Van Shanahan, Registered Psychotherapist

If you keep ending up in the same place, I'm here to help.

Feeling stuck and unsure of how to move forward? Maybe you've noticed the same kind of conflict, or the same kind of ending, showing up again in different relationships or different chapters of your life, no matter how hard you try to do things differently. I've seen this in people close to me too, and I want you to know you don't have to keep managing it alone.


Growing up in Barrie, I watched people I cared about struggle with life and mental health. When they finally connected with a counselor or psychotherapist, I saw how much it helped. Having someone really listen, without judgment, gave them the support they needed to find a way forward. That made a huge impact on me.


I became a therapist to be that person for others, to be the one who believes in you, even when it feels like no one else does. Whether you feel like you've got a lot to lose or nothing left to lose, I believe there is hope, and I am here to help you along the way.


Often the people I work with have already tried to manage a problem on their own, or even in previous therapy, and found that it comes back. Usually that's because the pattern underneath it was never really understood, just coped with. I work with people who are noticing repeating patterns in their relationships, whether that's conflict, anger, unhealthy coping habits, or a sense of never quite feeling heard by the people who matter to them. I also work with teens who feel invisible or unsure where they fit in, and with young adults navigating anxiety, depression, or major life changes.



If you're feeling isolated in your struggle, I'll meet you right where you are. Together we'll take the time to actually understand what's driving this, not just find another way to cope with it.


I'm a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). My approach is grounded in psychodynamic and relational thinking, focused on understanding the deeper roots and history behind the patterns that keep showing up in your life.


I support adolescents 15+ and adults who are seeking help.

Our individual counselling sessions move at your pace. Together we can:

Understand the patterns that keep showing up in your relationships

Explore where these patterns come from and what keeps them going

Strengthen communication and relationships

Work through mood and behavioural patterns at their root

Build a deeper understanding of yourself and your history

Book with Van

What can you expect if you work with me?

A lot of the people I work with have noticed something like this about themselves: the same conflict, or the same kind of ending, coming back again in different relationships, different jobs, different years of their life. Often they've already done some work on it and gained some insight, and the pattern still returns. I think that's usually because it was being managed rather than actually understood. My approach is to slow down and spend real time on your story and your history, not just the problem you're bringing in that day. In my experience, that combination, being heard and having your history taken seriously, tends to matter most to people who've felt unheard for a long time. It's not always a quick process, and I won't pretend it is, but if something keeps happening to you, I think it's worth understanding why, not just finding another way to cope with it.

I work with individuals experiencing challenges related to:

If you've been through therapy before and it helped for a while, but the same issue eventually came back, this might look a bit different from what you've experienced. We won't just be building another set of coping tools. We'll be starting with your history and following it until the pattern makes sense on its own terms. That takes longer, but in my experience it's what actually holds. My motto is simple: you don't have to figure this out alone.

Sessions are $170 (no tax) for 50 minutes. To reach me directly, email van@resetbarrie.ca

BOOK with Van