversity of people living in BC.

I have completed suicide prevention training through UBC as well as the BC Crisis Centre. To enhance my professional effectiveness in counselling, I also received training through the HeartMath Institute which provides professional development training for those working in helping professions to enhance practice effectiveness and prevent compassion fatigue.

Degrees & Certifications

Bachelor of Arts Degree - Psychology major, Health & Society minor

University of British Columbia, 2017-2022

Certificate - UBC Suicide Awareness and Intervention Training (SAIT)

University of British Columbia, 2023

Certificate - Resilience Advantage

HeartMath, Mental Health READY, 2022

Certificate - LivingWorks Start Suicide Prevention Training

BC Crisis Centre, 2021

Ocean Bay Wellness