Mind-Body Well-Being in Nanaimo, BC. Professional Counselling, Nutrition, Yoga, and Massage—All Integrated Under One Roof.

Farnaz Farrokhi, Clinical Counsellor, CCC & RCC., MA Comms, MACP

Pronouns: She/Her | Your Counsellor Near Me  

Hi, I’m Farnaz!

I’m a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)and the founder of Soma House Counselling & Wellness—a warm, grounded space that feels more like home than a clinic. As a clinical counsellor, I support individuals, children, and families navigating anxiety, burnout, ADHD, trauma, grief, and life transitions. Whether you're raising a neurodivergent child, caregiving for a loved one, or feeling overwhelmed by stress or past experiences, I’m here to walk alongside you.

My approach is rooted in a biopsychosocial lens, integrating mind, body, and lived experiences to support your theraputic goals. I use a somatic approach alongside evidence-based modalities like CBT, EMDR, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and trauma-informed care. Therapy with me is directive, collaborative, and person-centred—tailored to meet your unique needs and goals.

As part of a blended family, I have the privilege of helping co-parent my partner Mike’s four amazing kids. That experience—alongside my own journey of not being able to have children—deepens my understanding of the complexities families can face and the importance of empathy, patience, and connection. 

I grew up in a war-torn country, lived on air force bases, and worked in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. I understand the toll of high-stress environments firsthand—my leadership roles and secondments to Emergency Operations Centres during crises deepened this insight. Therefore, I also support military personnel, veterans, first responders, politicians, caregivers, and their families as they navigate stress, trauma, and major life transitions. 

I hold a Master’s in Counselling Psychology and another in Communications. 

You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here to support you— at a pace you’re comfortable with.

• Anxiety, Burnout, & Stress Management
• ADHD, Neurodiversity, & Self-Confidence Development
• PTSD, Trauma Recovery, & Nervous System Regulation
• Depression, Grief, Loss (i.e. job loss, anticipatory grief, and child or pet loss), & Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Life Transitions (i.e. becoming parents, separation, divorce, co-parenting, retirement), Identity, & Inner Child Work 
• Mental Health Support for Military, Veterans, Professional Helpers, First Responders, their Spouses, and Families
• Self-Esteem, Imposter Syndrome, & Boundaries
• Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse & Antagonistic Relationships 
• Workplace Mental Health Support and Management (including for Executives, Senior Leadership Teams, and politicians)
• Women's Sexual Health (i.e. peri/menopause, reproductive challenges, pelvic floor health)
• Relationship Challenges, Spiritual Growth, & Emotional Well-Being

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Experiential Therapy
• Gestalt Therapy
• Inner Child Work
• Narrative Therapy
• Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)
• Somatic Therapy
• Trauma-Informed Care

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology
• Master’s Degree in Communications

Session Types: Individual adults, children, youth, couples, and family counselling. In-person or online.

Contact & Hours of Operation:

<<Soma House Counselling & Wellness>>

• Location: In-person and virtual in Nanaimo; virtual across British Columbia and unregulated provinces 
• Practice Days: Tuesday Nights, Fridays, and some Saturdays
• Contact: Farnaz@somahouse.ca | 250-228-7662 (SOMA) 
• Website: www.somahouse.ca 

<<Island Clinical Counselling (ICC)>>

• Location & Practice Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays, in Duncan; Wednesdays, Downtown Nanaimo (in-person & virtual sessions offered in both locations.) 
• Contact: Farnaz.Farrokhi@islandclinicalcounselling.ca 
• Website: https://islandclinicalcounselling.ca/about-us/#farnaz

Fees for Session Lengths:

50-minute sessions:

This is my most popular session length, and it is a standard session for those seeking a focused therapy appointment. It allows time to address your concerns.

• Youth/Individuals/EMDR: $150  
• Couples/Families:  $185

80-minute sessions:

• $ 180 - 80 Minute Extended Therapy
•  $190 - 80-minute EMDR Therapy Session

This session length is ideal for those needing more time to share their concerns without feeling rushed. It provides an opportunity to cover more ground, whether it's for goal setting, planning, or addressing urgent issues. 

Billing & Benefit Plan Coverage |  Registration:  CCC 11260860 | RCC 22653 

I am a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) through the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC).   

Most extended health benefit plans accept receipts from RCCs and CCCs, so please check to confirm if your sessions are eligible for reimbursement. I work with clients across British Columbia and in unregulated provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut) in Canada.

Direct billing is available for:
 

• Pacific Blue Cross
   
• Medavie Blue Cross (for Veterans Affairs Canada members)
   
• Autism Funding Unit (AFU) — if I am approved as a service provider for your family (please confirm details with AFU directly)
   

For other insurance providers, direct billing may be possible if your plan allows. Otherwise, you can submit your receipts for reimbursement.

Melody Haaland,  Registered Yoga Teacher 

Hi, I'm Melody!  

I’m a compassionate and grounded yoga teacher with a deep commitment to creating accessible, supportive spaces for healing and self-connection. My teaching integrates somatic and restorative practices that foster balance, body awareness, and mindful movement—drawing not only from my training, but also from my personal and lived experience.

As a survivor of domestic violence, I’ve navigated the complex emotional and physical impacts that such trauma can leave behind. Yoga, alongside counselling, became a lifeline for me. These practices helped me move through the mental health challenges I faced and reconnect with my body in a way that felt safe, empowering, and healing. This lived experience informs every class I teach.

My approach blends the gentle, mindful movements of Somatic Yoga, the restful support of Restorative Yoga, and breath-focused sequences designed to soothe the nervous system. Together, these practices reduce stiffness and tension, improve circulation, and cultivate greater ease and mobility in the body.

I offer specialized yoga to support individuals through menstrual, perimenopausal, and menopausal transitions. These classes are thoughtfully designed to regulate the nervous system and provide physical comfort—offering support through both movement and stillness during times of fluctuation and change. An area I teach is pelvic floor awareness and strength. Through intentional movement and breathwork, I guide students in connecting with this vital part of the body to support posture, core stability, and overall resilience. 

Whether you're seeking to ease muscular tightness, improve flexibility, or simply move through life with more freedom, my sessions offer a gentle yet effective pathway to physical and emotional well-being. With steady, inclusive pacing, I welcome beginners and seasoned practitioners alike into a space where healing and self-discovery can unfold.

Areas of Interest & Specializations:

• Increased mobility and improved range of motion 
• Reduction of muscular tightness, stiffness, and tension 
• Pelvic floor health, support, and awareness 
• Menstrual, perimenopausal, and menopausal well-being 
• Deep rest, relaxation, and nervous system support 
• Gentle strength-building and postural alignment 
• Inclusive, body-aware movement for all levels
   

At Soma House Counselling & Wellness, Melody’s classes are more than just movement—they are a space for restoration, gentle strength, and embodied presence. Whether you're managing life transitions, seeking greater mobility, or simply looking to unwind, her classes provide a welcoming environment to feel grounded, centered, and at ease in your body.

Contact: Melody@somahouse.ca | 250-667-8997

Fees for Session Lengths:

• Individual Sessions: $60 per 50-minute session
• Online Group Yoga Sessions: $20 per 50-minute session (In the works, please stay tuned!)

Registration:

• Registered Yoga Teacher 200

Allison Blakeborough, Registered Holistic Nutritionist  (R.H.N.) 

Hi, I'm Allison!   

I'm a passionate Holistic Nutritionist with a background in Naturopathic studies, which I pursued during the twelve years I lived in Melbourne, Australia. While there, I studied Health Sciences and Western Herbal Medicine before focusing my passion more deeply on Nutrition. In 2017, I returned to Vancouver Island to be closer to my family and later completed my training at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in 2020. Since then, I've been working as a Holistic Nutritionist, supporting clients on their health journeys.

I love cooking and advocate for a whole-food diet, paired with a strong understanding of supplemental therapeutics. I believe that managing symptoms is just as important as uncovering and addressing root causes. My goal is always to educate, empower, and inspire others to make meaningful, sustainable changes in their diet and lifestyle. I recognize that each person is a unique puzzle with complex, diverse needs, and I work holistically with every client to create a personalized plan that supports their health goals.

Over time, I’ve developed a keen interest in somatic therapies, and I’m thrilled to be working alongside the other practitioners at Soma House. I strongly believe in the power of the mind-body connection, and that both mental and physical health can be addressed in tandem through somatic practices.

Like many people, I’ve come to feel that our current medical system often doesn’t fully address our needs—or simply isn’t accessible. I believe it’s more important than ever to take our health and disease prevention into our own hands. That’s why I’m passionate about helping people gain the knowledge they need to care for themselves as individuals—through personalized, thoughtful guidance that honours their unique needs, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions.

Areas of interest include:

• Hormone health; perimenopause and menopause
• Mood, sleep, and brain health
• Neurodivergence
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO),  and digestive support
• Autoimmune conditions
• Chronic pain
• Cardiovascular health
• Healthy aging

Contact: Allison@somahouse.ca | 250-619-3762

Fees for Session Lengths: 

• Initial consultation: 50 minutes $90
• Extended initial consultation: 80 minutes $120 (This option is for complex or chronic health conditions, or those who prefer a longer appointment.)
• Extended follow-up visit: 45 minutes $80

Jacqueline Guerrier, Certified Massage Practitioner   

Hello, I’m Jacqueline, and I’m grateful to be part of Soma House Counselling & Wellness. I graduated from Vancouver Island University’s Esthetics and Spa Therapy Certificate Program and have experience providing both relaxation and deep tissue massage. I’m also training under the mentorship of Farnaz Farrokhi to expand my practice with somatic massage techniques that support clients’ therapeutic needs.

I understand that many people come to massage as a way to disconnect from the world and recalibrate. Because of that, I welcome silence throughout a session and will always respect your need for quiet, checking in periodically to ensure your comfort.

My goal is to create a warm, client-centred, and restorative space where each session is tailored to your well-being.

Contact: Info@westwoodmasseuse.ca | 250-619-4103

Fees for Session Lengths: 

• 50-Minute Massage Sessions $85 plus tax

Miss Braya Bear: A Golden Heart with a Playful Spirit 

Therapeutic Support Animal   

Braya Bear isn’t just an adorable Goldendoodle—she’s a therapeutic animal support dog with a gift for bringing comfort and joy to those around her. With her boundless energy and expressive personality, she knows exactly how to brighten someone’s day. One scritch behind the ears, and—just like that—you’ve got a loyal friend for life.

But like everyone, Braya sometimes feels overwhelmed, too. She has a sensitive heart and needs to be approached with gentleness and understanding. The best way to say hello? Offer your hand for a sniff, and let her come to you when she’s ready.

Whether she’s offering a calming presence, bringing a smile with her joyful spirit, or simply curling up beside someone in need of comfort, Braya Bear’s golden heart shines brightest when she’s helping others. With her love, warmth, and intuitive nature, she’s more than a companion—she’s a source of healing and happiness.

Sir. Courtland: The Regal Ruler of Comfort & Ruler

Therapeutic Support Animal 

Sir Courtland isn’t just any cat—he’s a dapper, treat-loving, therapy superstar! This charming gentleman started life on a bit of a rough road, growing up in an abandoned property with cerebellar hypoplasia, a condition where a kitten’s brain doesn’t fully develop before birth, making them wobbly and uncoordinated, but they can still live happy lives with extra care! Luckily, his amazing Foster Momma Amber nursed him back to health, and he became the beloved therapy cat at the Nanaimo Family Life Association (NFLA).

But fate had grander plans! During her clinical counselling practicum at NFLA, Farnaz and Sir Courtland formed an unbreakable bond. Now, this distinguished feline has upgraded his royal quarters to Soma House, where he “works” hard—mostly for Temptations treats, warm cuddles, and the occasional noble nap. With his gentle soul and regal presence, Sir Courtland continues to bring comfort, joy, and just the right amount of purr-fection to everyone he meets.