Chronic Pain : Future Focus Counselling & Consulting
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You Are Not Alone (Even if It Feels That Way)

In my Kamloops-based counselling practice, I specialize in working with people who’ve spent too long trying to hide parts of themselves to meet invisible expectations. If you live with an invisible illness, a body that doesn’t function the way others expect it to, or if your mind processes the world in beautifully unique ways — I want you to know: Therapy can help.

When clients tell me they feel like they don’t fit into the world the way others seem too, they often mean more than the social discomfort of being different. Sometimes it’s about medical systems that don’t listen. Workplaces that don’t accommodate. Friendships that feel one-sided. A world that isn’t designed with their needs in mind.

You might be navigating:

  • Chronic illness or disability that others don’t see or understand
  • Neurodivergence (such as autism or ADHD), diagnosed or self-identified
  • Medical trauma or being dismissed by medical specialists
  • Burnout from trying to keep up in a system that’s not built for you
  • Shifting identity after a diagnosis, injury, or major life change

These aren’t just life challenges — they’re emotional and practical experiences that deserve care and attention.

What Therapy Can Offer

In therapy, you get to take off the mask and unburden yourself from the exhaustion of carrying the burden of trying to fit in. You don’t need to explain away your pain, minimize your needs, or prove you’re “sick enough” or “struggling enough.” My approach is grounded in compassion, authenticity, and respect for your lived experience.

Using evidence-based practices like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), I help clients explore their values, reconnect with their bodies and emotions, and build a life that feels aligned and vibrant — even when things are hard or painful

Therapy can help you:

  • Process complex emotions around identity, pain, or isolation
  • Build tools for managing burnout and energy limitations
  • Find self-compassion in a world that’s been unkind
  • Clarify your needs and boundaries
  • Create a vibrant, meaningful life
  • Feel seen — maybe for the first time

Why I Do This Work

As a therapist, I care deeply about creating spaces that honour the richness and complexity of your story. You don’t have to fit a mold here. I work with adults who’ve felt othered, overlooked, or misunderstood — and I know the courage it takes to reach out for support because as someone who lives with chronic pain, I’ve had to find that courage too.

Whether you’ve been in therapy before or this is your first time, know this: there is no right way to be in the world. There is only your way — and it’s worth exploring.

You’re Invited to Reach OutJoin Me for a Free Consultation

If you're looking for a therapist in Kamloops who understands chronic pain, disability, and the experience of not fitting in, I’d be honoured to be a part of your journey. You can book a free 15-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit. There’s no pressure — just an open conversation. 🌿 You don’t have to explain yourself here. You can show up as you are.

Contact Me Today

Zakia is licensed to practice in Washington State and the following Canadian Provinces: Yukon, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland.

Alicia is licensed to practice anywhere in Canada.