With the effective communication and support, we can overcome this more easily and quickly than you think.
BCACC Registered Clinical Counsellor
As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in British Columbia, Iskender Pehlivan is dedicated to fostering healthy relationships through honest and open communication. He began his journey in the field after earning his Master's degree in Psychology in 2019. After moving from Istanbul to Vancouver, he continued his education at City University of Seattle. Upon graduating in 2023, Iskender spent two years as a full-time educator at the SFU Child Care Society, where he had the opportunity to work directly with hundreds of children and families. This invaluable experience deeply informed his therapeutic philosophy, which views individuals as part of an interconnected family system. In 2025, Iskender transitioned from his educator role to focus fully on his private practice. While he integrates various therapeutic modalities, his primary approach is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). When working with children, he also draws from the principles of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) to address a wide range of behaviours and emotional challenges.
Iskender believes that building a strong connection with clients is essential, and the key to that connection is clear communication. He understands that for many, their mother tongue is the language of their deepest emotions and thoughts. This is why he offers therapy in both English and Turkish, providing a significant advantage for his Turkish-speaking clients. By conducting sessions in their native language, clients can express themselves more authentically and connect with their feelings on a deeper level. He is committed to staying current in his field and regularly pursues professional development through organizations like the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and institutions such as UBC and SFU. Iskender Pehlivan is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who specializes in helping individuals, couples, children, and families. He believes that healthy relationships are built on a foundation of respect and open communication, and he is dedicated to helping his clients develop the skills needed to achieve this in their own lives.
Providing a clear and understandable communication
Understanding diverse cultural backgrounds
Licensed and experienced practitioner
At different stages of life, stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, life transitions, past experiences, or emotional challenges can leave a person feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck. At times, individuals may struggle to understand what they are feeling or feel alone while trying to cope with their difficulties on their own. Individual therapy aims to provide a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space where individuals can explore their emotions, thoughts, and life experiences. Throughout the therapeutic process, we work together to increase self-awareness, better understand challenging emotional and thought patterns, and develop healthier coping strategies. Therapy can also support individuals in building a more compassionate relationship with themselves, strengthening emotional balance, and creating a more meaningful and fulfilling direction in life.
Relationships can become challenging at times due to communication difficulties, trust issues, ongoing conflict, life transitions, stress, or emotional distance. Couples may find themselves stuck in repeated arguments or struggling to truly understand one another. Over time, these experiences can affect feelings of connection, safety, and intimacy within the relationship.
Couples counselling aims to help partners better understand each other, strengthen communication skills, and navigate relationship challenges in healthier ways. Therapy provides a safe and non-judgmental space where both individuals can openly express their emotions, needs, and perspectives.
Together, we work toward improving communication, developing healthier conflict resolution skills, rebuilding emotional connection, and creating a more balanced, secure, and fulfilling relationship.
Children and adolescents do not always express their emotions the same way adults do. Anxiety, anger, withdrawal, behavioral changes, school difficulties, or tension within the family can often be a child’s way of communicating that something is wrong. Today’s changing lifestyles, ongoing stress, technology use, academic pressure, and family transitions can all have a direct impact on a young person’s emotional well-being.
Child, adolescent, and family therapy takes a holistic approach by looking beyond the child’s behavior alone and considering the entire family system. The goal of therapy is to help children express their emotions in healthier ways, support parents in understanding their children more deeply, and strengthen communication and connection within the family.
ADHD is not only about attention difficulties. For many individuals, it can also involve challenges such as difficulty focusing, procrastination, mental overwhelm, restlessness, time management struggles, and emotional regulation difficulties that affect daily life. Over time, these experiences can impact self-esteem, relationships, academic performance, work life, and the way a person views themselves.
Therapy aims to help individuals better understand how ADHD affects their lives while also recognizing and building on their strengths. Together, we work toward improving attention and organizational skills, strengthening stress management, developing sustainable daily routines, and increasing self-awareness.
Anxiety can keep you trapped in constant worry about the future or stuck replaying the past. Over time, this can become emotionally exhausting and may begin to affect your relationships, confidence, work, sleep, and overall quality of life.
Counselling offers a safe and supportive space to better understand the thoughts, emotions, and patterns that may be contributing to your anxiety. Together, we work toward increasing self-awareness, calming the nervous system, developing healthier coping strategies, and creating new ways of responding to stress and uncertainty.
Anger is a natural and human emotion. However, at times, intense stress, past experiences, relationship difficulties, unresolved emotions, or the pressures of daily life can make anger feel difficult to manage. Over time, this may negatively affect relationships, family life, work performance, and a person’s relationship with themselves.
Therapy aims to help individuals better understand the emotions and thought patterns underlying anger. Together, we work toward identifying triggers, expressing emotions in healthier ways, strengthening stress management skills, and developing more balanced responses.
Therapy can also support greater self-awareness, healthier communication, and a calmer, more compassionate relationship with oneself.
Take the First Step Towards a Better You
SFU Burnaby Campus V5A 0A8, BC, Canada