About Sydney Gruenhage
Meet Sydney Gruenhage, MFT, RCC
Hello and welcome. I’m Sydney Gruenhage, a counsellor at Achieve Balance Counselling, and I’m passionate about walking alongside children, youth, parents, families, and couples as they navigate life’s challenges. I view counselling as a sacred and transformative process — one that offers a safe, open space to explore emotions, relationships, and personal growth.
I strive to create an environment where connection, curiosity, and self-discovery can flourish. Every child, parent, and family brings a unique story, and I believe it’s important to honour each journey with care, respect, and compassion.
My Approach to Counselling
At the heart of my work is the belief that healing happens through connection — with ourselves, our bodies, and our relationships. I understand that the body tells our story, and that true healing often begins from the ground up.
Because of this, my approach goes beyond talk therapy alone. I integrate embodied and experiential practices that invite clients to notice sensations, emotions, and responses within their bodies. Through creativity, movement, and gentle awareness, clients often feel seen, heard, and understood in a deeper, more holistic way.
A Systemic and Attachment-Based Lens
I approach counselling through a systemic and attachment-based lens, recognizing that children and adults are deeply shaped by their families, relationships, communities, and cultural contexts. I work to understand how these systems influence emotional experiences, behaviour, and connection.
My work draws from several evidence-informed approaches, including:
Satir and Neuroscience & Satir in the Sand Tray (NSST)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Somatic and Embodiment-Based Work
This integrative approach allows me to tailor therapy to each client’s unique needs, combining cognitive understanding, relational insight, and body-based awareness to support meaningful healing and growth.
Supporting Children, Adolescents, and Families Through Play
I have extensive experience working with children and adolescents, as well as their parents and families, using play therapy and Sand Tray Therapy (ages 3 and up). Since 2023, I have trained closely under Dr. Madeleine De Little, founder of NSST, gaining specialized expertise in creative and relational approaches to child counselling.
Through play and sand tray, children can express emotions, explore challenges, and develop coping skills in ways that feel safe and developmentally appropriate. I partner closely with parents and caregivers, offering guidance and strategies to support emotional regulation, strengthen family relationships, and foster resilience at home.
Areas of Specialization
I work with children, youth, parents, and adults around a wide range of concerns, including:
Grief and loss
Relationship and family challenges
Life transitions
Emotional distress such as anxiety, depression, stress, anger, and shame
Traumatic experiences
I believe counselling can be alive, dynamic, and experiential, meeting clients exactly where they are and supporting growth in ways that feel authentic and sustainable.
A Holistic Path Toward Healing
By blending somatic awareness, creative expression, and relational interventions, I support clients in:
Regulating emotions and bodily responses
Building awareness of internal experiences
Developing authentic communication skills
Strengthening relationships and connection
My goal is to help clients integrate healing not only cognitively, but also through the body, relationships, and everyday life.
Walking Alongside You at Achieve Balance Counselling
I’m deeply passionate about supporting children, youth, parents, families, and couples on their journey toward emotional growth, self-discovery, and healing. I bring warmth, creativity, and a relational presence to each session, helping clients feel safe, validated, and empowered.
At Achieve Balance Counselling, I look forward to walking alongside you and your family, offering compassionate support and practical tools that extend beyond the therapy room.
My work is guided by the belief:
“The body is always whispering. Be here, pay attention. We are alive and this is how it feels to be human.” — Hillary L. McBride
Sydney Gruenhage: Training | Education | Experience
Professional Affiliations
- BC Association of Clinical Counsellors – Registered Clinical Counsellor # 22855
- Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy – Student Member #20171443
Education
- Master of Marriage and Family Therapy – Trinity Western University
Additional Training
- Introduction to Neuroscience and the Satir Model in the Sand Tray Workshop – 2023
- Transforming Trauma in the Sand Tray – 2023
- Grief Group Facilitation Workshop – 2023
- Introduction to Embodiment: Theory & Clinical Practice – 2022
- Neufeld Institute Intensive Level 1: Making Sense of Kids – 2022
Experience
- Registered Clinical Counsellor