About
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
— Carl Rogers
Meet Kim Alscher, MA, RCC
I became a therapist because I know what it feels like to struggle. Even as a young person, I was deeply curious about why people feel and behave the way they do, and had my own early experiences with depression and anxiety that sent me searching for answers. Working with a skilled counsellor changed the trajectory of my life. I learned that there were valid reasons for what I was going through, and that healing was possible. That experience planted a seed that grew into a lifelong passion for helping others heal.
Over the past 18 years, I have had the privilege of supporting my clients through some of the most difficult and meaningful work of their lives. It is work I experience as a true calling, and one I continue to grow into.
Who I am as a therapist
My approach balances depth and reflection with practical support. While I strive to meet clients exactly where they are at, I also believe that lasting growth often involves facing fears, stepping outside familiar patterns, and exploring experiences that may have previously felt overwhelming. I aim to bring both gentleness and thoughtful challenge, recognizing that both are required to help clients move beyond the barriers that have kept them feeling stuck.
What clients often say about working with me:
“I feel so seen”
“I finally understand why I am the way I am“
“I did not expect to feel this comfortable this quickly”
“She believed in my capacity when I couldn’t”
“What I particularly appreciate is how different you feel after talking with Kim. You leave with a greater sense of clarity, hope and possibility, along with practical techniques that can help you move forward and make a real difference to your situation. Kim has a way of helping you feel less alone with whatever you’re facing, and more able to meet it with understanding and confidence. I could not recommend her more highly. “
-Bernadette Barton, Founder of The Longing Path
My background and training
-
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, and have nearly two decades of experience providing psychotherapy to adults of all ages. I hold a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Trinity Western University (2009), where I received recognition for the Integrative Practice of Professional Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Simon Fraser University (2004).
-
Throughout my career I held positions at a range of clinical and community settings before starting my private practice, including an outpatient eating disorder program with Fraser Health Authority, Simon Fraser University Health and Counselling Services, and the Sunshine Coast Health Centre, a meaning-centred addiction treatment program for men. Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked in social services supporting at-risk women, youth, and children with developmental disabilities.
-
Trainings and Advanced Certifications
Internal Family Systems, IFS Institute, six-month program (2026)
Imago Therapy, Getting the Love You Want with Maureen McEvoy and Beth Triano (2026)
Pain Reprocessing Therapy certification (2025)
Compassion-based somatic coursework on mind-body healing with Rebecca Tolin (2023)
Freedom from Chronic Pain, integrating PRT and IFS with Dr. Howard Schubiner (2022)
Attachment, the Body and Relational Repair with Lisa Mortimore (2020)
Psychotherapy for Highly Sensitive Persons (2019)
Foundations of DBT (2018)
Workshops and Seminars
Couples Immersion Therapy with Terry Real
Cultivating a Secure Relationship with Yourself: An IFS Approach to Internal Attachment with Dick Schwartz
Rethinking ADHD with Gabor Maté and Terry Matlen: From Origins to Healing
Artificial Intelligence in Behavioral Health: Top Ethics and Risk Management Challenges
The Body Keeps the Score-Trauma Healing Through the Senses with Bessel van der Kolk
Intro to Focusing Oriented Therapy with Dr. Leslie Ellis
-
Neuroscience and mind body research, holistic health and nutrition, the highly sensitive trait, ecotherapy, contemplative prayer, and mindfulness.
my path to healing
As a person who experienced trauma in my early years, I internalized a great deal of shame, anger, and guilt, and learned to cope by striving to be highly conscientious and perfectionistic. While these strategies helped me succeed in many ways, they eventually contributed to severe burnout in my 30s and the development of ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain.
Thankfully a significant shift happened when I began to explore the role of neuroscience in healing. I came to understand that chronic stress, unresolved trauma, suppressed emotions, and long-standing coping patterns can profoundly impact the nervous system and create very real physical symptoms.
Through my own healing journey using the mind-body approach of Pain Reprocessing Therapy in combination with inner child and parts work, I moved from believing my body was irreparably broken to recognizing that my symptoms were meaningful responses to years of pressure, vigilance, and unmet emotional needs.
My experience with these approaches deepened my appreciation for the connection between emotional and physical well-being and strengthened my commitment to helping others to move beyond simply coping, toward real and lasting healing.
What I hope for you
Most people come to therapy hoping to be fixed. But what I have seen time and again, is that something more meaningful happens along the way. Parts of the self that were once devalued, criticized, or mistrusted begin to make sense. Emotions become valuable sources of information rather than obstacles to overcome. A greater awareness of personal strengths, resilience, and inner resources start to emerge.
My hope is that you leave our work together with:
A deeper compassion for yourself and all the parts of you
A greater understanding of why you feel and behave the way you do
Confidence that your brain and body are not broken
The tools to regulate your nervous system when things feel overwhelming
A genuine sense of your own resilience and capacity to heal
Still wondering if this is the right fit?
It is okay not to be sure yet. Many people read an about page and still feel uncertain, and that is completely normal. If you have questions or simply want to get a sense of who I am before committing to anything, I am happy to chat.