Back-to-basics counselling built on science and experience. I help people find clarity in life's toughest moments. I am dedicated to honest exploration, coffee and providing a workshop for the soul.
It takes courage to be real, not just who others want you to be. Cultivate flexibility, toughness and build better relationships starting with yourself. See how you move through the world. Some sessions tackle difficult moments from the past, so not always easy, but there are jokes in there too. We look from an interpersonal and existential perspective, but also focus on day-to-day tools for a better life.
Enhance personal and professional performance while you tackle obstacles to success. Counselling to help you become a better decision-maker and achieve goals. Have fun while you chart a path forward that fits your character. Win on your own terms.
My brand is trust. A client's privacy is top priority. Sessions are held in a private, high-traffic location with good coffee. Whether you're in crisis or looking for self-exploration, your business is your business. I take my professional obligations seriously and I wholeheartedly believe that your sessions are for you and nobody else. I am accredited with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and I provide a detailed confidentiality agreement with clear limits to my confidentiality.
Years Counselling
Years Coaching
Clients
Counselling & Coaching Hours
Good counsellors are eccentric, but they back it up. The world is changing fast and today's counselling environment requires a willingness to innovate, but fundamentally the deep work of facilitating growth still requires wisdom, a good connection and experience.
At 19, I learned that education alone wasn't enough and I would have to walk some backroads and alleyways. A whisper in my soul told me that I would soon do this work, so I had to search for life's answers. (I am still looking.)
There's nothing worse than a counsellor who talks about himself, but this is an "About Me" section, so I'm trying. In sessions I aspire to be a blank slate and let as little of my personal story into a session as possible because I'm the counsellor, not the client. If my clients are curious about who I am, I take this as a good sign. Yet something unspoken grows over time. It's not against the rules for clients to ask me things about myself - I'm not hiding anything - but too much "me" means not enough "you" and people don't pay their hard-earned money to hear about me. They want help.
If you have anxiety, grief, a crisis, relationship issues or want personal growth, we should keep the focus is on you. I use evidence-based practices to help you explore your feelings, build your strengths and develop strategies for change.
My clients face these sorts of problems, but these stories and names are fictional.
I met Pete after the worst day of my life. My boyfriend and I were going through a rough patch when he died. The first session isn't a fun memory, but Pete is supportive in a way that I need. He's been a great counsellor. We talk about day-to-day things as I put pieces back together.
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My job is tough. I talk about things circling in my mind, mostly about life and sometimes about work. My employer fully supports me to go. Pete keeps things locked down. If we cross paths, he doesn't know me. The employer respects his boundaries and they don't want to know my deepest thoughts anyway. People with rough jobs need to talk. I will do this job for another 5 years and then it's time for something different. Everyone gets it. I'm glad I chose to do this.
I wanted out of my parent's house, but I was focused on the perfect job. Setbacks were hard and it was easier not to try. He's a fun guy to talk to and the changes were subtle until they weren't, like little avalanches. I take more chances now and he doesn't tell me which ones to take. I needed to get comfortable with my own voice. Sometimes I just listen and he always welcomes me back if I take a break. I trust him to talk about what’s going through my head.
Pete has life experience and doesn't always say, "look at the bright side". He sits through difficult stuff, but doesn't get stuck there. Lots of counsellors give simplistic advice and he's different. The sessions are tiring, but they focus on things that matter.
I can talk to Pete about my math and English homework, so it's a 2-for-1 deal. Pete is a good counsellor, but I don't have to talk when I'm not feeling it. Sometimes we play dice games or try a new breathing exercise. His jokes aren't terrible. Counselling helped me adjust to a new school and my parents trust me now to make good choices. They've stopped trying to control everything I do. Counselling for me isn't a place to fix something broken, it's a place to explore who I am.
I get knocked down a lot and I enjoy getting back up. I played lots of sports and my competitive nature now flows into this practice and helping others get wins personally or professionally.
I ask tough questions and encourage honest conversation. The deepest relationships in life reveal our true selves and we are welcomed for it, so in counselling we move through things without forcing it.
I encourage my clients to bring their true selves to counselling and I do the same. My life sucks when I don't present authentically, so Pivot Counselling is an authentic expression of who I am and what I've learned. How I show up is an important part of your work.
My clients see a lot of themselves reflected in me. Sometimes it's projection, but I've worked on ladders, in holes, in crawlspaces, in the wilderness and in cubicles. I've had bad bosses and dealt with scoundrels. I connect with people from different walks of life.
Returning Client? Schedule a 75-minute session here
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