About Us:
Thrive Counselling Centre is the 2014 project of Dace Mars and Carson Kivari, built on the shoulders of their many teachers and mentors. Thrive is a healing space whose mission is to enable the deepest, safest, and most authentic expression of everyone involved. This means that clients and counsellors alike exist in an environment based entirely on becoming who we are more fully.
How is this done?
Are these all buzzwords?
On the contrary: Thrive intends to help as many humans as possible exist as their most vibrant and fully realized selves but do so based on practical neuroscience and contemporary trauma-theory. Thrive’s Clinical Director, Carson, has trained and practiced since 2005 in Western Psychology, along the way developing a specialty in treating complex trauma in military veterans. He and Dace observed that the principles of emotional injury, as expressed in hurt soldiers, applied directly to civilians of all identity backgrounds.
In 2014 it became their mission to translate the complicated and cutting-edge methods of trauma recovery they had learned to the general public. Their work exists on the idea that everyone has a nervous system.
All identities, backgrounds, races and orientations have the potential for safe and empathic connection, and the right dose of education and humility can help us get there.
As the years went on, Carson continued to study the nervous system, practicing how to best help individuals, couples and families to escape chronic states of anxious, depressed, frozen or collapsed distress. Meanwhile, Dace studied traditional and shamanic medicine, seeking the greater picture of human well-being beyond the Western paradigm of just treating surface symptoms.
As Thrive reinvented itself in 2019, the two reconnected as a sort of yin and yang. Along the way, they trained 20 practitioners, each selected to join the team because they were highly skilled, non-judgmental and fascinated with the field, but most important, they had open hearts that believed a better world is always within reach.
When you step into Thrive, you’ll likely feel right away that you’ve entered a space where people still believe in old-fashioned values of kindness, care and encouragement.
The idea of love saving the day is a cliche for a reason. The only difference is that we observed more strategically how it could be supported by modern methods of attachment and trauma recovery as well as spiritual paths that have existed since time immemorial.
If you haven’t yet found the space that best resonates with who you are, consider Thrive, a counselling centre that based itself on creative imagination beyond what was already out there.
Founded on a handshake and continued through trust and communication, Thrive is somewhere where sincerity and hope live.
If you’re open to a new path of discovery, we would be honoured to have you.
About Us: What Thrive Stands For Today
If you are reading about us, you are probably deciding whether Thrive is the right place to bring something that matters. That decision deserves real information, so this page explains who we are, how we work and what you can expect when you reach out. Thrive Downtown Counselling Centre is a team of down to earth therapists in the heart of Vancouver, and we have spent more than a decade building a practice around one simple idea: you make sense, you are not broken, and connection heals.
On this page
More About Us: Our Mission and Values
Our mission is to remind every client that their reactions, habits and feelings developed for good reasons. Anxiety, numbness and exhaustion are rarely the real problem. More often they are helpful messages that something in your life no longer fits who you are. Therapy at Thrive helps you listen to those messages with curiosity instead of shame.
The values behind our work
- Authenticity. We believe healing happens when you can show up as you really are, and our therapists practise the same honesty with each other.
- Safety first. Change becomes possible when your nervous system feels safe enough to slow down, so we never rush the pace.
- Respect for your path. We do not hold a political loyalty to a single correct answer. You are the expert on your own life, and our job is to help you find your way forward.
- Kindness with substance. Warmth matters, and so does skill. We pair old fashioned care with modern, research informed methods.
- Connection. People are wired for relationship. Much of our work focuses on rebuilding trust with yourself and the people who matter to you.
How Thrive Works: The Thrive Formula
People often ask us what makes Thrive different from other counselling spaces. A big part of the answer is the framework our therapists share. We call it the Thrive Formula, and it has three stages that build on each other.
1. Regulate
Before anything can change, your system needs to feel safe. When you are stuck in fight, flight or collapse, even good advice is hard to use. The first stage helps you slow down, settle your nervous system and step out of constant stress, reactivity or shutdown. Trauma specialists often call this resourcing or safety installation.
2. Reveal
As your system settles, we begin to see how you adapted to stress and difficult experiences, where you lost touch with yourself, and what no longer fits. This is the stage most people picture when they imagine counselling. Our therapists draw on approaches such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Emotion Focused Therapy and CBT, chosen to suit you rather than a fixed script.
3. Reclaim
Insight alone is not the finish line. In the final stage, therapy turns breakthroughs into practical change: naming your needs, setting boundaries and acting from who you truly are at work, at home and in your relationships. Many approaches stop short here, and we think this is where therapy becomes truly life changing.
The Approaches Our Therapists Use
Every counsellor at Thrive has their own training and style, which is why we take matching seriously. Across the team you will find a wide range of evidence based and experiential methods, including:
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a structured therapy that helps the brain process painful memories so they carry less charge. Learn more on our EMDR therapy page.
- Internal Family Systems, which helps you understand and befriend the different parts of yourself, as described by the IFS Institute.
- Emotion Focused and attachment based therapy for individuals and couples who want deeper emotional connection.
- The Gottman Method, a research based approach to couples therapy explained on our Gottman Method page.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and skills based approaches for anxiety, low mood and habits that feel stuck.
- Somatic and body based methods that help you notice and regulate stress where it lives in the body.
If you are curious how these compare, our overview of types of therapy is a helpful place to start.
Our Team and How We Support Each Other
Thrive is built around a diverse group of counsellors whose identities, views, values, world origins and backgrounds genuinely differ. That variety is intentional. It means you are more likely to find someone who understands your context, whether that involves culture, faith, sexuality, gender, neurodivergence or a demanding career.
Our therapists also practise together. They take part in ongoing peer support so that the person across from you is emotionally grounded and connected, not running on empty. Clients often tell us they can feel that difference in the room. You can read each counsellor’s background, approaches and credentials on our team page.
Credentials you will see on our team
Many of our counsellors hold professional designations such as Registered Clinical Counsellor through the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, Canadian Certified Counsellor through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, or Registered Therapeutic Counsellor. Our intern counsellors are completing their training and work under clinical supervision. Each profile lists that person’s own qualifications.
Who We Help
We work with adults, couples and families facing a wide range of experiences. Some people come to us in a crisis of confidence, while others feel mostly fine but sense they are living on autopilot. Common reasons people reach out include:
- Anxiety, stress, burnout and trouble switching off
- Depression, numbness and loss of meaning
- Trauma, including complex and developmental trauma
- Relationship conflict, trust repair and couples counselling
- ADHD, autism and other forms of neurodivergence
- Addictions and habits that no longer serve you
- Identity, sexuality and LGBTQIA+ affirming support
- Grief, life transitions and questions of purpose
- High stress work, including first responders
Our Space in Downtown Vancouver
Our therapy rooms are at 470 Granville Street, a short walk from Granville SkyTrain Station and Waterfront Station. Clients often describe the rooms as calm, colourful and far from clinical. Each space is designed to help your body settle so the conversation can go deeper.
Not everyone can or wants to come downtown, so we also offer secure online sessions by video. Many clients mix both formats, meeting online on busy weeks and in person when they want a change of scene. We also offer Thrive2Go mobile counselling for organizations, workplaces and homes.
What Sessions at Thrive Feel Like
Clients who have tried counselling elsewhere sometimes worry that therapy will mean talking in circles. Sessions at Thrive are designed to be engaged and reciprocal. Your therapist will ask thoughtful questions, notice patterns out loud and invite you to try new ways of responding, both in the room and between sessions.
A typical first few sessions
- Getting to know you. Your therapist learns about your history, your strengths and what brought you in now.
- Setting direction. Together you name what you would like to feel or do differently, even if the goal is still vague.
- Building safety. Early sessions often include practical ways to calm your body and mind so deeper work feels manageable.
- Checking the fit. Your therapist will ask how the process feels for you, and your feedback shapes what happens next.
Between sessions
Real change happens in daily life, so your therapist may suggest small experiments, reflections or skills to practise. These are always offered as invitations rather than homework you can fail. The aim is to help you trust your own capacity to grow.
Inclusion, Culture and Identity
Everyone has a nervous system, and everyone deserves a space where they can be understood. Our team welcomes people of all identities, backgrounds, races, faiths, orientations and abilities. We aim to be affirming of LGBTQIA+ clients and neurodivergent clients, and to approach every culture with curiosity and humility rather than assumptions.
If you want a therapist who shares part of your identity or lived experience, tell us during your consult. We will do our best to suggest someone who fits, and you are always welcome to browse profiles and choose for yourself.
Privacy and Confidentiality
What you share in therapy is private. Your counsellor keeps your information confidential, with a small number of legal exceptions, such as a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, or a court order. Your therapist will explain these limits clearly in your first session so there are no surprises.
Our contact form is encrypted and we will not share your information or add you to mailing lists without permission. You can read more in our privacy policy.
Learning and Growing Together
Our commitment to growth does not stop with clients. Thrive supports intern counsellors in training under close clinical supervision, and our wider team continues to learn through peer consultation and professional development. We also share what we learn through our workshops and team trainings and the reflections on our team blog.
Making Therapy Accessible
We know cost can be a barrier. Current rates are shown when you book, and many extended health benefit plans in BC reimburse counselling with registered counsellors, so it is worth checking your plan. For people who need a lower fee, our low cost counselling program offers sessions with supervised intern therapists.
We also aim to make the first step easy. You never need a referral, and your free 15 minute consult is a chance to ask questions without any pressure to commit.
Why People Choose Us
People find Thrive in many ways: a recommendation from a friend, a search late at night, or a doctor who suggested counselling. What keeps them coming back tends to be the same few things.
- A good match from the start. Our matching process considers your concerns, preferences and schedule, so you are less likely to start over with someone new.
- Therapists who are real people. Our counsellors are warm, direct and willing to share honest reflections, while keeping the focus on you.
- Depth and practicality together. Sessions explore where patterns come from and also what you can do differently this week.
- Flexibility. In person, online, or a mix of both, with options for individuals, couples and families.
- Room to grow. Whether you need a few focused sessions or longer term support, you stay in charge of the pace.
Most of all, people tell us they feel seen. That is the heart of what we do, and it is why we keep investing in our team, our space and the way we work.
How to Get Started With Thrive
- Book a free 15 minute consult through our contact form or by calling 604-227-0297.
- Get matched or choose your own therapist. Tell us what you need and we will recommend someone, or browse the team and pick a counsellor who resonates.
- Attend your first session in person or online. Your therapist will get to know you and your goals at a pace that feels comfortable.
- Build a plan together. Therapy at Thrive is collaborative, and you can adjust the focus and frequency as things change.
Frequently Asked Questions About Us
Who founded Thrive?
Thrive was founded by Dace Mars and Carson Kivari, who wanted to bring the trauma recovery methods they had learned to everyday people. You can read more about both founders on their profiles for Dace Mars and Carson Kivari.
What should people know about us before booking?
We are warm, direct and collaborative. Our therapists will not simply nod along for an hour. They will listen closely, reflect honestly and help you turn insight into action, always at a pace that respects your nervous system.
Do you only see clients in Vancouver?
Our rooms are in downtown Vancouver, and online sessions make it possible to work with many people across British Columbia. Check our service areas to see the communities we support.
Is Thrive a crisis service?
No. Counselling is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 at any time, or call 911 in an emergency.
How do I choose the right counsellor?
Start with what matters most to you, such as experience with your concern, approach, identity or availability. If you are unsure, let us match you. If a therapist does not feel like the right fit, tell us and we will help you switch without awkwardness.
Connect With Thrive
Now that you know more about us, the next step is a simple conversation. Book your free 15 minute consult through our contact page or call 604-227-0297. We look forward to meeting you, in our downtown rooms or online.