Our Circle

Heather Hassenbein

MCPAT, RCC, BCATR

(She/Her)

Hey, I’m Heather

I believe everyone carries an innate wisdom within them. Over time, though, that wisdom can become difficult to hear beneath the many forms of noise we encounter. Sometimes that noise sounds like self-doubt, perfectionism, people-pleasing, grief, overwhelm, or the expectations we’ve carried for so long that they begin to feel like our own voice. For Highly Sensitive Persons, the pace and demands of the world can make it especially difficult to distinguish what is truly ours from what we’ve simply learned to carry.

I don’t believe my role is to tell you who you are. Instead, I strive to create the conditions where your own wisdom can be heard again. There isn’t one path back to ourselves. Some people find clarity through conversation. Others through creativity, ritual, quiet reflection, or the experience of being witnessed in community. These are simply different doorways. Together, we’ll discover the one that feels most natural for you.

Whether we’re sitting together in a counselling session, creating through art or clay, or sharing space in a group, my intention is the same: to gently quiet the noise so you can reconnect with yourself and hear what has been there all along. My hope is that you leave our work together with greater clarity, deeper self-compassion, and a stronger connection to the quiet wisdom that has always lived within you.

I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), Registered Art Therapist (BCATR), Clinical Art Therapy Supervisor, and founder of Constellations Counselling. For more than twenty years, I’ve worked in mental health and community care, supporting people through life’s thresholds with warmth, curiosity, and compassion. As a Highly Sensitive Person myself, I understand both the strengths and the challenges of experiencing the world deeply, and it is a privilege to walk alongside others as they reconnect with themselves in ways that feel authentic and lasting.

Below are some questions I’m often asked. Let this be your invitation to explore how our work together might feel, both sacred and supported.

Questions & Answers

What inspired you to become a counsellor?

I’ve always been drawn to the depths of the human experience, curious about what shapes us, what hurts us, and what helps us heal. From a young age, I felt a calling to walk alongside those who felt overwhelmed, lost, or unseen. That calling never left me.

Becoming a counsellor wasn’t a decision I made lightly. It was a path that revealed itself over time. I’ve walked through my own shadows, navigated my own trauma, and learned how powerful it is to be met with compassion and care. My decision to become a therapist came from a place of deep purpose: to offer others the kind of space I longed for when I needed it most.

Now, my work is about holding that space with gentleness, intuition, and presence so others can reconnect with their own inner wisdom and strength.

What drew you to art therapy?

Creativity has always been a lifeline for me. In my younger years, I turned to art, poetry, and storytelling to express what I couldn’t always put into words. Even when I didn’t consider myself “artistic,” the act of creating helped me move through emotion, confusion, and grief. It became a quiet companion during difficult times.

Years later, art therapy found its way to me. When I discovered that creativity and counselling could be woven together into a powerful, healing practice, something clicked deep within. It wasn’t just a modality. It felt like home.

As an art therapist, I hold space for others to explore their inner world through image, metaphor, and creative expression. You don’t need to be “good at art” for it to be healing. You just need a willingness to explore and I’ll be there to gently guide the process.

What has being a counsellor taught you?

Being a counsellor has taught me that healing is rarely linear, and that people carry more strength, wisdom, and resilience than they often realize. I’ve learned how sacred it is to be trusted with someone’s story and how transformative it can be when someone finally feels seen, heard, and safe enough to let their guard down.

I’ve witnessed the beauty of vulnerability and the quiet courage it takes to come into session, especially when someone feels overwhelmed or unsure. I’ve learned that deep connection is where healing begins. And I’ve come to trust the slow unfolding of each person’s path, guided not only by therapeutic tools but by intuition, presence, and deep listening.

Most of all, I’ve learned that this work is sacred. Every conversation, every pause, every shared silence holds the potential for meaningful transformation.

Who do you call in through your work?

I feel especially drawn to Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) and adults who find themselves at a threshold in life. They may be navigating a significant transition, feeling disconnected from themselves, questioning old ways of being, or longing for a life that feels more authentic and aligned. Many have spent years caring for others, adapting to expectations, or wondering if they are simply “too much” or “too sensitive.” Over time, they begin to realize that what they once saw as a weakness may actually be one of their greatest strengths.

I also resonate deeply with quiet creatives, intuitive souls, and those who are naturally drawn to symbolism, ritual, nature, and meaningful reflection. You don’t need to identify with any of those words to feel at home here. More than anything, I welcome people who are curious about themselves and willing to slow down long enough to listen to what their own inner wisdom has been trying to say.

While I continue to work with a small number of long-term individual clients, my heart is increasingly drawn toward groups, circles, and creative communities. I believe there is something profoundly healing about gathering together. When we hear someone put words to an experience we’ve quietly carried ourselves, something softens. We feel less alone, more understood, and more connected to ourselves and one another. There is quiet courage in sharing our story, and equal wisdom in simply bearing witness to another’s.

One of the things I love most about group work is that there isn’t one right way to participate. Some people process by speaking. Others by listening. Some arrive with questions. Others simply come to be present. I believe both the storyteller and the quiet witness are equally important to the circle. However you arrive, you belong.

What is your cultural background, and how does it shape your work?

I come from a richly woven heritage that includes Black, Japanese, Indigenous, German, and Chinese ancestry. These lineages live within me, and while some remain closely held, others have been fragmented through disconnection, trauma, and the effects of colonization. My journey now is one of reclamation, reconnecting with ancestral wisdom that was stripped away or silenced, and honouring the ways my people once healed in community, through ritual, story, and sacred space.

This reclamation has deeply shaped the way I hold space for others. In my personal practice and in my work with clients, I call in my ancestors for support, guidance, and protection. They are with me as I facilitate groups, hold ritual, and create spaces of deep listening and care. I believe healing is not just individual. It is ancestral, collective, and cosmic.

As a woman of colour, I’m finely attuned to the imbalances that exist in many systems, including the field of mental health. I do my best to name and disrupt those imbalances when I can, and to offer spaces rooted in equity, compassion, and decolonial practice. This path isn’t about perfect knowledge. It’s about returning. Reclaiming what was lost, remembering what still lives in our bones, and helping others do the same.

How do you approach spirituality in your work?

While I was raised within a traditional faith structure, my personal path has always led me toward something more fluid, something rooted in nature, energy, and cycles. I don’t follow a specific religion, but I consider myself deeply spiritual. My connection to the stars, the moon, and the earth guides me in life and in my work.

My practice is grounded in sacred rituals, seasonal wisdom, and intuitive knowing. I honour the rhythms of the moon, the turning of the seasons, and the quiet messages that come through dreams, symbols, and stillness. These spiritual touchstones help me stay connected to something greater, what I sometimes call the Universe or Cosmos.

I genuinely love when clients bring their own religion or spiritual beliefs into our sessions. While I do not align with belief systems that cause harm or uphold discrimination, I deeply honour spiritual paths rooted in love, compassion, and acceptance. That is where we meet. I encourage clients to engage with their beliefs as a source of strength and support, because I’ve witnessed how powerful it can be. When clients lean into their spirituality with intention, they often feel more empowered, more grounded, and less alone. There’s something sacred that happens when you remember you’re not walking this path entirely by yourself and that kind of connection can be transformative.

How do you hold space for others?

My work begins with safety and trust. These are the roots from which all healing grows. Whether we’re meeting one-on-one or gathering in circle, I approach each space with presence, care, and deep respect for your lived experience. I practice through a client-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed lens, always attuned to your pace, your needs, and your inner wisdom.

As a Highly Sensitive Person, I bring emotional attunement and gentleness into everything I do. In one-to-one sessions, I may weave in creativity, somatic awareness, or quiet ritual, depending on what’s needed. In group offerings, I create sacred containers rooted in intention, co-regulation, and choice. Whether you’re someone who shares or someone who witnesses, your presence matters deeply.

You are not broken. You do not need fixing. What I offer is a space to remember, to reconnect with the wisdom you already carry. From this place, transformation becomes possible. Your wounds are not the end of your story. They are portals to insight, meaning, and growth.

What ongoing learnings and trainings have shaped your work?

My learning is ongoing and evolving, just like this work. Below are some of the trainings I’ve completed that support my practice in both structured and intuitive ways:

• Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person

• San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training

• Anti-Indigenous Racism Response Training

• First Responder Health: Levels I & II

• The ADDRESS® Course for Working with Personality Disorder (BCMHSUS)

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – Essentials (BCMHSUS)

• Motivational Interviewing (BCMHSUS)

• DBT Skills

• Beginners Tarot with Avalon Kisbey

While these trainings provide structure, my approach is never one-size-fits-all. I blend what I’ve learned with intuition, ritual, and the wisdom of lived experience guided by the seasons, the cycles, and the sacred energy each person brings into the space.

What does it look like to engage in this work together?

I believe healing work is most meaningful when both of us show up with honesty, care, and intention. I’m here to hold space for you, but you are the one walking the path so a willingness to be present, reflective, and open to change is essential.

I welcome clients who are ready (or almost ready) to explore their inner world with curiosity and honesty. I value reliability, not perfection, but a commitment to showing up for yourself and for the process. That includes communicating clearly, arriving on time, and honouring your own rhythms, whether that means moving forward, pausing, or taking space when needed.

This is a collaborative relationship, and you’re always encouraged to share what’s working and what isn’t. I’m not here to lead from above, but to walk beside you with kindness, flexibility, and gentle accountability as we navigate your unique path together.

What should I know about working together…whether in sessions or in circle?

Healing often unfolds in layers. Whether we’re working one-on-one or in a group space, you might uncover emotions or insights you didn’t expect. That’s part of the sacred unfolding. This work invites you to come home to yourself, gently and at your own pace.

Sometimes, the process brings clarity. Sometimes, it stirs the waters before they settle. That’s why creating safety, choice, and spaciousness is always my priority. If something feels too tender, we pause. If you need time or distance, we honour that. And when it’s time to close something we’ve opened, we do so with care, like gently closing a sacred container.

This work isn’t about fixing. It’s about remembering. Reconnecting. Being witnessed. Whether in counselling or in circle, we walk with the stars as our guide gathering insight, grounding into ritual, and returning to the truth already inside you.

Do you take notes during session?

Yes, I do take notes during sessions, and I’m always transparent about that. I keep them simple, usually just capturing key words, themes, or reflections that feel important. Some clients barely notice, while others are more sensitive to it, so I always check in to make sure it feels okay for you.

I take notes not to track your progress in a clinical way, but to hold space for the insights you share, sometimes ones you don’t even realize are profound in the moment. These little threads often become anchors we return to. For me, note-taking is a quiet way of honouring your story and making sure nothing meaningful gets lost.

What should I know before beginning this work together?

This work can be magical, transformative, and deeply meaningful but it can also stir emotions, awaken old wounds, and bring parts of you to the surface that have long been quiet. Whether we’re in a one-on-one session or gathered in circle, healing invites you to meet yourself with tenderness and curiosity.

Some days you might feel grounded and clear. Other days, uncertain, vulnerable, or raw. This is all part of the process. Healing isn’t linear. It spirals. And we move at the pace of your safety.

As someone with a Scorpio Moon and a deep sensitivity to the unseen, I’m not afraid of the dark. I’ve walked through my own shadow places and know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, lost, or unsure of the way forward. Because of this, I can sit with you in those spaces, not to fix, but to witness, to hold, and to help you gently find your way through.

This work is not about striving or pushing. It’s about remembering who you are beneath the noise. Reconnecting with the wisdom that already lives within you. And doing so with softness, slowness, and sacred intention.

You are welcome here, just as you are.