Registered Clinical Counsellor
Amy Dahl
Addiction . Substance Use · Trauma-Informed Care
I’m Amy Dahl, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) at Safe Haven Counselling in South Surrey. I hold a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a major in Addictions Counselling. I am a member of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and have spent over eight years helping people navigate harmful patterns and the emotional wounds underneath them.
When you’re carrying pain that stays just beneath the surface, life becomes an act of management. Sometimes that looks like drinking, overworking, or shopping—survival strategies that likely started as a necessary way to cope with a stress or loss that was too heavy to carry alone. But over time, the very things that helped you survive can leave you feeling stuck, disconnected, and exhausted. Whether you are struggling with your own patterns or the weight of watching someone you love disappear into theirs, you deserve a space to stop managing and start healing.
I understand that addictive behaviors are rarely about a lack of willpower—they are often rooted in deep attachment wounds and a longing for security. My role is to offer a supportive space where we can explore what is happening beneath the surface and begin finding a different way through.
Therapeutic Modalities
My Approach to Therapy
Healing is about more than just stopping a behaviour; it’s about understanding the why and rebuilding a sense of internal safety. My approach is trauma-informed and collaborative, integrating evidence-based strategies to support your nervous system:
Addiction
Addiction Counselling
Practical, evidence-based tools for those ready to address substance use or behavioral addictions.
Mindfullness
Mindfulness-Based Therapies
To help you stay present and manage the “urges” or overwhelming emotions that drive harmful patterns.
Somatic
Somatic-Informed Approaches
Recognizing how your body holds stress and learning how to settle the physical “high alert” state.
Attachment
Attachment-Based Therapy
Exploring how early relationships influence your need for coping mechanisms today.
Trauma-Informed
Trauma-Informed Care
Moving at a pace that ensures you feel in control of your own progress.
Specializations
Who I Work With
I specialize in supporting those ready to break cycles of pain and disconnection.
Substance Use Concerns
Addressing alcohol, drug, or prescription medication use with compassion rather than judgment.
Behavioural Addictions
Support for those struggling with compulsive shopping, gambling, overworking, or screen use.
Loved Ones of Those with Addiction
Supporting the family members and partners who feel overwhelmed by someone else’s struggle.
Anxiety & Depression
Exploring how these challenges are tied to unresolved emotional pain or past trauma.
Trauma & Attachment Wounds
Healing the roots of the patterns that no longer serve you.
SUPPORT IS HERE
Ready to start moving toward meaningful change?
Book a free 15-minute consultation with Amy to see if working together feels like the right fit.
Our counselling services are available to residents of British Columbia.