Veronicka (Nico) Salix.
She/They
Registered Professional Counsellor - Candidate
Veronicka, or Nico, is a queer, non-binary, biracial Registered Professional Counsellor-Candidate who approaches their work through an intersectional feminist and anti-capitalist lens. Their practice is trauma-informed, oppression-aware, and rooted in supporting clients as they navigate relationships, identity, and personal empowerment. They specialize in understanding the impact of manipulation, coercion, and gaslighting in relational dynamics, helping clients disentangle from external pressures and reconnect with their authentic selves. Nico’s goal is to create a collaborative, non-judgmental space where clients can cultivate self-agency, belonging, and resilience.Drawing from Narrative Therapy, Somatics, Internal Family Systems, strength-based, person-centered, Jungian, and feminist therapy, Nico tailors each session to the client’s unique needs. Their areas of focus include antagonistic relational stress, gender exploration, LGBTQIA2S+ support, unpacking internalized oppression, somatic healing, attachment work, anxiety, depression, life transitions, ecological grief, and cultivating spiritual belonging.
Beyond counselling, Nico is an animist and astrologer, deeply connected to spiritual and reflective practices that shape their approach to healing. Outside of their practice, they find joy in nature, reading, writing, cooking, community care, and spending time with their cat for co-regulation. Their education includes a Professional Counselling Diploma from Rhodes Wellness College and registration as an RPC-Candidate with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association. Nico has also completed specialized training in Narcissistic Abuse Treatment with Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Integrative Somatic Parts Work (Levels 1-3) with Fran Booth, Cultivating Safe Spaces with Angelina Day, and Trauma & Resistance: Innovative Responses to Trauma with Vikki Reynolds.
Nico believes in creating a therapeutic space where clients feel safe to explore, heal, and build confidence in their own resilience. They are honored to walk alongside clients in their journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
Veronika’s Favourite Quote:
“To practice the art of loving we have first to choose love- admit to ourselves that we
want to know love and be loving even if we do not know what that means.”
–Bell Hooks ‘All about Love’
Learn more about Veronika…
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It means living with integrity. Finding intentionality in everything I do. Being present. As someone who learning the art of dissociation as a means to cope with experiencing emotional neglect, learning the art of presence has been a place of coming home to my Soulfulness. Dissociation can serve a function, to help us momentarily, however, we live in a culture where dissociation is rampant, doom scrolling, tv, video games, intoxication, shopping, eating, are all forms of dissociations; it a skill to learn to live with intention and integrity, to truly be present to each moment.
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I have been doing my own healing work since my Saturn return (starting around 28 years of age), it’s taken me a decade of my own therapy and self discovery to land myself in a place where I felt secure enough to pursue an education in the field of mental health. Therapy, community ceremony, personal rituals & spiritual practice, learning the language of astrology, navigating (ongoing) unpacking of internal narratives from existing in oppressive systems, have all been tools that have helped me root deeper into my own understanding of myself, my triggers, and learning ways to support myself in my own healing journey. Coming into the field as a counsellor, one of my main goals is to be able to integrate all my learnings, and passions, into a professional space, where I can support others on their own journey of self discovery and healing. I took many years to be solitary in my own healing, which is wonderful to learn how to settle our own nervous system by cultivating the skill of self soothing (my pets also served as a source of co-regulation); however, I also recognize the power that comes from connecting with others, and finding safety through co regulation. Co-regulation helps us experience safety, allowing us to experience a sense of belonging, connectedness (to self and other), opening us to our creativity, joy and our ability to love, in all our authenticity. This is why I’m drawn to this work, and why I’m so passionate about therapeutic space as a place for us to finding belonging within ourselves.
