Heather Gunn
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Location: Venables, Virtual
Days and Hours:
Friday 9:00am - 2:00pm (Virtual)
Saturday 9:00am - 2:00pm (In-Person)
Practicum ends August 2026.
Bio
My work as a therapist is grounded in big-hearted deep listening. I am invested in creating a therapeutic space where all parts of you feel welcome, honoured, and safe—no matter your reason for seeking therapy. I work alongside individuals, couples, and folks in non-normative relationship structures; my areas of focus include sex & relationship challenges, life transitions, grief & loss, changes in health, depression, anxiety, and burnout.
I believe that the stories we tell about ourselves, our emotions, our bodies, and our relationships hold immense power. Often, the pain that brings us into therapy is rooted in harmful, oppressive narratives. We are told that we are not enough, or too much; that we have to change, or that we can’t. In therapy, we can explore these stories, get curious about where they come from, and attend to the ways they impact your body, mind, and relationships. In doing this work together, we also create space for new possibilities, hope, and healing.
COUNSELLING APPROACH
The heart of my work is guided by two core beliefs: that people are not their problems, and that every person is an expert in their own experiences. This approach is informed by Narrative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic therapies. Put simply, I draw from several evidence-based theories and tailor the therapy process to meet your individual needs.
In session, you can expect me to provide warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative care that is anti-oppressive and trauma-informed. Because I believe deeply that joy, pleasure, rest, play, and healing are acts of resistance, I also work to weave moments of lightness into therapy. My approach is explicitly kink-affirming and grounded in intersectional feminist, harm reduction, & disability justice frameworks.
PERSONAL NOTES
I am a queer, small-fat, chronically ill, neurodivergent, cisgender white woman, with lived experience navigating substance abuse. Originally a settler on Mi’kma’ki—the ancestral and unceded home of the Mi’kmaq people—I have spent the last 13 years living on the traditional lands and unceded territories of thexʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Outside of my counselling practice, I spend most of my time making things with my hands (quilts, clothes, messes, food) and building community through teaching, collaborating, and playing with others.
Image Description: Heather is seated at an outdoor wooden table, resting her face gently on her hand. She is wearing a colourful knit sweater with bold stripes and patches of teal, yellow, pink, red, black, white, and blue. She has a nose ring and is wearing pearl drop earrings. Behind her is a brick building with a window and a turquoise painted wall.
Heather Gunn
(she/her/hers)
Student Counsellor
In-Person and Virtual Sessions
Heather is currently accepting new clients to her waitlist. Practicum begins January 2026!
Please email us at connect@collective-healing.ca to connect with Heather for counselling services.