Welcome
My name is Brian and I’m a therapist, workshop leader, and meditation facilitator from Vancouver, British Columbia who has been doing innovative work in the mental health and addictions field since 1997. I provide deeply meaningful workshops for organizations, and powerful therapeutic experiences for individuals, couples, and families. I am a sought-after teacher on mindfulness, mental health, and addictions, who teaches widely across Canada.
Services
Here are some ways we can work together.

Beyond Despair: Resistance and Resilience in Troubled Times with Scott Lawrance & Brian Dean Williams In the midst of a climate emergency, Scott and Brian are inviting you to gather with us on the land. We are hoping to co-create a space with 12 participants to engage in dialogue, ceremony, healing, meditation, and building […]

In therapy, we work collaboratively to examine your story – and to re-write it together in a way that is more helpful to you.

Many of my clients find that meditation can be a powerful ally in their therapeutic process, and meditation training can be part of your treatment plan if you choose. Some clients work with me exclusively for meditation training.
News & Resources

Joy of Recovery – a residential meditation retreat on the Sunshine Coast
Excited for this one – like going to camp with people in recovery! Besides meditation, hoping for campfires, sober dance party, and fellowship. Please join us! TO REGISTER Pay – by Donate button on website or by etransfer – stating “for retreat.” vancouverbuddhistcentre.com triratna@vancouverbuddhistcentre.com

Compassion Restoration: A non-residential meditation retreat for Caring Professionals and Family members Friday September 27th 7pm – 9pm
There’s a lot of talk in social services about “burnout” and “compassion fatigue” It’s important to know how to sustain ourselves in this work collectively. But what if compassion is not a finite resource, but an unlimited quality that is just who we are? I’ll be exploring this radical idea with my good friend and […]
Workshop feedback from Victoria
It was fun and inspiring to work with Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness back in February. Shannon Whissell offered this reflection, which I really appreciated: Mindfulness as “We Care”: A Day with Brian Dean Williams If I can help out your organization with some training, let me know!
Are you struggling in your relationship with substances? With low mood, anxiety, grief, conflict with a family member, or other problems?
Me and my team are currently accepting new clients for individual, couples, and family therapy. Our practice is informed by Narrative Therapy and Buddhist Psychology. Grounded in practices of social justice and compassion, I provide individual, couples, and family therapy based in mindfulness and meditation techniques, talk therapy, and therapeutic letter writing. I believe that we all have stories told about us, that we then live through. My task as a therapist is to work as an ally for people to deconstruct unhelpful stories and to re-author their lives in a preferred way.
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and a Certified Canadian Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, assuring two levels of third-party accountability and often partial coverage of my fees by extended medical plans. I am also an approved ICBC Injury Recovery Partner, and approved for assisting victims of crime through the Crime Victim Assistance Program.