Hearts Together Therapy is a women-founded therapy provider for children and families in Vancouver and Toronto. In our work, we throw out a lifeline for families who are struggling with mental health of their loved ones. This includes parent coaching to helping youth and young adults who face challenges including anxiety, depression, substance use, and self-harm. We are committed to building a safe, supportive space where individuals can find the strength and skills to navigate life’s hardest challenges.
Together, we help you rediscover hope and build the foundation for a promising future.
You're in the
Right Place If...
Facing Severe Emotional Stuggles
You or your child are struggling with severe anxiety, depression, substance use, self-harm or thoughts of suicide, and need a compassionate professional to help navigate these challenges.
Seeking Familial Connection and Support
You’re a parent, guardian, or family member seeking to understand or support your child better, and you’re ready to engage in constructive dialogue.
Committed to Positive Change
You’re committed to changing your story, willing to put in the work, and looking for a therapist who understands the depths of your struggles and is able to guide you to practical solutions.
About Our Founder
ALANI VAN
MSW, RCSW (BC), RSW (ON)
Hi, I’m Alani. I’m a licensed therapist with a deep personal understanding of the struggles faced by today’s youth and young adults. Growing up in an immigrant, working class family who came as Vietnamese boat refugees in the 1980s, I was the first Canadian-born child in my family. I lived with my grandparents shouldering the responsibility to care for all of my aunts and uncles, as well as my younger cousins, many of whom faced significant challenges as we settled in this new country we now call home. I know first hand what it’s like to navigate life’s hardships, and that understanding has driven my lifelong passion to provide meaningful, compassionate mental health care to youth and young adults from all walks of life.
Our Services
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
A safe and supportive space for children, youth, and adults. Explore your emotions, challenges and relationships.
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COUPLES THERAPY
Improve your emotional and physical connection, communication patterns, and identify unmet needs to maintain a healthy relationship.
FAMILY THERAPY
Engage in constructive dialogue, guiding you to sharing more with one another in a safe space supported by a trained mental health therapist. ​
PARENT COACHING
Parenting is hard, our therapists work to guide parents with creative strategies to improve your children’s mental health and well-being. ​
ASSESSMENTS (DIAGNOSIS)
Only available in B.C.
Our trained psychotherapists conduct assessments to help diagnose a range of issues for you or your child, so you can receive effective treatment.
CASE MANAGEMENT
Not every problem can be resolved with psychotherapy. We help you access appropriate community resources to improve your well-being.
Testimonials
"Alani was the most knowledgeable clinician I worked with..."
I feel that Alani has a very robust clinical acumen and a sophisticated clinical understanding of varied presentations of mood and anxiety disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, psychotic and substance use disorders, as well as trauma-related and obsessive compulsive disorders. Alani was the most knowledgeable clinician I worked with and also possesses excellent communication, rapport building and therapeutic skills that facilitated the accurate diagnostic process. I highly recommend her as a clinical social worker for mental health assessments and therapy.
- Colleague, Child Psychiatrist
How Therapy Works
01
Getting to Know You
We start by getting to know you. No assumptions. No judgement. We want you to feel safe, so you can feel comfortable opening up to us honestly.
02
Creating a Plan
We come up with a plan that’s personal and unique to your situation and your goals for therapy. We come up with some strategies and coping skills you can use to help you in your daily life.
03
Supporting Your Journey
We’ll revisit the approach and adjust accordingly, so that it’s most effective for you. Our goal is for you to work towards symptom resolution, so you can enjoy your life to the fullest.
Resources
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How do I find the right therapist for me?Finding the right therapist is very personal. It's important to find one that you trust, specializes in your concerns, and is able to address your specific needs. Try your best to come with an open mind when meeting someone new and if it doesn’t work out, don’t give up! You will know when it feels right. For some therapy modalities, such as DBT, regardless of how you feel towards the therapist, it’s important to keep showing up! If there are things that bother you about your relationship with your therapist, it is very important and strongly encouraged that you bring it up to discuss in your next session.
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How do I know if therapy is working?Therapy is working when you start feeling more understood, develop better coping skills, and notice small positive changes in your mood, thoughts or behaviours. Trust the process, and remember progress can be gradual and isn’t always linear. Sometimes you have to do the things suggested in your therapy sessions before your mood and thoughts will change. It takes time - Don’t give up, you got this!
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Is what I share in therapy confidential?Yes, what you share in therapy is confidential. Your therapist is here to create a safe, private space for you to be able to share, with the exception of if you share planning to cause immediate harm to yourself or others, abuse of an elderly person or a minor (child). In rare cases, your medical file may be subpoenaed to court for legal purposes, to which your therapist would notify and plan with you around this circumstance.
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What kind of therapy is best for self-harm or suicidal thoughts?For self-harm or suicidal thoughts, therapies like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is often helpful. These approaches focus on building healthy coping strategies to manage intense emotions.
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Is it safe to talk about my suicidal thoughts in therapy?It is so important that you are able to share openly about having thoughts of wanting to end your life in a safe space. Your therapist is there to listen without judgment and provide support, helping you work through those feelings in a safe, understanding space to see if we can take suicide off the table the list of solutions for now. With the exception that if you share that you are planning to cause immediate harm to yourself, we would need to take important actions in order to keep you safe (we can’t do psychotherapy with ghosts).
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How can I support my child who is withdrawn and won't leave their bedroom?Supporting a withdrawn, anti-social child starts with patience, open communication, and creating a non-judgmental environment. Encourage them to express their feelings, seek professional guidance, and show consistent love and understanding as they navigate their difficult emotions. A very helpful caregiver skill taught in our Parent Coaching sessions is called validation – it’s very easy to learn but very hard to put into use!
HEARTS TOGETHER THERAPY
