Julie Petrynko
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Approved Clinical Supervisor
778-240-0913 (call or text)
info@peakexperiencecounselling.com
My name is Julie Petrynko and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Approved Clinical Supervisor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and the founder of Peak Experience Counselling.
I feel very lucky to be able to enjoy an incredibly fulfilling career. For almost 25 years, I have worked as an educator and counsellor, developing my skills in connecting and guiding others. I am an experienced couples and relationship counsellor and have many years of experience working with individual adults, youth, and counselling professionals.
Our time spent together will be safe, confidential experiences where we work collaboratively, with compassion and curiosity, to meet your needs. My approach is very open and accepting. No matter what you are struggling with or how taboo you feel your concerns, you will find that I am an accepting and non-judgmental listener and support. I strive to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing and exploring.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
Life doesn’t always fall apart dramatically. Sometimes it shifts quietly until you find yourself wondering how you got here, and what comes next. I work with adults navigating meaningful life transitions, particularly midlife, when identity, relationships, and purpose can begin to feel uncertain or outgrown.
Clients often arrive with a sense of restlessness, grief, or disconnection, whether it's related to changing family roles, hormonal shifts, relationship transitions, loss, career changes, or a longing for something more meaningful. Whatever form it takes, I take these experiences seriously and offer support in navigating both the transition itself and the emotions that accompany it.
The movement from teen to young adult, from young adult to adulthood, from adulthood to parenting and family life, from a committed relationship into or out of it, and into retirement are other common life transitions I have years of experience navigating with my clients.
My approach is grounded in a person-centred foundation, offering a space of warmth, deep listening, and genuine collaboration. I integrate Emotionally Focused Therapy, attachment theory, and a trauma-informed perspective to help you better understand your emotional world, relational patterns, and inner experience. Together, we work toward greater clarity, self-understanding, and lasting change.
COUPLES COUNSELLING
Do you find yourselves stuck in the same arguments, feeling unheard, or growing apart?
I work with couples who feel caught in cycles of conflict, distance, or disconnection despite their efforts to repair things. My work is grounded in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), which focuses on the deeper emotional needs and patterns underlying conflict.
Rather than staying at the surface, we explore the hurt, fear, and longing beneath recurring arguments. I help you slow these cycles down, understand what’s really happening between you, and learn to communicate in ways that foster safety, responsiveness, and connection. I also integrate practical communication tools and other relationship skills to support meaningful, lasting change.
YOUTH COUNSELLING (12+)
Adolescence and early adulthood can be some of the most emotionally complex and demanding stages of life. I support young people experiencing anxiety, depression, identity questions, social challenges, family difficulties, or a general sense of not fitting in.
I offer a space that is truly theirs: confidential, non-judgmental, and unhurried. My approach is warm, flexible, and led by the young person, whether that involves talking, creative expression, or simply having a place to think out loud.
Grounded in person-centred, attachment-informed, and trauma-aware practice, I focus on building trust and helping young people make sense of their experiences at their own pace.
A note for parents and caregivers
I know it can be hard to watch your child struggle and feel uncertain about how to help. Reaching out for support is a courageous step for both you and your young person. I work collaboratively with parents and caregivers where appropriate and, where the young person consents. I’m happy to answer any questions you have before we begin. Confidentiality is important to the work, and I’ll always be transparent with you and your young person about how that works in practice.
COUNSELLOR SUPERVISION
I offer clinical supervision for counsellors and therapists at all stages of their careers, from those beginning their practice to more experienced clinicians seeking to deepen their work.
My approach integrates the Developmental Model and the Seven-Eyed Model, allowing supervision to be responsive to your stage of development while also exploring the full relational field of your clinical work. This creates space for thoughtful reflection on your clients, your interventions, your inner experience, and the wider context of the work.
I aim to provide a supportive, collaborative environment where you can explore challenges, build confidence, and continue developing your therapeutic voice and identity, with attention to both professional growth and personal well-being.
I offer packages to help make supervision accessible. Please reach out or see the options in our booking page.
I look forward to connecting with you. I welcome questions and free consultations to see whether we would be a great fit to work together. Please reach out.