A woman with glasses and shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a yellow top and blue jeans, sitting on a large rock outdoors with trees and foliage in the background.

Welcome! I’m Lauren Gelfer (she/her)

I’m a relational somatic therapist, registered clinical counsellor, dog-mama, partner, daughter, sister, auntie and friend.

I’m a registered clinical counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, I have a Masters in Counselling Psychology, and have worked in the field of mental health for over 15 years.

I’m trained in trauma-informed, somatic, relational, neuroscience, and attachment-based therapies. My lived experience with trauma, chronic pain and endometriosis also informs my approach to therapy.

I’m passionate about helping my clients heal, grow and thrive by tapping into the inner knowing and wisdom of the body and heart. My process helps you explore the body-mind-heart connection of somatic states, thoughts and emotions to gain deeper insight into who you are and what you need. Knowing ourselves in all these dimensions allows us to make empowered choices that align with how we truly want to live our lives.

I was called to this inner work through my personal journey of owning my unique path in life, despite it being different than the societal expectations that I grew up with. Aligning with our heart can be challenging, and requires cultivating courage and facing our fears, but becoming who we truly are in our fullest self is worth it.

Nothing feels more fulfilling to me than witnessing my clients step beyond the conditioned self to nurture their truth and wholeness.

I’m honoured to do this profoundly meaningful work and I look forward to accompanying you on your healing journey!

I specialize in helping individual clients:

  • Address the root causes of anxiety and depression

  • Process and heal intergenerational trauma

  • Create attuned relationships and solve painful relationship issues

  • Care for chronic pain and endometriosis

  • Develop awareness around nervous system regulation

  • Care for adaptive strategies that no longer serve you (ex: pleaser, over-functioner, withdrawer etc.)

In couples work, I can help with:

  • Nurturing emotional attunement and intimacy

  • Resolving conflict and learning healthy negotiation

  • Learning how to repair

  • Developing awareness of emotional triggers and learning ways to co-regulate with each other

  • Healing attachment trauma that is often at the root of disconnect or conflict

  • Develop a strong self of self AND a strong sense of the relationship

  • Learning tools to communicate effectively

  • Rebuilding trust and safety

Certifications in addition to Masters degree:

  • Bringing the Body Into Practice - 2 year SAP program, 1 year Advance program, Chronic Shame Workshop, and currently a part of the facilitation team.

  • The Sexuality Competent Therapist: Foundations - Allura Sex Therapy Academy.

  • Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) - Level 1.

  • The Developmental Model Couples Therapy.

  • Ongoing supervision for both individual and couples therapy

Looking up at tall pine trees in a forest with a cloudy sky in the background.

Land Acknowledgement

The name Leaning Tree pays homage to the sacred land that I have the privilege to call home. It’s the land that has provided me with the roots and grounding that I’ve needed to launch this practice. This land is in Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia and is on the unceded territory of the Shíshálh Nation. I acknowledge with gratitude that I am a settler on the unceded territories on which I work, live, and play.

Moving from Vancouver to rural Halfmoon Bay was a leap of faith! I’m immensely grateful that I listened to my intuition which was calling me to step into a slower pace of life and a deeper connection and embodiment to the rhythm of nature

This is what I love supporting my clients with, empowering them to honour their inner knowing and take steps towards what feels more aligned with their truth, even when it feels scary and uncertain.

I consider myself to be the rooted tree on which my clients lean for support, and I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity! To witness the healing, growth, and wisdom that takes place before me everyday is an immense gift.