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Kamloops, British Columbia · RCC Licensed

Counselling in Kamloops for the Things That Don't Fit a Template.

Registered Clinical Counsellor. EMDR and DBT. If you've already tried therapy and it didn't take, that's usually a fit problem — not a you problem. Fifteen minutes on the phone tells us which.

Book a Free 15-Min Consult

Accepting new clients · Appointments until 8:30pm weeknights & Saturdays · In-person Kamloops or telehealth across BC · Free consult, no obligation

Rather not book online? Call (778) 921-0960 or email [email protected]

BPD
Primary Clinical Speciality
EMDR
+ DBT Therapy
RCC
BC Licensed & Insured
FNHA
Agency & Band Council Referrals Welcome
Cultural Safety

Nicholas van Sabben has worked directly within Tk'emlups te Secwepemc territory, invited by Secwepemc Child and Family Services to serve the youth and families with the most complex needs. This practice operates with deep respect for Indigenous cultural values, protocols, and self-determination.

Who This Is For

You Might
Know This

Most people who find me have already tried therapy and found it didn't reach them. That is usually a fit problem, not a you problem. You don't need to match everything below — one is plenty, and if you're not sure, that is exactly what the free fifteen minutes is for.

01 — Emotional Regulation

Intense Emotional Volatility

Moving between extremes — overwhelming intensity followed by numbness. Emotions that feel uncontrollable, not because of weakness, but because of how the nervous system learned to survive.

02 — Systemic Fatigue

Let Down by the System

A history of being passed between services, labeled as "too complex," or given generic support that did not reflect lived reality. You deserve a clinician who does not give up when things get difficult.

03 — Survival Coping

Managing to Get Through

Using whatever is available — substances, avoidance, high-risk behaviour — just to make it through. These are survival strategies. The goal is to build something more sustainable together.

Not sure if it's "bad enough" to call?

That question is the single most common reason people wait, and waiting is what makes it worse. There is no threshold you have to cross. The consult is fifteen minutes, it costs nothing, and if I'm not the right fit I will tell you who is.

FNHA NIHB — Direct Billing ICBC Approved CVAP Approved EMDR-Based DBT-Informed RCC #19988 · BCACC

Trusted with high-acuity youth and family files by Secwepemc Child and Family Services. Most extended health plans, including most union plans, cover sessions with a Registered Clinical Counsellor.

What I Do

Who I
Work With

Most of my work is with people carrying something heavy and specific — trauma, emotional regulation, substance use, and situations other services have called too complex. Individuals, youth, and community files.

If you're not sure whether that's you, that's exactly what the free fifteen minutes is for. No sales pitch. If I'm not the right person, I'll tell you on that call and point you somewhere better.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

High-structure stabilization using DBT and empirical frameworks. The intensity is not avoided — it is mapped, regulated, and worked with systematically.

Autism & Neurodivergent Burnout

Practical strategy for adults and youth experiencing burnout from a lifetime of masking and systemic overwhelm. Evidence-based, adapted to the individual.

High-Risk & Complex Presentations

Substance use, complex trauma, institutional trauma, and files considered beyond the capacity of mainstream services. These are the cases this practice is designed for.

Nicholas van Sabben RCC MACP
About

Nicholas
van Sabben,
RCC

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia. I came to this work later than most — I finished my Master's degree at 40, after a full first career and a life that taught me things a textbook cannot. That history is the reason complexity does not rattle me, and the reason I do not flinch at the files other services send back.

Before entering clinical practice, I worked in professional hockey, underground mining, oil field operations, and owned businesses across multiple sectors. That breadth of experience means I understand the pressures of demanding environments and the realities of lives that do not fit a standard mould.

One of the most significant honours of my career was being invited by Secwepemc Child and Family Services to work within Tk'emlups te Secwepemc territory — taking responsibility for the youth and families with the highest level of need. When situations are at their most difficult, I do not step back. I stay.

Read the longer version →

Designation Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Province British Columbia, Canada
Modalities EMDR, DBT, Trauma-Informed Practice
Coverage Most extended health benefits accepted
For Referral Partners

Agency &
Institutional
Referrals

This practice accepts direct referrals from agencies, Band Councils, health authorities, and funded community organizations. If you are a coordinator or case manager looking to place a complex file, reach out directly. I will respond promptly and tell you clearly whether this is the right fit.

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)
Band Councils & Indigenous Organizations
Ministry of Children & Family Development (MCFD)
Community Mental Health & Addictions Programs
Youth Justice & Corrections Services
Extended Health Benefit Plans
Email a Referral — [email protected]

Prefer to talk directly? Call (778) 921-0960.

Confidentiality & Reporting

All sessions are governed by the ethical standards of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and applicable privacy legislation. Mandatory reporting obligations under CFCS Act are followed in all cases involving minors. Agencies are informed of reporting obligations at intake.

Funding & Billing

Direct billing available for FNHA Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB). Contract retainer arrangements available for Band Councils and MCFD-funded programs. Self-pay and extended health benefit billing also accepted.

Cultural Safety Commitment

Services are delivered with a commitment to cultural humility, trauma-informed practice, and respect for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. Land acknowledgement and cultural protocols are honoured in all client interactions.

Response Time

Referral inquiries are responded to within one business day. For urgent placements, priority intake can be arranged. Complex or high-risk files are given immediate attention.

Clinical Approach

How I Work

This is not a conventional counselling office. The process is structured, evidence-based, and built around your actual situation — not a standard template. One clinician, no intake queue, no handoff to a colleague.

01
Assessment & Navigation

Understanding the Full Picture

We begin by building a thorough understanding of your history, triggers, current stressors, and what has and has not worked before. You direct the pace. This becomes a living document that guides everything that follows — adjusted continuously as circumstances change.

02
Structured Intervention

Evidence-Based Treatment

Once the clinical picture is clear, we implement structured, empirically supported interventions — EMDR for trauma processing, DBT for emotional regulation and distress tolerance. Every approach is chosen based on evidence, not preference. Progress is tracked and the plan is adjusted accordingly.

Getting Started

The Intake Process

Step 01

Initial Consultation

15 Minutes · No Charge

A brief, no-obligation phone call to assess whether this is the right fit. If this practice is not the appropriate match for your situation, you will be directed clearly toward something that is.

Step 02

Comprehensive Assessment

90-Minute First Session

A thorough clinical mapping session to build a complete picture of history, current presenting concerns, and treatment goals. This session forms the foundation of the treatment plan.

Step 03

Ongoing Treatment

Structured Intervention

Treatment begins using EMDR, DBT, and evidence-based protocols tailored to the clinical presentation. Sessions are structured, progress is tracked, and the plan adapts as needed.

Coverage & Fees

Covered by Most Extended Health Plans in BC

As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), sessions are covered by most extended health benefit plans. Direct billing available for FNHA NIHB. Contract arrangements available for Band Councils, FNHA programs, and MCFD-funded agencies. Contact directly to confirm coverage before booking.

Book Your Free Consult First consultation is always free. No obligation.