Kirsten Boulier, MSW, RCSW
Trauma Therapist / Clinical Social Worker
Approach
Kirsten approaches therapy with a deep curiosity about each client's inner world. She genuinely enjoys getting to know people through their own lens and believes every person has a unique story worth understanding. Learning about a client's resilience, lived experiences, and the ways they have adapted to life's challenges is a privilege she holds with great respect.
Kirsten provides trauma therapy to youth and adults through online sessions across British Columbia and offers in-person counselling in Maple Ridge. She also provides comprehensive ADHD assessments for adults (18+).
Her approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based practice. She believes healing is possible and that meaningful change happens when people feel safe enough to explore their experiences at a pace that feels manageable. Rather than focusing only on reducing symptoms, Kirsten works with clients to better understand the patterns that have developed over time, build self-compassion, and create lasting change.
Kirsten also values the role of joy and laughter in the counselling process. Once clients feel comfortable, she believes there is room for humour alongside the hard work of healing. Therapy can be challenging, but it can also include moments of lightness, connection, and hope.
Who She Helps
Kirsten works with youth and adults who are ready to better understand themselves, heal from the impact of difficult life experiences, and create lasting change. Many of her clients are insightful, capable people who have spent years coping with life's challenges, yet still find themselves feeling stuck in familiar patterns.
You may find yourself constantly putting other people's needs before your own, struggling to set boundaries, or feeling responsible for everyone else's wellbeing. You might notice that you overthink conversations, have difficulty trusting yourself, or find it hard to quiet the inner critic. Others come to therapy feeling disconnected from themselves, overwhelmed by anxiety, or frustrated that they understand why they react the way they do, but still can't seem to change those patterns.
Many of Kirsten's clients have experienced challenging childhoods, complex trauma, emotionally unavailable relationships, or other experiences that have shaped how they see themselves and the world around them. Together, you'll work to understand how these experiences may continue to influence your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and nervous system today—not to dwell on the past, but to help you move forward with greater freedom and self-compassion.
Whether your goal is to heal from trauma, build a stronger sense of self, improve your relationships, or simply feel more like yourself again, therapy is tailored to your unique experiences and goals. Kirsten believes that meaningful change doesn't come from "fixing" who you are, but from understanding the ways you've learned to survive and helping you develop new ways of relating to yourself and others.
Kirsten integrates EMDR, parts work, mindfulness, and other trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches to support this process. Therapy begins by building safety, stability, and trust before moving into deeper healing work, allowing the process to unfold at a pace that feels manageable and sustainable.
Kirsten works with youth and adults who are looking to:
Heal from the effects of challenging childhood experiences and complex trauma
Develop a stronger, more authentic sense of self
Create a life that feels meaningful, connected, and fulfilling
Why Kirsten Does This Work
Kirsten came to this work through her own experiences of adversity and healing, giving her a deeply personal appreciation for the courage it takes to seek support and the hope that meaningful change is possible.
From 2017 to 2022, she lived on Nuxalk Territory in Bella Coola, British Columbia, where she worked with children, youth, and adults healing from intergenerational and complex developmental trauma. Those years were deeply meaningful and continue to shape the way she understands resilience, relationships, and the healing process.
Now living in the Lower Mainland, Kirsten is grateful to be reconnecting with family while continuing to support clients throughout British Columbia.
Beyond the Therapy Room
When she isn't meeting with clients or working on her private practice, Kirsten enjoys spending time in nature with her four-legged co-therapist, Aussie.
She values mindful movement and creativity as part of her own self-care and loves singing, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures.
Ready to take the next step?
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Kirsten offers a complimentary 15–20 minute introductory phone call to anyone interested in working together. This is an opportunity for you to get a sense of what it might be like to work with her, learn more about her approach, discuss what you're hoping to get out of therapy, and ask any questions you may have. It's also an opportunity for Kirsten to determine whether her approach is likely to be a good fit for your needs. If she doesn't think she's the best person to help, she'll do her best to point you in the right direction.
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The first session is part conversation and part information gathering. Together, you'll review important information about working together, discuss what has brought you to therapy, and explore what you're hoping to get from the process. Kirsten will ask about your current concerns, relationships, supports, and any relevant history, but there is no expectation that you'll tell your entire life story during your first appointment. The session is also an opportunity to begin developing a shared understanding of what's happening and what healing might look like for you.
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No. Talking about painful experiences in detail is never required.
Healing happens at a pace that feels manageable, and therapy is never about forcing you to revisit experiences before you're ready. In the early stages of therapy, Kirsten focuses on building safety, understanding your goals, and helping you develop the skills and resources needed to feel more grounded and supported.
When the time is right to process difficult experiences, you'll decide together how to approach that work. While some therapeutic approaches involve talking extensively about traumatic events, others—such as EMDR—do not require you to describe your experiences in detail. Instead, the focus is on helping your brain and nervous system process what has happened so those memories become less distressing and have less influence over your present-day life.
Throughout the process, you remain in control of what you choose to share. Kirsten will never pressure you to discuss something before you feel ready, and your comfort and sense of safety will guide the pace of your work together.
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Kirsten hears this often. Sometimes it wasn't the right therapeutic relationship. Sometimes the approach didn't fit what you needed. And sometimes therapy helped you understand your experiences, but not necessarily change the patterns that continued to show up in your daily life. Whatever your previous experience, Kirsten approaches each new therapeutic relationship with curiosity rather than assumptions. Together, you'll explore what has and hasn't been helpful in the past and consider what might be different this time.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain and nervous system process experiences that continue to feel emotionally or physically "stuck." Many people find that memories become less distressing, emotional reactions feel less intense, and they are able to respond more freely in the present rather than feeling pulled back into old patterns.
EMDR isn't the right approach for everyone or for every stage of therapy. Kirsten will work with you to determine whether it's appropriate based on your goals, current circumstances, and readiness. If another approach is likely to be more helpful, she'll explain why and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.
You are not broken - you are becoming. Healing is messy, beautiful, and absolutely possible.
— Kirsten