Navigating Personal Issues
Most of the people I see come to me first as individuals. Anxiety that won’t quiet down. A depression they can’t talk themselves out of. A trauma history they’ve been managing alone. A focus problem that’s costing them their job. A self-judgment that’s costing them sleep. They come because they’ve tried to figure it out by themselves, and the thinking isn’t working anymore.
This is a place to stop figuring it out alone.
What I work with
Trauma and PTSD. Whether it’s a single event, complex relational trauma, or the slow-burn trauma of displacement and immigration, I draw on evidence-based trauma therapies (EMDR, trauma-focused CBT, somatic approaches) and on twelve years of front-line clinical experience with refugees and chemical-warfare veterans.
Anxiety and depression. The two most common reasons people call. We work together to understand what’s driving them — biology, history, current life pressure — and we build a way through that fits your nervous system, not someone else’s.
OCD. Specific evidence-based approaches (ERP, ACT) for intrusive thoughts and compulsions, paired with the kind of patience this work requires.
ADHD and focus problems. For adults — diagnosis questions, medication choices, strategies that actually fit your brain rather than fight it. I also combine ADHD therapy with neurofeedback brain training.
Perfectionism and self-criticism. The voice in your head that calls everything you do not enough.
Men’s, women’s, and aging mental health. Gender- and life-stage-specific work for the patterns that show up at different points in a life.
Cultural identity and immigration. The particular weight of being from one world while living in another — especially for Iranian-Canadians navigating dual identity, aabroo, and the trauma of migration.
What sessions look like
60-minute sessions, in person at my downtown Vancouver office or online. Most clients come weekly to start and shift to every two or three weeks as things stabilize. Sessions are $150 CAD. I direct-bill ICBC, CVAP, FNHA, IFHP, VAC, and RCMP; most private insurance reimburses with a receipt.
Dr. Samuel, RCC, CCC — Registered Clinical Counsellor & Canadian Certified Counsellor with a Doctorate in Health Sciences and 20+ years’ experience (10+ in Trauma & PTSD). He works with 50+ clients at Fraser Health Authority, in English & Farsi, and is ICBC- and FNHA-approved.
★★★★★
“I felt heard, understood, and genuinely supported — a safe, calm, non-judgmental space.”
★★★★★
“From the very first session, he created a safe, calm, and supportive environment that made it easy for me to open up.”
Ready to talk? Your first 20 minutes are free.
No forms, no commitment, no pressure to book a session — just an honest conversation about therapy, neurofeedback, fees, or whatever you’d like to ask. Not sure what to say? Just say “I saw your website.” That’s enough.
Articles on this topic
Trauma & PTSD
Anxiety, Depression & Mood
- Anxiety, Depression & Mood — FAQs
- Bipolar Disorder — Myths vs Reality
- Stress & Burnout — FAQs
- Workplace Stress & Burnout — FAQs
ADHD, OCD & Emotional Regulation
- ADHD & Focus Issues
- ADHD & Focus — FAQs
- OCD — FAQs
- Perfectionism & Self-Esteem — FAQs
- Anger Management & Emotional Dysregulation — FAQs
Gendered & Lifespan Mental Health
- Men’s Mental Health — FAQs
- Women’s Mental Health — FAQs
- Aging & Mental Health — FAQs
- LGBTQ Mental Health — Myths vs Reality
For Iranian-Canadians (English)
- Aabroo, Stigma, and Iranian Therapy
- Iranian Immigration Trauma in Canada
- Bicultural Identity: Iranian and Canadian
- Iranian Mental Health in Canada
به فارسی — روشهای درمان
- درمان شناختی-رفتاری (CBT)
- درمان EMDR
- درمان اضطراب
- درمان افسردگی
- درمان OCD
- درمان PTSD
- درمان بیخوابی
- ADHD در بزرگسالان
- مدیریت خشم
به فارسی — پرسشهای متداول
- اضطراب، افسردگی و خلق
- تروما و PTSD
- ADHD و مشکلات تمرکز
- OCD
- کمالگرایی و عزت نفس
- مدیریت خشم و بینظمی
- استرس و فرسودگی
- استرس شغلی
- سلامت روان مردان
- سلامت روان زنان
- سالمندی و سلامت روان
- اختلال دوقطبی
- سلامت روان LGBTQ
- سوالات رایج
Ready to talk? Your first 20 minutes are free. Call or text any day between 9am and 9pm — I respond within a couple of hours.
