Carly Degenstein RCC

Welcome! I’m glad you found your way here :)

I’m Carly. I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BCACC and the founder of this counselling practice! I started Homecoming Integrative Counselling 3 years ago, so I could ensure I could bring my specialized training and passion for counselling to individuals ready to start their independent counselling journey. I love this work and am honored and inspired by every client willing to show up to this work and take charge of their life through counselling.

I’m originally from Ontario and started my psychology education journey at the University of Toronto, where I received an HBSc in Psychology with a focus on developmental psychology, cognition and neurobiology. After that I took some time off school to travel (a major passion of mine) and then completed my Masters in Counselling Psychology at Simon Fraser University - a path that eventually lead me to call Vancouver and British Columbia home.

Through therapy, I match attuned connection and care, a range of adaptive counselling strategies, and best practices from developmental psychology and neuroscience, to wherever you are in your healing process. My counselling approach is grounded in genuine, lived experience based understanding of the issues I work with and I approach each of my clients with the belief that every one can grow and heal when they are understood and joined with the right tools to turn their insight into tangible new life options. I believe in offering guidance and structure, but also in ensuring that each step of your treatment planning is collaborative, well paced, and takes into consideration the big picture context of your life and needs.

My counselling approaches is warm and curious, Trauma Informed, Strength Based, Anti-Oppression and grounded in my genuine belief in my clients. The therapeutic modalities I work with are evidence based, and backed by an understanding of human growth and development, with researched efficacy across many client bases and mental health concerns. My training and experience in these therapeutic tools, combined with your self-understanding and innate self-leadership capacity, will help us cultivate new, strength based insights and strategies for you to grow through even your most persistent and painful struggles.

I specialize in helping adults of all ages, including young adults and adolescents, break free from patterns of emotional dysregulation, attachment trauma, self-sabotage, role-confusion, build better self -awareness and care habits and ultimately attain a clearer vision of and ability to actualize their ideal selfhood.

Areas of Expertise:

Clinical -

• Anxiety - generalized, panic episodes, career, academic & financial anxiety

• Depression - low mood, lack of motivation, direction and energy

• ADHD - Exec. Functioning Skill building, Emotional Regulation, Prioritization and Identity Work

• Emotional regulation and Distress tolerance skill building

• Substance use cessation, sober curiosity

• Emotional, Psychological, Physical & Sexual Abuse & Assault

Non-Clinical/Personal Development:

• Fears of Abandonment, relationship/attachment difficulties, intimacy concerns, challenges getting close to others

• Healthy Boundary Exploration & Development

• Identity & self-worth/esteem

• Goal Setting, Purpose Exploration, living up to your full potential!

Counselling Approaches Used:

• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

• Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)

• Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Family Systems

• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Somatic Integration Work

• Motivational Interviewing

• Mindfulness

• Executive Functioning Practical Assessments for ADHD

What you can expect from sessions with me:

After assessing your current needs and priority concerns bringing you to counselling, your life context, and existing strengths and resources, together we will hone in on the circumstances, dynamics and patterns keeping you unwell, stuck, unfulfilled or confused. I will then use this assessment to develop a specialized individual treatment plan that will empower you to access your innate self-understanding, care and mastery. 

My integrative approach offers effective treatment and resolution of: current crises; emergent or longstanding struggles with anxiety and depression; academic or career anxiety; mild to moderate substance use dependency; lack of energy; mood dysregulation; self-esteem, self-worth and identity concerns and the imprints of past trauma. 

Through counselling you can expect to feel an increased sense of well-being, efficacy, ability to connect to yourself and others, as well as an increased sense of clarify about your direction in life and place in the world.

It’s time to remember who you were before you had to look away to keep going! I would be honoured to help you find your way.

Education and Experience:

I completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Literature, with a focus on neuroscience and human development at the University of Toronto (2013). I hold a Masters in Counselling Psychology from Simon Fraser University (2018).

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #16175) with the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors and am a Certified TeleMental Health Provider (postgrad). I have completed additional trainings in Developmental Trauma Treatment with CTRC (Complex Trauma Resources Centre) and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy with Janina Fisher at PESI. I hold a continuing education certification in Addiction Care and Treatment from UBC’s eCPD Faculty of Medicine. 

An important part of my counselling is the continual refinement of my skills, and I am committed to offering the most up to date basis of practice, grounded in research and skillful training for my clients. My upcoming trainings include Re-wiring the Traumatized Brain with Bessel Van der Kolk at NICABM and Foundations of Narrative Therapy with the Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy.

I have nearly half a decade of professional experience, and have successfully worked with upwards of 300 clients at this point in my career. I have worked with individuals and groups with both high-risk concerns as well as clients looking to manage moderate mental health concerns for more successful daily living. I’m experienced in both brief-intentional and long-term counselling approaches, grounded in clinical and community work and training across British Columbia. In addition to my e-counselling services, I currently work for a community counselling agency in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, and provide low-barrier mental health and substance use counselling to youth, families and adults from many diasporas and walks of life.