About Loraine Klassen

 

 You may be the person others rely on. The one who keeps going, holds things together, and shows up for everyone around you. From the outside, your life may look successful, capable, or even effortless. Inside, however, you may feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, or exhausted from the pressure of trying to be enough.

Many of the people I work with are tired of living under the weight of self-criticism, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and shame. They long to feel more at ease with themselves but find themselves stuck in familiar patterns that no longer serve them.

I work with adults experiencing anxiety, perfectionism, low self-worth, relationship challenges, emotional overwhelm, and persistent self-doubt. Many are thoughtful, caring, and highly capable individuals who appear to be coping well on the outside while struggling internally with stress, shame, or the pressure to meet expectations.

I believe meaningful change begins when we have a space where we no longer have to pretend. A space where we can be honest about what is difficult, explore the experiences that have shaped us, and begin relating to ourselves with greater compassion.

My approach is warm, relational, and grounded. I strive to create a therapeutic relationship where you feel genuinely seen, understood, and supported without judgment. Together, we will make sense of the patterns that keep you stuck, strengthen your connection to yourself, and create space for lasting change.

Drawing from attachment-based, trauma-informed, and person-centred approaches, I provide therapy for anxiety, perfectionism, self-worth concerns, relationship challenges, and emotional overwhelm, tailoring our work to your unique story, needs, and goals. My role is not to provide quick fixes or simple answers, but to walk alongside you as you gain clarity, build self-trust, and move toward a life that feels more authentic and aligned.

As a clinical supervisor, I bring this same philosophy to my work with therapists and helping professionals. I offer clinical supervision that is reflective, supportive, and growth-oriented, creating space for clinicians to deepen their skills, strengthen their professional identity, and grow in confidence and competence.

The name Vela comes from the Latin word for sail or candle—a symbol of both movement and light. While I cannot tell you where to go, I can offer a steady presence, helping you navigate what feels uncertain and discover what comes next.

You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. We will make sense of things together, one conversation at a time.

I would love to work with you!

“What we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else. It is important to tell at least from time to time the secret of who we truly and fully are . . . because otherwise we run the risk of losing track of who we truly and fully are and little by little come to accept instead the highly edited version which we put forth in hope that the world will find it more acceptable than the real thing. It is important to tell our secrets too because it makes it easier . . . for other people to tell us a secret or two of their own . . . ”

― Frederick Buechner, Telling Secrets

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