AEDP Therapy Vancouver
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy
Healing happens in relationship. Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) is a gentle, attachment-based approach that helps you feel safe enough to explore difficult emotions—and supported enough to transform them. It’s designed for people who may feel stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed by past pain, but who long for more ease and authenticity in their relationships.
At ARC, we use AEDP to help you feel deeply seen and supported, so your nervous system can shift from self-protection to healing. Together, we’ll create space for the emotions you’ve been carrying—and help you access the strength and wisdom that’s already within you.
Do you long for change, but feel unsure how to get there?
Many people come to therapy because something inside them is hurting—but that pain may be buried beneath years of coping, self-protection, or disconnection. AEDP helps uncover the core of your emotional experience, not by analyzing from a distance, but by helping you feel supported in the moment.
You may benefit from AEDP if you:
- Struggle with anxiety, shame, or emotional numbness
- Feel alone in your pain or like no one truly sees you
- Want to understand your emotions but feel overwhelmed by them
- React with shutdown, avoidance, or self-criticism under stress
- Carry trauma, attachment wounds, or unprocessed grief
- Long for deeper connection—with yourself and others
AEDP meets you exactly where you are, with compassion and care. It’s about more than symptom relief—it’s about helping you to feel deeply seen, connected, and alive.
How AEDP can help
AEDP is rooted in the idea that healing is possible when we feel emotionally safe and seen. It helps undo aloneness, transform emotional pain, and tap into resilience. The process is gentle, experiential, and relational—based on real-time connection between therapist and client.
Your ARC therapist will help you:
- Create emotional safety and regulate your nervous system
- Explore difficult feelings like fear, shame, or sadness with support
- Access core emotions that bring clarity, relief, and healing
- Process past experiences that may still be affecting you today
- Shift from self-protection into connection and authenticity
- Feel more secure, grounded, and empowered in your life
Let's work through this together
AEDP is a powerful approach to therapy that helps you process deep emotional pain in the presence of safety, connection, and care. Rather than avoiding overwhelming feelings, AEDP supports you in facing them, so you can reconnect with parts of yourself that have been buried or shut down.
At ARC, we offer AEDP for clients seeking meaningful, lasting healing. Our therapists create a grounded, attuned space where you can begin to work through what’s been too much to carry on your own. Whether you’re healing from trauma, moving through grief, or simply longing to feel more like yourself, we’re here to walk that path with you—at your pace.
Meet Our Vancouver Therapists
Tianna Bobariu
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Amenda Kumar
Registered Social Worker (RSW)
Kristen Rattray
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Kiana Maeda
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Jack Wong
Registered Social Worker (RSW)
Danielle Simpson
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Elise Millett
Registered Social Worker (RSW)
Lilian Wang
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Getting The Help You Need is Easy
Reach Out
Fill out our easy contact form. All we need is your basic info, and a few words about what brings you to therapy.
Free Consultation
We’ll reach out to schedule your complimentary consultation. We’ll discuss your goals, questions, and make sure we’re the right fit.
Start Therapy
Feeling ready? We’ll book your first session and create a personalized plan to help you live the life you deserve.
Our Step-by-Step AEDP Process
Building Safety Through Relationship
AEDP begins with connection. Together, we’ll create a secure, attuned relationship where you feel emotionally safe—often for the first time. Your therapist will be deeply present, responsive, and attuned to your needs. This relational safety becomes the foundation for healing
Tracking the Present Moment
Together, we’ll slow down and pay attention to what’s happening in your body, emotions, and thoughts in real time. This helps surface emotions and insights that may have been buried or difficult to access.
Accessing Core Emotions
With support, you’ll begin to contact core emotions—such as sadness, anger, fear, or joy—that may have been blocked or buried in the past. AEDP sees these core emotions not as problems, but as pathways to healing.
Undoing Aloneness
Healing happens in connection. Painful emotions often feel unbearable because they were faced alone. Instead, you'll experience what it’s like to go through those feelings with someone who’s right here with you—attuned and present.
Processing & Transformation
As core emotions are fully felt and processed, something shifts. Defensive patterns soften. Emotional pain begins to transform. You may notice a stronger sense of self, and greater ease in your body. These moments—often referred to as “transformational affects”—are signs that deep healing is underway.
Integrating Positive States
We don’t just process pain—we stay with moments of relief, strength, or connection, and help them fully land. These positive emotional states are amplified and integrated, so they become part of your internal landscape.
Building Resilience & Wholeness
Over time, you’ll develop greater trust in yourself, and in your ability to face emotions rather than avoid them. You carry that forward into your life, with greater resilience, emotional confidence, and wholeness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AEDP?
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) is a trauma-informed, emotion-focused approach to healing that emphasizes the power of safe, attuned connection. Instead of avoiding painful emotions, AEDP helps you access and process them—especially those that may have been pushed aside for years. With the support of a trusted therapist, you can work through emotional pain and experience transformation, resilience, and a stronger sense of self.
How is AEDP different from other types of therapy?
Many therapies focus on thoughts or behaviors. AEDP is different—it’s experiential, relational, and deeply rooted in the here-and-now. Rather than analyzing from a distance, your therapist will be emotionally present with you in session, helping you tune into your body and emotional experience in real time. It’s especially powerful for people with trauma, attachment wounds, or those who struggle to feel safe in relationships.
Do I need to be in touch with my emotions to start AEDP?
Not at all. Many people come to AEDP feeling disconnected from their emotions, unsure of what they feel, or overwhelmed by too much feeling all at once. AEDP meets you exactly where you are. Your therapist will help you develop emotional awareness gently and gradually, at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
Is AEDP just about revisiting painful memories?
While your past may come up in therapy, AEDP focuses primarily on what’s happening in the moment—especially how emotions unfold during the session itself. The healing happens through the connection with your therapist and your experience in the here-and-now. It’s not about rehashing trauma; it’s about processing what surfaces in a supportive, regulated way.
What kinds of issues does AEDP help with?
AEDP is especially effective for trauma, attachment wounds, anxiety, depression, grief, shame, emotional numbness, low self-worth, and relational struggles. It’s particularly helpful for people who feel stuck, disconnected, or like they’re going through the motions of life without a strong sense of self or emotional vitality.
How long does AEDP therapy take?
Length of treatment depends on your goals and history. Some clients experience meaningful shifts within several months—such as more emotional clarity or a stronger sense of connection. Others engage in longer-term work to process deeper wounds and restructure relational patterns. AEDP supports both short-term and depth-oriented healing.
What if I’m nervous to get emotional in front of someone?
This is incredibly common—and completely okay. In AEDP, you’ll never be pushed to go somewhere you’re not ready to go. Therapy moves at your pace, with deep respect for your emotional boundaries. Over time, many clients find that the very experience of being supported while feeling vulnerable becomes one of the most healing parts of the work.
At ARC we offer an extended 30-minute consultation so you can meet with your therapist, ask questions, and see how it feels. There’s no pressure or obligation to commit to therapy. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation and learn more.
Is AEDP therapy covered by insurance?
Yes. Most extended health plans cover counselling with a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). After each session, we’ll provide a receipt you can submit to your insurance provider. Many clients receive reimbursement within a few business days, depending on the plan.
How will I fit appointments into my busy schedule?
We understand that life is hectic—that’s why we offer flexible evening and weekend appointments, as well as online therapy options you can attend from home. Whether you prefer a consistent weekly time or need a bit more flexibility, we’ll work with you to find a schedule that supports your goals and respects your time.
A Message of Support from Our Director
Hi, I’m Kelsey, the Clinical Director here at ARC. I want to start by saying something that doesn’t get said enough – it’s okay to need support.
If you’re reading this, you might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply not yourself. At ARC, we understand how deeply personal it is to reach out for help. That’s why we’re so intentional about the care we offer. Every therapist on our team is here because they lead with heart, they know their stuff, and they truly care about helping people feel better.
We also know that feeling safe in therapy means feeling seen and respected. That’s why we’re committed to creating an inclusive space – one that honours your identity, your culture, and your lived experience.
My role is to make sure your experience here is thoughtful, safe, and meaningful – from your very first point of contact to the support you receive in therapy. If you’re unsure about where to start, I encourage you to reach out for a free consultation. I’ll personally take the time to read your request and match you with one of the therapists on our team.
You’ve already taken the first step by being here. When you’re feeling ready, take the next step by reaching out – and we’ll walk the rest of the way together.
Take the next step towards feeling better today
Location
470 Granville St, #922
Vancouver, BC, V6C 1V5
Our Hours
Mon – Fri: 09:00 – 21:30
Sat – Sun: 09:00 – 20:30