Hello, I’m Arandeep Virk,
at Woven Within Counselling
With a BSc. from the University of Victoria and a BSW and MSW from the University of British Columbia, I bring over five years of experience supporting individuals, youth, and families through mental health and substance use challenges. I have additional training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Play Therapy. As a Registered Social Worker, I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. The work we do together will be shaped by you, your story, and what healing actually looks like for you.
Who I Work With
I work with children, teens, and adults navigating a wide range of life experiences. Whether you are facing anxiety or depression, processing grief or trauma, moving through a major life transition, or struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts, you don't have to figure it out alone. I also support individuals working through relationship challenges and the weight that comes with them.
If you're not sure whether what you're going through "qualifies" for therapy — it does. You don't need to be in crisis to deserve support.
My Approach & Training
I draw from a range of evidence-based approaches depending on what feels right for you and what you're working through.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — A structured, goal-oriented approach that targets the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, helping you identify cognitive distortions and develop healthier patterns of thinking and responding.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) — A skills-based approach that focuses on building emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness, particularly helpful for those who experience intense or overwhelming emotions.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) — A therapeutic model that works with the distinct sub-personalities or "parts" within a person, helping to reduce internal conflict, process trauma, and cultivate greater self-leadership and self-compassion.
Narrative Therapy — An approach that separates the person from the problem, helping you reauthor the stories you hold about yourself and your experiences in a way that reflects your values and strengths.
Play Therapy — A developmentally appropriate, evidence-based approach for children that uses play as the primary medium for expression, processing, and healing, allowing the therapist to access a child's inner world in a natural and non-threatening way.
No single approach works for everyone. I pull from these frameworks thoughtfully and intentionally, always tailoring the work to you.
My Journey
My passion for counselling began long before I became a therapist. It started with a simple yet powerful realization: when people are truly heard and supported, they can begin to heal. One of my first experiences in the field was working in a transition home for women and children fleeing violence, where I witnessed firsthand how a safe and compassionate space could transform lives. That experience planted something in me that no textbook could. A deep belief in the power of presence.
Over the years, I've had the privilege of working alongside individuals and families as a registered social worker in hospital settings, long-term care, and community-based mental health services, supporting people through some of life's most difficult and defining moments. From BC Children's Hospital to the emergency department and ICU, I've sat with people in moments where everything felt uncertain, and learned that sometimes, just being a steady and honest presence is what makes the difference.
Through these experiences, I have learned that therapy is not about "fixing" people. It's about empowering them to reconnect with their strengths, find clarity, and move toward healing in their own way.
My approach is deeply compassionate and collaborative, informed by research, but always led by the person in front of me.
A Commitment to Inclusion & Individualized Care
Working with neurodiverse children and youth reshaped the way I think about therapy entirely. It taught me that there is no single way to experience the world, and that real support starts with genuine curiosity about the person in front of you rather than assumptions about what they need.
That belief carries into everything I do, whether I am working with children, families, or adults. I don't arrive with a fixed roadmap. I listen first, adapt always, and build the work around the person, not the other way around.
At Woven Within Counselling, I want every client to feel that this is a space where they don't have to shrink, explain themselves, or fit a mold. Just show up, and we will figure it out together.
A Little More About Me
I am a Punjabi South Asian woman, born and raised in Canada, and that shapes everything about how I show up in this work. I understand firsthand how culture, identity, and lived experience intersect with mental health, and I bring that awareness into every session, whether you share my background or not.
Outside of the therapy room, you'll find me exploring Victoria with my husband, hunting down character homes and interesting architecture, or at home knitting or colouring — hobbies my friends kindly describe as very grandma of me.
At the end of the day, this work is personal for me. My own experiences led me here, and I genuinely love what I do. I leave sessions feeling energized, not drained, and I think that says everything about how much this work matters to me. If you're considering reaching out, I hope that gives you a sense of who you'd be working with.