Nora Duska, RSW, MSW
she/her
I am known for my hearty laugh. If you hear it echoing down the hall, you'll know I'm nearby! Laughter and joy are natural parts of who I am, and I aim to bring that same authentic warmth and lightness into our counselling sessions.
Clients served
I offer EMDR in English and in three Filipino languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, and Kankana-ey
Adults, seniors, and elders
Youth ages 12 and up
I offer sessions via video and phone
Fees
$180 per 50-minute session
$270 per 80-minute session
My services are tax-free
100% coverage for First Nations under FNHA
100% coverage for Inuk under NIHB
I offer direct billing with most medical insurance providers in BC and Alberta
Get to know me
Kumusta? How are you?
I believe it is important for clients to understand the perspective their therapist brings to the room. My identity is deeply shaped by my lived experiences as a Filipino woman, a practicing Christian, and an immigrant to Canada. I welcome all parts of your identity.
My personal journey is grounded in navigating poverty and hardship in the Philippines prior to immigration, followed by the realities of relocation and cultural adaptation. These lived experiences, alongside my faith, deeply inform my clinical practice—especially when working with trauma, systemic barriers, life transitions, and generational growth. While I bring this background to our sessions, I also recognize my current professional and personal privileges.
I navigate the daily, beautiful, and sometimes messy roles of motherhood, marriage, family, and community life. I recharge myself on a hiking trail, playing my guitar, or enjoying karaoke and food with loved ones.
Whatever complex path or heavy season you are navigating right now, I am here to help you move through it with strength, dignity, and grace.
Themes I can support
Child (age 12+) and parent relationships
We meet separately first, then together
Anxiety, stress, and emotional regulation
Trauma, PTSD, and complex trauma
Relationships and attachment
Cultural identity
Immigrant mental health
Acculturation and intergenerational conflict
Religious trauma
School-related concerns
Neurodivergence
Oppression, racism, and bullying
And much more
My approach
I practice from an intentional anti-oppressive lens, recognizing that individual struggles are often deeply intertwined with systemic oppression. In the counseling room, I aim to shift the traditional power dynamic into a collaborative partnership. This means continuously examining my own privileges, validating the impact of systemic trauma, and co-creating a space where your self-determination and inherent wisdom guide the healing process.
To support this collaborative journey, I draw from EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR is a specialized, evidence-based therapy that uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain process and unstick distressing memories or trauma, reducing their emotional charge and bringing you back to your authentic, liberated self.
I am also trained in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which helps identify and reshape unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. I integrate Parts Work, Mindfulness, Expressive Arts, and Feedback-Informed Treatment to my practice to support anti-oppressive trauma recovery. I am Indigenous in my home country of Philippines and I have a heart for serving Indigenous individuals in my new home.
My commitment to you is rooted in cultural humility and intersectional awareness. My goal is to provide a safe and brave space where all parts of you are fully seen, respected and celebrated.
Meet me for 15 minutes to explore fit!
Please reach out if you don’t see a time that works.