Olivia Armstrong, MA, RCC, CCC — Trauma, OCD & ERP Therapist in BC

I’m a trauma therapist working with adults and seniors across British Columbia. I integrate EMDR, somatic, and emotionally focused approaches in a paced, collaborative way — and I’m one of the few therapists in BC who also offers ERP for OCD and support for hoarding and difficulty discarding. All of my sessions are online, so you can do this work from wherever you are.

What I help with

Trauma, PTSD & nervous-system dysregulation

Trauma can disrupt the nervous system, leading to chronic stress, emotional overwhelm, dissociation, or difficulty feeling safe in relationships. I help clients understand how trauma lives in both the mind and the body — and how symptoms like anxiety, panic, low mood, or emotional flashbacks are often a nervous system seeking protection. Through EMDR and embodied, somatic practices, we work with the brain’s natural capacity for neuroplasticity so old patterns can gently rewire into more supportive ones. We always move at a pace that feels safe and sustainable.

Clients often come to me for:

• Trauma and PTSD, including complex trauma
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Attachment wounds and relational difficulties
• Depression and low mood
• Dissociation and emotional flashbacks
• Nervous-system dysregulation
• Shame, guilt, and low self-esteem
• Grief and life transitions

OCD, intrusive thoughts & ERP

I support adults navigating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder — intrusive thoughts, compulsions, reassurance-seeking, and mental rituals. When it’s the right fit, I incorporate Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard, evidence-based approach for OCD. ERP focuses on gradually facing feared triggers while reducing compulsions, so your nervous system can learn safety and flexibility over time. I introduce it collaboratively and paced — never flooding. Read more about OCD & intrusive thoughts therapy →

Hoarding & difficulty discarding

I also support clients experiencing hoarding behaviours and difficulty discarding — including the emotional overwhelm, shame, and avoidance that so often accompany them. This work is judgment-free and paced: we build practical, achievable steps alongside a compassionate understanding of what the things have come to hold for you. Read more about hoarding therapy →

Affirming care for adults, seniors & the 2SLGBTQ+ community

I work with adults and seniors navigating life transitions, relational challenges, identity exploration, and the long-term effects of trauma. I offer a queer-affirming, culturally responsive space that honours each client’s unique lived experience.

How I work

My clinical work is client-centred, trauma-informed, and deeply relational. I believe trauma is not a personal failure, but an adaptive response to overwhelming experiences — and that every person holds innate resources for healing. I help clients understand how past experiences continue to shape emotions, relationships, and coping, while gently guiding them toward greater flexibility, self-compassion, and resilience. My approach centres your agency: we go at the pace that feels right for you.

Meet Olivia

I hold a Master’s degree in Counselling and am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC). I’m trained in EMDR therapy, with ongoing training in attachment theory, somatic interventions, and emotionally focused approaches, and a commitment to cultural humility and affirming care.

Clients often choose to work with me because of a calm, attuned presence and an ability to combine evidence-based therapies with deep relational care. I’m passionate about walking alongside people as they reconnect with their authentic selves and release emotional patterns that no longer serve them — with curiosity, compassion, and respect for each person’s pace.