Mariam Qamer

Practicum Counsellor

Mariam Qamer is accepting new clients.

Hi, my name is Mariam (she/her).

I am a practicum counsellor completing my Master of Counselling Psychology program. I currently provide low-cost practicum counselling in Vancouver and online across BC. I work with individuals navigating trauma, grief and loss, relationship patterns, life transitions, cultural identity and belonging, self worth, people pleasing, boundaries and questions about identity and values.

Before entering the counselling field, I worked in various mental health and community-based roles in disability management, vocational rehabilitation, and addictions. My experience includes supporting individuals navigating grief and loss, loss of employment and changes in their ability to work, mental health and substance use concerns, and significant life transitions. These experiences have taught me the importance of meeting people with compassion, curiosity, and respect for the complexity of their circumstances.

Areas of Focus

Trauma Counselling

Trauma can affect how we understand ourselves, relate to others, and experience the world around us. You may find yourself feeling on edge, disconnected, overwhelmed by emotions, struggling to trust, or carrying shame about things you have experienced. Counselling can offer a space to create safety within and deepen self-understanding, emotional awareness, and a stronger sense of connection with yourself.

Grief, Loss & Life Transitions

Grief is not limited to the loss of a person. It can accompany the end of a relationship, loss of employment, changes in your ability to work, moving away from home, changes in family roles, or the loss of a life you imagined for yourself. You may be adjusting to a new chapter while still grieving what came before. Counselling can provide space to process what has changed, make sense of what you are carrying, and reconnect with a sense of direction as you navigate what comes next.

Cultural Identity, Immigration & Belonging

You may find yourself navigating different values between generations, feeling guilty about disappointing family, or struggling to balance what you were taught with the life you want to create. Immigration and growing up between cultures can also bring questions about belonging: Where do I fit? Which parts of myself do I keep? Which parts am I allowed to change? Counselling can be a space to explore these tensions with curiosity and compassion.

Self-Worth, Identity & Living in Alignment

You may find yourself being hard on yourself, questioning your worth, or feeling like you need to achieve, please, or take care of others. At times, the question may be bigger than self-worth: Who am I beyond the roles and expectations I have carried? What actually matters to me? What kind of life do I want to create? We can explore the beliefs, experiences, and expectations that have shaped your sense of self. And make space for your own values, needs, boundaries, and desires.

Relationships, Connection & Couples Counselling

I provide individual counselling for relationship concerns, as well as couples and relational counselling. Perhaps you are navigating conflict, a relationship rupture, dating, a breakup, or changes in your relationship or family. In couples and relational counselling, I work with clients to slow down recurring cycles of conflict or disconnection and create space for each person to feel heard and understood.

My Approach to Counselling

I believe counselling should be responsive to where you are. Sometimes you may need space to process and be heard. Other times you may want practical tools, reflection, or support in making a decision. Together, we may explore the stories and beliefs you have developed about yourself, the experiences that have shaped you, and patterns that may no longer be serving you.

A Little About Me

My own story has shaped my work as a counsellor. I am a Pakistani Canadian immigrant who grew up between cultures, and I understand how complex it can be to make sense of who you are when different parts of your identity, family, culture, and environment seem to ask different things of you. My experiences have sparked a deep interest in cultural identity, belonging, family expectations, intergenerational differences, and the process of creating a life that feels like your own.

Outside of counselling, I am endlessly curious about people, cultures, psychology, art, nature, and what gives life meaning. I love reading, writing, long walks in nature, spending time with the people I love, and finding small ways to make everyday life feel beautiful.

Availability:

I offer in-person counselling on Saturdays, 2PM to 8PM, at the Peak Resilience office and virtual counselling 5PM-8PM on Tuesday and Thursday.
Consultation: Free 15-minute video or phone call.
Practicum Rates: $36 / 50-min individual session. $56 / 50-min couples/relational session.

I would be happy to connect with you for a 15 minute virtual or phone consultation. You can contact me directly at qamertherapy@gmail.com.

You can view my Informed Consent Form here.

Affordable Counselling with a Practicum Student – Quality Mental Health Care at Reduced Cost

A note from Peak Resilience: Practicum Counsellors are counsellors. They are fully trained, and receive regular supervision to ensure they deliver the same quality mental health care clients expect from Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and Registered Social Workers (RSW). Practicum is the final stage before registration. Counselling Rates for Practicum Students are $36/50 minutes, with no eligibility questions asked, no limits to services and no waitlist.

Approaches Used

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Anti-Capitalist, Anti-Oppressive, Attachment Informed / Attachment Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Creative and Strength Based, Critical Race Theory / Culturally Informed / Culturally Competent, Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), Emotion Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Positive Psychology (EPP), Existential Therapy, Experiential Approach, Expressive Arts Therapy / Art Therapist, Humanistic / Person-Centred Therapy / Rogerian, Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Parts Work, LGBTQIA2S+ Affirming, Meditation, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Neurodiversity Affirming, Relational / Relationship Therapy, Somatic and Body-Centred Approaches, Strengths Based Therapy, Trauma Informed Therapy, Weight-Inclusive Therapy

Specialties and Areas of Practice

Accountability, Addiction, ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, BIPOC and Cultural Issues, Body Image, Boundary Setting, Break-Ups, Burnout, Career Counselling / Work Issues, Childhood Trauma, Chronic and Life-Limiting Illness, Communication Skills, Couples Therapy, Creative Blocks, Dating, Depersonalization, Depression, Derealization, Disability, Dissociation, Domestic Violence, Emotional Abuse, Emotional Regulation and Anger, Family Conflict, Fears and Phobias, Goal Setting, Grief and Loss, Health Care Workers/First Responders, Identity, Immigrant Experience, Incest Histories, Interpersonal Challenges, Leadership Development, LGBTQIA2S+, Life Meaning and Purpose, Life Transitions, Minority Issues, Motivation, Neglect, Nervous System Regulation, Neurodivergence, Panic Attacks, Perfectionism, Polyamorous Relationships, Practicum, PTSD / Complex PTSD, Queer Relationships, Relational Trauma, Relationship Issues, Religious Trauma, Self Worth and Personal Growth, Self-Development and Coaching, Self-Esteem, Sex Worker Allied, Sexual Trauma, Sexual Violence, Sexuality and Gender, Shame, Spirituality / Faith Based, Stress Management and Stress Reduction, Student Support, Substance Use Issues, Transgender / Nonbinary / Gender-Nonconforming, Trauma

Mariam Qamer is accepting new clients.

How Much Counselling Will I Need?

It depends on what you want. Most clients fall into one of three categories:

One (or two) and done – I just want some advice to move forward on a problem. Cool, just let me know that so I can make sure the session will be focused.
Acute issue – I need some support to resolve an issue, but I don’t want to be in counselling forever. This usually takes 8-12 sessions but could be shorter or longer based on your needs (time, financial, issue complexity). We create the ideal structure together.
Long-term therapeutic relationship – I need a safe space to process life events. Sessions are often booked up to a year in advance so you can count on the structure and support. The topic often changes session to session, but relates back to an overarching theme of self-development, relationship management, or something of that nature.

I can’t tell you which issues fall into which bucket, or guarantee results, because each client is unique. It’s best to let me know which category you think you might fall into, we can check and adjust as needed.

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Last Updated: October 2, 2026 Created: August 21, 2026

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