Suzanne
St. John Smith
Psychotherapist
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Individual
Therapy
Life can feel overwhelming at times, and it’s not always easy to make sense of what’s going on inside. Individual therapy offers a safe, confidential space to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences at your own pace. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, grief, or simply feeling stuck, our work together focuses on helping you gain clarity, strengthen self-awareness, and reconnect with your inner sense of direction. My approach is supportive, conversational, and grounded in compassion—you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
2.
Couples
Therapy
​Every relationship faces challenges, but how we navigate them makes all the difference. Couples therapy provides a space for open, honest dialogue—one where both partners feel heard and understood. Together, we’ll explore communication patterns, rebuild trust, and strengthen emotional connection. Whether you’re trying to repair a relationship or deepen one that’s already strong, the goal is to create a more authentic and fulfilling partnership built on respect and understanding.
3.
Family
Therapy
Families are complex systems, and when one part of that system struggles, everyone feels it. Family therapy helps uncover the patterns that may be keeping the family stuck and encourages more compassionate ways of relating to one another. It’s not about assigning blame—it’s about understanding each person’s experience and finding ways to communicate and connect more effectively. I create a space where family members can listen, express, and begin to rebuild trust and connection together.
4.
Discussion Groups
for Women
Women’s discussion groups are powerful spaces for change because they offer something rare: a safe, supportive environment where women can speak openly and hear themselves more clearly. When there’s no pressure to perform or protect, real insight and self-awareness naturally emerge. At the same time, these groups provide the kind of peer support that dissolves isolation. Hearing other women’s stories helps participants feel understood, less alone, and more encouraged to make meaningful shifts in their own lives. Each woman’s growth strengthens the whole group, making it an ideal setting for both personal transformation and shared support.
About Suzanne
I’m Suzanne St. John Smith, a certified psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience helping people move toward healing, self-understanding, and balance.
Throughout these years, I've worked with individuals seeking guidance and support, with couples caught in negative cycles or with those aiming toward separation and divorce, and with families struggling with historic dynamics. Reach and we'll chat about how I can support you either in person at my West Vancouver office or remotely - no matter where you live in Canada.
I’m also a Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), supporting business families as they navigate the intersection of relationships, governance, and legacy.
Areas of Focus
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Relationship Challenges
Healthy relationships are at the heart of emotional well-being, yet they can also be one of our greatest sources of pain. Poor communication; recurring conflict; infidelity; narcissism; separation - bring them here. Let's work together to relieve your feelings of overwhelm.
Parenting Challenges
Parenting can bring both immense joy and unexpected difficulty. Whether you’re navigating power struggles, adolescent issues, or blended-family dynamics, we’ll work together to strengthen communication, and increase understanding.
Midlife Transitions
Midlife is often a time of deep reflection - a season of questioning where you’ve been and where you want to go. And for many women, whose children have recently left the nest, the thought of "now what??" can elicit overwhelming feelings. Together, we’ll explore the emotional, relational, and identity shifts that arise during this phase.
Grief & Loss
Grief is a deeply personal experience. There’s no “right” way to move through it. I provide a safe and compassionate space to process your loss, honor your emotions, and find gentle ways to integrate your grief as you begin to heal and rebuild meaning in your life.
Depression & Anxiety
When life feels overwhelming, it can be hard to see a way forward. Through compassionate, evidence-based therapy, I help clients understand the roots of their anxiety or depression, identify unhelpful patterns of thought, and offer tools to help you navigate these rough waters.
Self-Esteem & Personal Growth
Many of us carry self-doubt or limiting beliefs that prevent us from living authentically and with confidence. In therapy, we'll work together to uncover the roots of these beliefs, develop self-awareness, and cultivate a stronger sense of self-worth.
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Childhood Myths: What They Are and How To Shed Them
This is a book for anyone who carries negative beliefs, or myths, about themselves. For the majority of us, our myths were absorbed during our early years, and many became so deeply rooted within us that, in adulthood, we usually aren't able to view ourselves in the absence of them.