Registered Clinical Counsellor
Pooja Ladwa
Adults · Couples
I’m Pooja Ladwa, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) at Safe Haven Counselling in South Surrey. With a Master’s in Counselling Psychology and a Master of Science in Psychology, my work is built on understanding how prolonged stress and high-stakes environments shape the way we think and relate to others. I am of East Indian descent and grew up in Africa, giving me a unique perspective on the global diaspora experience. I am fluent in Gujarati, Hindi, and Kiswahili, and I specialize in the friction that happens when your identity starts to disappear under the weight of ‘shoulds’ from your family or community.
Most of my clients are experts at keeping up appearances while carrying a mental load that is invisible to the outside world. Whether you are navigating the isolation of a chronic health condition, the fallout of an unsafe relationship, or the constant pressure to meet cultural expectations, you’ve likely spent years performing a version of yourself that makes everyone else comfortable. As a couples therapist, I also work with partners who feel stuck in this same performance—maintaining the image of a perfect family while the connection at home has turned into a series of silent, lonely misunderstandings. I provide a space where that performance ends. We get into the actual grit of your life and your relationships so you can stop living for everyone else and start making choices that are actually yours.
Therapeutic Modalities
My Approach to Therapy
I view therapy as a collaborative and restorative process – one that helps people reconnect with their inner wisdom, understand long-standing patterns, and move toward greater emotional ease and self-trust. My approaches and specific trainings include:
IFS
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Exploring the different parts of you that have been shaped by trauma or cultural expectations to find internal harmony.
Gottman
Gottman Method (Levels 1 & 2)
Providing practical, research-based tools to couples navigating relationship and attachment challenges.
Narrative
Narrative Therapy
Helping you untangle your identity from the stories of failure or “expectation” that others have placed on you.
CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Identifying how your beliefs about yourself influence your emotional patterns and choices.
Art
Art Therapy & Mindfulness
Using creative and reflective tools to access deeper insights when words feel insufficient.
Specializations
Who I Work With
I specialize in supporting those navigating high-stakes emotional, physical, and cultural challenges.
Chronic Pain & Rare Diseases
Helping you manage the psychological and emotional toll of living in a body that feels like a battleground.
Intimate Partner Violence Recovery
Providing an informed, safe space to process the impact of unsafe dynamics and rebuild your sense of self.
Cultural & Intergenerational Stress
Navigating the conflict between personal desires and family or cultural expectations.
Relationship & Attachment Challenges
Addressing the deep-seated patterns that keep you stuck in cycles of disconnection or reactivity.
Grief & Loss
Supporting you through the many layers of mourning, including the “unseen” losses of health or identity.
Mental Health Support
Specialized care for those managing diagnoses such as Bipolar, Eating Disorders, or Neurodivergence.
SUPPORT IS HERE
Ready to start moving toward meaningful change?
Book a free 15-minute consultation with Pooja to see if working together feels like the right fit.
Our counselling services are available to residents of British Columbia.