Meet Irene Yakovleva:
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Meet Irene Yakovleva, RCC
About Me
Helping You Come Back to Yourself
Sometimes life changes in ways we never expected, leaving us overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of who we are.
As an Eastern European immigrant and mother to a child with a chronic illness, I understand how anxiety, uncertainty, relationship challenges, and unexpected transitions can affect our sense of self and our connection to the people we love.
I’m passionate about supporting people who are navigating anxiety, depression, grief, family and parental wounds, intergenerational trauma, and the effects of narcissistic, manipulative, or abusive relationships. Often, these experiences leave us questioning ourselves, our relationships, and even our sense of identity.
I know how difficult, and even lonely, it can be to navigate these experiences. My work is about helping you make sense of what you’ve been through, understand the patterns that shaped you, and move toward a life and relationships that feel healthier, safer, and more authentic.
I believe we all deserve to feel seen, valued, and accepted for who we are. I also believe that, even through difficult experiences, we remain creative, resourceful, and whole. I bring compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for each person’s unique experience to my work.
My Approach
I see therapy as a process of coming back to yourself by understanding how your experiences have shaped you, what you’ve learned to believe about yourself and others, and what may be keeping you from living in a way that feels true to you.
I bring a deep understanding of trauma and the ways it can shape our nervous system, relationships, sense of safety, and sense of self. Together, we’ll explore your early experiences, your family relationships, and your current relationship patterns. We’ll look at how these experiences influence your emotions, self-perception, and the way you connect with others.
But insight is only the beginning. We’ll also explore what becomes possible when you recognize your needs, trust your experience, set boundaries, and develop relationships that feel more reciprocal, safe, and nourishing.
I work gently and collaboratively, at a pace that feels right for you. I bring curiosity, openness, and compassion to our work, and welcome the exploration of your beliefs, values, and spirituality in a way that feels meaningful to you.
My integrative approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Relational Life Therapy (RLT), and Family Systems Theory, along with creative tools such as dream work and metaphorical and associative cards. I draw from these approaches to help you understand not only what is happening, but the deeper emotions, meanings, and patterns underneath.
My Commitment to You
I will meet you with compassion, curiosity, and without judgment. I will listen deeply, respect your pace and autonomy, and create space for you to be honest about what you’re experiencing. I won’t tell you who you should be or how you should live. I will work alongside you to help you understand yourself, trust your own experience, and find your way toward a life that feels genuinely your own.
Credentials
Education
- M.C. – Master of Counselling, City University
- B.A. – Bachelor of Arts (English, Psychology & Counselling), Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Teacher Training, Pedagogical College
- Linguistics and Behaviour, Minsk Innovative University (MIU)
Training Completed
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Sexuality
- Narcissistic Relationships, Emotional Abuse & Gaslighting: Treating and Empowering Survivors of Relational Trauma
- Shame Certification Training: Integrative Somatic, Sensorimotor, Mindfulness, & Neurobiological Strategies to Transform Self-Loathing
Certifications
- Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) – Level 1, Sue Johnson
- Emotionally Focused Therapy for Traumatized Individuals: Shaping a New Sense of Self, Sue Johnson
- Narcissistic and Psychopathic Abuse: The Clinician’s Guide to the New Field of Traumatic Pathological Love Relationships, Mindsight Institute
- Shame and the Disowned Self: Overcoming Internal Attachment Disorder, Janina Fisher
- Treating Adult Clients of Emotionally Immature Parents: How Clients Can Reclaim Their Lives from the Toxic Legacy of Controlling, Rejecting or Self-Involved Parents, Mindsight Institute
- Working with Somatic Components to Overcome Trauma Related Fears of Feeling Good, Janina Fisher
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know if my partner (or my parent) is narcissistic or emotionally abusive?
While labels can help clarify things, it’s often more helpful to understand the patterns and the emotional impact a relationship has on you. In our work, we’ll explore how you feel in your relationship and whether you feel seen, respected, emotionally safe, and able to be yourself. We’ll look at recurring dynamics such as manipulation, control, invalidation, guilt, or chronic self-doubt. The goal isn’t to diagnose others. Instead, it’s to help you gain clarity, understand your experience, and reconnect with your own perception of reality.
Q: Can you help me with self-esteem, guilt, or feeling stuck even if I don’t have a clear trauma history?
Yes. You don’t need to have a complex trauma history to experience emotional distress, low self-worth, or feel stuck. Often, these experiences develop gradually through our relationships, life stresses, or repeated emotional patterns. Together, we’ll explore what’s contributing to these feelings and gently work toward strengthening your self-understanding and emotional regulation while helping you develop a more stable sense of self.
Q: Can spirituality be incorporated into counselling?
Yes, spirituality can be part of the therapeutic process if it is meaningful for you. I approach spirituality in a very open, grounded, and respectful way. I don’t see spirituality as a belief system that needs to be interpreted or predicted. Instead, I view it as a personal inner language that sometimes helps us better understand ourselves.
In our work, we may explore spiritual themes through creative and reflective methods such as metaphorical associative cards, mental imagery, dreams, music, or personal symbolic meanings. For some people, this also includes connection to concepts such as God, universal energy, or an inner sense of higher guidance. All of these are understood as expressions of inner experience, ways your psyche and “soul” may communicate.
At the same time, these tools are not used for prediction, fortune-telling, or “answers from outside.” They are not an oracle. They are simply supportive instruments that can help you more deeply access your emotions, patterns, and inner processes. Our focus will always remain on helping you understand yourself, strengthening your self-awareness, and supporting your emotional integration in a safe and grounded way.
Q: How do dreamwork or metaphorical cards actually help, and are they evidence-based?
These tools are not used as literal interpretations, but as symbolic ways to access deeper emotional processes that may be difficult for you to express directly. Dreams and metaphorical images often reflect unconscious themes, emotions, or internal conflicts. In therapy, they can help bring clarity, emotional insight, and new perspectives. I use them as part of an integrative approach, combining them with evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), depending on what best supports you.
Q: How can therapy help with anger issues?
Therapy can help you understand what’s driving your anger, identify triggers, develop healthier coping strategies, and improve communication in your relationships. For many men, anger is not the primary problem but a response to underlying feelings such as stress, hurt, fear, shame, loneliness, or feeling misunderstood. Working together, we help you recognize these patterns, respond more effectively in difficult situations, and strengthen your relationships at home and at work.
nother FAQ that could perform very well:
Q: Why am I so angry all the time?
Persistent anger can stem from chronic stress, unresolved past experiences, relationship conflict, anxiety, depression, burnout, or difficulty expressing vulnerable emotions. Working together, we’ll help you to identify the root causes of your anger and develop practical tools for managing it more effectively.
“Irene has assisted me in unpacking my past, helped me to understand how those situations impacted my decisions and guided me towards trusting and embracing my authentic self.”
N.A.
“Irene has been a wonderful support through my divorce, health concerns, and many life challenges. She helped me understand what is truly important to me and always left me feeling stronger, more hopeful and ready to keep going.”
Y.C.
“I’ve been seeing Irene for over a year, and I truly appreciate her support. Her calm and gentle approach always puts me at ease, and I never feel judged. Whether I’m dealing with something difficult or just a small everyday issue, she gives it the same care and attention. I’m very grateful to have found her.”
A.K.
Imagine a Life Where You Feel Empowered and Confident
Picture yourself overcoming challenges, building stronger relationships, and feeling more at peace.
At Quoin Counselling, we believe in your potential to achieve this and more.
Tanya Schecter's latest book is out and available for purchase
Mending Broken Hearts: Drawing on research, Relational Life Therapy, and the author's own work, Mending Broken Hearts provides a step-by-step treatment plan and specific skills for therapists. With these tools, the therapist will help couples to not only recover from infidelity, but transform their relationship into one that's more relational, more connected, and more satisfying. The end goal is a relationship grounded in intimacy and safety
Tanya Schecter's book is out and available for purchase
Lead from Your Heart: This insightful guide offers practical strategies and heartfelt wisdom to help you lead authentically, connect deeply with others, and create positive change in your personal and professional life. Embrace the journey of leading from your heart and unlock your true potential.
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