Suzanne Kyra is a co-founder of the Living Big retreats. She is a sought-after international speaker, author, and workshop leader specializing in self-awareness and empowering relationships. She and her son, photographer Nathan Derksen, have co-authored the Gold Benjamin Franklin award-winning book “Welcome Home to Yourself: A Therapist and Photographer Explore the Meaning of Life Through Individual Lenses.” She has lead retreats and workshops internationally, and is recognized as a foremost expert in living joyously! Suzanne Kyra’s passion and mission is challenging the universality of feeling disconnected. She focuses on how to move from disconnection into connection with yourself and others, and how to move forward in a productive and proactive manner.
She views both personal and professional life as equally important in attaining satisfaction and meaningful success. Kyra speaks about life’s topics with deep insights gained from her personal experiences and professional training. She provides language on how to speak meaningfully and authentically about everyday ordinary and important experiences, such as how not to panic or go into fear, collapse, or despair. Rather, how to come back to take care of yourself and what is important to you, and how to inspire and connect with the natural resources inside yourself.
Professional Background
Suzanne Kyra, M.A. is a certified coach, registered clinical counselor, consultant, international speaker, and a clinical supervisor at Simon Fraser University Psychology Clinic. She has had a very successful private clinical practice for over 30 years.
Clinical Style
Kyra focuses on the universality of the human condition; everyone has strengths, blind spots, and experiences where life is very difficult. She begins with focusing on the strengths of the individual and on solutions, rather than on the individual’s problems. She helps build core strengths to resource clients in addressing their problems and issues. She incorporates a teaching component on how to become self-aware and to trust yourself. The goal is for clients to effectively attend to what is needed, have healthy boundaries, and stay in connection with healthy relationships. She teaches how to move from feelings of disconnection, despair, and loss – to self-awareness, self-discovery, and connection.
Kyra helps people make positive differences in their lives by first making a connection with them. Then she mindfully helps them stir things up in their lives that they need to address, so they can move forward to overcome their fears and make choices to live an empowered, satisfying life.
