Complex PTSD Support
CPTSD Therapy in Vancouver
Healing from what lasted, so the past stops shaping the present.
Complex PTSD (CPTSD) develops in response to prolonged or repeated trauma—often experiences that began early, felt inescapable, or unfolded within important relationships. Unlike PTSD, which typically follows a single event, CPTSD tends to shape how you relate to yourself and others over time. At Sao Therapy, we offer a steady, compassionate space to gently work through these deeper patterns at a pace that feels safe for you.
Understanding CPTSD
More than a single moment
Because CPTSD grows out of ongoing experiences, its effects often reach beyond flashbacks or hypervigilance. Many people notice difficulty regulating emotions, a harsh inner critic or sense of shame, feeling disconnected from themselves, and recurring challenges with trust and closeness. These are understandable adaptations to surviving difficult circumstances—not flaws—and they can soften with the right support.
How Therapy Can Help
A gentle, layered path to healing
Healing from CPTSD is rarely about reliving the past—it is about building safety first, then slowly tending to the parts of you that carry old pain. Some approaches used in treatment are Internal Family Systems, somatic therapy, and mindfulness to help your nervous system settle, reconnect you with a sense of self-trust, and create new possibilities in how you relate to yourself and others. We move at your pace, honouring the protective strategies that helped you cope along the way.
Meet Your Therapists
Find the right fit
Several members of our team support clients with C-PTSD. Read a bio to find the right fit.
Kylee Smith
Associate Clinician
MACP, CCC, RCT
Neurodivergent-affirming care for ADHD, Autism, OCD, and sensory or emotional regulation, offered through a warm, client-centred lens.
Read Kylee’s bio
Rachel Pham
Associate Clinician
MACP, RCC
Compassionate support for anxiety, depression, trauma, disordered eating, and life transitions, with care for culture and identity.
Read Rachel’s bio
Krista Sao
Founder
MACP, RCC
Depth-oriented work around inner child healing, intergenerational trauma, and the experiences of children of immigrant parents.
Read Krista’s bioBegin Your Journey
Ready to take the first step?
Currently accepting pre-teen, adolescent, and adult clients.
Book a session or reach out to find the right fit for your needs.