Cate Tohill, RCC
Professional Background
My name is Cate Tohill, and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor in Vancouver, BC, and a member of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. I have worked in the helping professions and higher education for over 25 years. I am also a faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where I teach courses in inclusive education and counselling psychology.
Metaphors that Shape the Work
The Tree of Life is sometimes used as a metaphor for development and the role of therapy—roots representing early experience, strength shaped through adaptation, and the possibility of continued growth. The Celtic knot in this image reflects continuity and interconnection over time. In therapy, the aim is not to erase the past, but to understand it well enough to allow for greater balance, flexibility, and choice in the present.
Theories that Guide the Work
My work is guided by approaches that value authenticity, respect the uniqueness of each person’s experience, and recognize that meaningful change takes time. I work collaboratively, with the understanding that clients are the experts on their own lives, and that therapy is most effective when it feels genuine, thoughtful, and grounded.
I also draw on depth-oriented approaches that pay attention to how patterns in relationships and ways of understanding oneself develop over time. Rather than focusing on symptoms alone, the work involves noticing recurring themes and making sense of them together, at a pace that feels manageable.