Elli Klaus, RCC Counselling and Therapeutic Conversations

I was born in the former Soviet Union to parents displaced by war. My family migrated to Germany, where my upbringing was overshadowed by a constant sense of not belonging, being different, and not fitting in.  Coupled with the early loss of a parent and exposure to alcoholism, the resulting feelings of dread and displacement influenced my lifelong quest to figure out how to exist in the world. I became interested in uncovering and remembering parts of my story that have shaped me in unique, rich and competent ways. Our stories are abundant in hidden, forgotten and abandoned skills and strengths, and I believe that the re-discovery of how we got here can dramatically change our sense of being in the world. I practice Narrative Therapy, which honours this journey of remembering and re-discovering. In this process, I am not pretending to know more about you and your life than you do. Rather, I am here to help you remember all that is powerful and vibrant and capable about you. 

My background is in working with folks living with acute, chronic and life-changing illness or conditions. Illness can be incredibly isolating and alienating, and I aim to provide a compassionate space for those living with divergent health. I work with folks trying to reduce the negative impact of PTSD and CPTSD in their lives. 'Fitting in" and operating as society expects of us when dealing with significant trauma can feel alienating and impossible. I would like to help you find ways of coping better while honouring yourself and what brought you here. 

I joyfully support non-conformity, weirdness and those skeptical of norms. Please come as you are,  bring your humour, your directness and awkwardness, and I will bring mine!

I welcome all and respectfully acknowledge that my life experience as a white, cisgender female holds privileges not shared by all. My work takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As a settler, I am committed to ongoing  learning from Indigenous peoples about meaningful ways of caring for this land and its people. 

I offer in-person sessions, online sessions and, depending on location, in-nature sessions.