Therapy in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Therapy for adults seeking clarity, healing, and meaningful change.

Therapy is a practice of learning and un-learning, getting curious about the stuck parts of ourselves, softening self-judgement, and making room for authenticity, meaning, connection, ease, and inner peace.

Crystal Van Den Bussche, MSW, RSW — Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist
Crystal Van Den Bussche · MSW · RSW ·

About Crystal

A grounded, human approach to the work of healing.

I’m a Registered Social Worker with the Manitoba College of Social Workers and hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Manitoba. My work with adults is rooted in the belief that you are the expert of your own life; my role is to walk alongside you with curiosity and care.

I bring a compassionate, strengths-based, and trauma-informed lens to every session, and I’m not afraid to bring warmth and a little humour into the room. Together we get curious about the patterns that keep you stuck, soften the parts that are quick to judge, and make space for the kind of change that actually lasts.

Compassionate Curious Strengths-based Grounded A little humour

Finding the right fit

The right fit makes all the difference

Finding the right therapeutic fit is one of the most important factors in creating a safe, effective, and meaningful therapy experience. Every therapist brings a unique blend of training, lived experience, and focus, and every person seeking therapy has their own needs, goals, and preferences.

This page is here to help you get a clearer sense of the concerns I’m especially well-suited to support, my therapeutic style, and the areas where I may recommend a different provider so you receive the most appropriate care.

What therapy with me is like

Therapy is as much about learning as it is about un-learning. My approach is rooted in compassion, skill, and a healthy dose of humour. I invite the people I work with to get curious about the parts of themselves that feel stuck, lost, or broken. By befriending these parts, the never-ending list of “shoulds,” judgements, and fears can begin to soften.

There’s no pressure to have it all figured out; my goal is to help you let go of what you don’t need to carry anymore, so that space for more authenticity, meaning, and connection can open up.

Areas of special interest

01

Challenging negative core beliefs

It’s easy to be weighed down by internal narratives like “I’m not good enough,” “I can’t trust people,” or “I’m a failure.” Together, we work to identify, challenge, and gently replace these deeply ingrained thoughts with affirming beliefs that let you move forward with confidence.

02

Balancing acceptance and change

True growth often lives in the pesky tension between accepting exactly where you are and feeling ready to change. I love working with people who have insight into their struggles and want to navigate this balance, making room for more joy, creativity, ease, and inner peace.

03

Healing family-of-origin wounds

For many of us, our earliest education about emotions, behaviour, and resilience began in our family dynamics. We explore how those early experiences shaped you, helping you untangle old patterns and build a healthier present.

When another provider may be a better fit

The field of mental health is vast, and no single therapist can offer specialized care in every area. I believe in being transparent about the limits of my scope of practice so you can access the most effective support for your needs. In some cases, that means referring you to a professional with more specific training. Concerns I would typically refer out include:

  • Therapy for children or youth; my practice is strictly for adults 18 years of age or older.
  • Active substance dependence that would interfere with the therapeutic process.
  • Severe and persistent mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.
  • High-risk or acute safety concerns, such as active thoughts of suicide with a plan, or self-harm behaviours requiring immediate medical intervention.

Let’s connect

If you feel we might be a good match, I offer a free 15-minute phone or virtual consultation; a chance to connect, talk through your goals, and decide together whether my services are the right fit for your journey.

Book a Free 15-Minute Consult

Services

One-on-one therapy for adults, 18+

Sessions are available in-person in Winnipeg or virtually for clients living anywhere in Manitoba, Canada. We always begin with a free consult so you can feel out the fit before committing to anything.

Session rates

Free 15-minute consult
Phone or virtual
Free
60-minute session $140
90-minute session $210

In-person or virtual sessions available. Payment accepted by e-transfer, credit card, cash, or cheque.

Good to know

  • One-on-one therapy for adults aged 18 and over.
  • Clients must be located in Manitoba, Canada at the time of session.
  • Many extended health benefit plans cover services provided by a Registered Social Worker; check your plan for coverage.
  • No direct billing. You’ll receive a receipt to submit to your insurer.
  • A free 15-minute consult helps us decide together if we’re a good fit.

Therapy tailored to your needs

An integrative approach, shaped around you

Rather than fitting you into one method, I draw thoughtfully from a range of evidence-based and relational approaches; meeting you where you are and adjusting as we go.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Internal Family Systems EMDR Feminist Therapy Narrative Therapy Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Strengths-based Trauma-informed Enneagram System of Personality

Areas of support

What we can work through together

Anxiety
ADHD
Burnout
Grief & loss
Sleep difficulty
Identity & self-discovery
Low self-worth
OCD
People-pleasing
Perfectionism
Shame
Trauma
Survivor’s guilt
Boundaries
Loss of meaning or direction

A closer look

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their grip. Using gentle bilateral stimulation, like guided eye movements, EMDR supports the nervous system in moving stuck experiences toward resolution. It unfolds across eight phases, and we move at a pace that always feels safe to you.

1

History Taking & Treatment Planning

We map your history and identify the experiences and goals we’ll focus on together.

2

Resourcing & Preparation

You build coping tools and a felt sense of safety before any reprocessing begins.

3

Assessment

We pinpoint a target memory along with the beliefs, emotions, and body sensations tied to it.

4

Desensitization

Through bilateral stimulation, the memory’s emotional charge gradually softens.

5

Installation

We strengthen a new, more adaptive belief about yourself in place of the old one.

6

Body Scan

We check in with the body to notice and release any lingering tension or distress.

7

Closure

Every session ends with grounding, so you leave feeling settled and contained.

8

Re-evaluation

We revisit progress at the start of each session and adjust the path forward.

Questions, answered

Frequently asked questions

Registered & accredited

EMDR Canada
Manitoba College of Social Workers
EMDRIA

Get in touch

Ready when you are

The best first step is a free 15-minute consult. Reach out by phone, text, or email and we’ll find a time to talk.

Contact

Phone or text 1-431-293-3222
Location Winnipeg, Manitoba · R3G 0W3

Exact address provided upon request. The office is accessible by Winnipeg Transit, with parking available nearby.

Phone and email are not monitored 24/7. I do my best to respond within 48 hours.

In a crisis

If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, please reach out right away:

Emergency Call 911 or visit your nearest emergency department
Klinic Crisis Line 204-786-8686
Toll Free 1-888-322-3019

Grounded in Growth is located on Treaty 1 Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and the homeland of the Red River Métis. I am grateful to live, work, and learn on these lands.