Hello, I am Tanya Kamagiannis, a Master of Arts in Counselling student at Yorkville University.

I came to counselling after many years working in mental health research, much of that time in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work alongside people experiencing addiction, psychosis, depression, anxiety, trauma, physical health challenges, and often several of these things at once. Those experiences have shaped the way I see people. I have learned that there is almost always more to someone’s story than what we see on the surface.

I am naturally curious about people. I want to understand how you see the world, what has shaped you, what matters to you, and sometimes what might be going on underneath the things that are bringing you to counselling. I believe that each person is the expert on their own life. My role is not to tell you who you are or what you should do, but to listen, ask questions, and create a space where you can make sense of things in a way that feels meaningful to you.

My approach is person-centred and integrative, which means I draw from different ideas and perspectives rather than believing there is one approach that works for everyone. I am particularly interested in how past experiences can continue to influence the way we understand ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us.