A real, human approach to therapy—grounded in care, clarity, and meaningful change.

About Our Therapists

Therapy that Feels Grounded and Real—focused on helping you shift what’s stuck, not just understand why things feel hard.

At Empower Counselling Services, we work with adults in Winnipeg who feel stuck or overwhelmed by the past—often while appearing to manage on the outside.

Our approach is grounded in evidence-based therapy, including trauma-informed care and EMDR, combined with something equally important: real human connection.

Many of the people we work with are used to pushing through, figuring things out on their own, and holding a lot internally. Therapy can be a different kind of space—one where you don’t have to carry it alone anymore.

A place to make sense of what’s been weighing on you—and begin to resolve it, not just understand it.

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We’re not trying to be the most polished therapy practice out there. Our focus is on being authentic, transparent, and straightforward, yet deeply compassionate.

That means showing up as real and genuine humans—present, honest, and fully in your corner.

Our approach is shaped by advanced training, ongoing education, and evidence-based therapy—not just good intentions.

While our style is real and human, our work is intentional, informed, and focused on meaningful change.

We aim to create a space where you don’t have to mask or pretend you’ve got it all together.

A place where you can show up as you are, and begin from there.

The People Behind the Practice

We’re a small team of therapists who care deeply about the work we do.

Meet Liona Kehler, CCC

A steady space to slow down, feel, and begin to understand yourself in a different way.

Hi, I’m Liona.

You may not always have the words for what’s going on—but you can feel that something isn’t quite right. Maybe things have been building for a while, or maybe something has shifted recently, and you’re starting to pay attention in a new way.

However you arrived here, you don’t have to have it all figured out.

In our work together, we can take things at a pace that feels comfortable and manageable. There’s space to slow down, to notice what’s coming up, and to begin making sense of your experiences in a way that feels supportive—not overwhelming.

I aim to create an environment where you feel safe to be yourself, without pressure to say things perfectly or to move faster, or slower, than you’re ready for. We go at your pace.

Learn More About Liona

What Working Together Can Feel Like

Through talk therapy and somatic approaches, we can take the time to explore what’s been coming up for you—at a pace that feels manageable and supportive.

There’s space to slow things down, to notice what you’re feeling, and to begin making sense of your experiences without pressure to have it all figured out.

My approach is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and respect for your unique experience—while also drawing from ongoing training and evidence-based practices.

Over time, this work can help you feel more connected to yourself, more steady in your emotions, and more able to respond to life in ways that feel aligned with who you are.

You don’t have to go through that process on your own.

Meet Vern Kehler, CCC

Making sense of what still feels heavy—especially when you’ve been holding it together for a long time.

Hi, I'm Vern.

You might be someone who’s used to holding things together—getting through, figuring things out, and being the one others rely on. And at the same time, something still feels unsettled underneath it all.

Often, people in this position don’t always see themselves as needing support—but something still doesn’t feel right.

Maybe clicking on this page took effort. Maybe you’ve been thinking about reaching out for a while.

Either way—you made it here, and that matters.

In our work together, we won’t rush past things or stay on the surface. We’ll take the time to understand what’s been weighing on you, where it comes from, and what’s keeping it in place.

I aim to offer a space where you don’t have to mask, filter yourself, or explain things perfectly—just a place to start, as you are.

Learn More About Vern

How We Work Together

Alongside EMDR and talk therapy, I incorporate somatic approaches to help process experiences that may still feel stuck or unresolved.

This can be especially helpful if you’re noticing patterns that don’t seem to shift with insight alone—like overthinking, feeling on edge, being hard on yourself, or struggling in relationships in ways that don’t fully make sense.

My work is grounded in trauma-informed care and ongoing training—but how we work together matters just as much as what what approach we use.

Therapy, to me, is not about fixing you. It’s about helping you understand yourself more clearly, process what’s been carried for a long time, and begin moving forward in a way that feels more steady and aligned.

You don’t have to do that alone.

You Don’t Have to Feel 100% Ready to Begin

You don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out.

In fact, many people we work with are used to waiting until they feel completely ready—or until things feel bad enough.

If something here feels familiar, that’s enough to get started.

There’s space to begin this gently, at your own pace—with support.

Start a No Pressure Conversation

This page introduces the therapists at Empower Counselling Services in Winnipeg, and outlines their approach to therapy. It highlights a focus on real, human connection alongside trauma-informed, evidence-based counselling, including EMDR and somatic approaches. The goal is to help individuals feel seen, understood, and supported while working through what’s been weighing on them and moving toward meaningful change.

145 Sherbrook Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 2B5