Katya Verzilova
RSW MSW
Katya has been supporting individuals and families for 15 years working in healthcare, non-profit and government agencies in rural and urban communities in Canada and abroad.
She is dedicated to guiding clients in cultivating healthy, positive and nurturing relationships with the self and others. Whether you're facing challenges in your relationships, grappling with the loss of a loved one, experiencing symptoms of trauma or discovering a new life direction, Katya's goal is to empower you and support you in creating the life you envision.
In her therapeutic approach, Katya places a strong emphasis on compassion and collaboration. Grounded in trauma-informed, solution-focused, and strengths-based frameworks, Katya's goal is to support and empower her clients to thrive. ​
Coming from a career in international humanitarian work, Katya is passionate about relationship building, mediation, collaboration, and conflict resolution. By using evidence-based treatment she guides individuals to recognize and transform reactive patterns that hinder their relationships. Katya assists couples develop more effective and compassionate communication centered around personal and collaborative needs.
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Having personally navigated through multiple immigrations and lived in various countries, Katya understands the sorrow of loss, the discomfort of change and the process of overcoming doubts and insecurities to find a new direction. Her experiences working with refugees and first responders have provided valuable insights into resilience and its role in managing post-traumatic and moral injuries, anxiety and trauma. She has extensive experience guiding individuals to challenge negative self-narratives and develop self-regulation.
"It is humbling and honoring to be sitting across from you and feel the deep human connection that comes with a therapeutic relationship. I chose to be a therapist to have honest, real, deep conversations and connections with people. To facilitate your journey of transformation and healing. To feel the heat waves and goosebumps as the magic of therapy happens and you develop a deeper understanding, acceptance, growth... and somehow I am part of that process and that gives meaning to my life."
~ Katya
Primary Areas of Work
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Self-relationship:
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Anxiety & Panic Attacks
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Self-worth
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Body image
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Sexuality
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Trauma & PTSD
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Grief & Loss
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Relationship Issues:
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ENM Relationships​
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Sex & Intimacy
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Life Transitions​
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Existential Questions
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Plant Ceremony Integration
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Spiritual Counselling
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LGBTQ2+
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Ethnic Minorities & First Nations
Education & Training
- Masters of Clinical Social Work
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​Bachelors of Social Work
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Certified Trauma Informed Practitioner
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Certified San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Practitioner
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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Mindfulness-based interventions
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Somatic Therapy
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Solution Focused Therapy
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Motivational Interviewing
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Gottman Method - Couples Therapy
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Family Systems Therapy
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Existential Therapy
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Yoga Therapy
Spiritual Journey
Katya is a life scholar of human suffering and the eternal pursuit of harmony and inner peace, approaching the subject from psychological, philosophical and spiritual perspectives.
Somewhere along the road she delved deeply into the realm of psycho-somatic exploration. Her journey has been enriched by extensive training in yoga and eastern philosophies followed by a dive into plant medicine and culminating with a dedicated personal Vipassana Meditation practice. These experiences have not only enhanced her understanding of the mind-body connection but also fueled her passion for guiding others in their pursuit of holistic well-being.
Commitment to diversity and social justice
​Katya comes from a previous career in international humanitarian work in human rights, mental health advocacy and conflict resolution. Her commitment to social justice, human rights, and equality is unwavering.
She feels fortunate to have spent extensive amount of time in the Middle East, the Americas, Eastern Europe, South Africa and Asia as well as worked amongst the First Nations population in Canada. She would be honored to support individuals from these diverse cultures.
Katya is proficient in offering therapy in both Russian and Spanish.
online in British Columbia & Ontario
In-person in Kelowna, bc