My Story
I have led various for-profit, nonprofit and cooperative organizations and businesses over the past thirty years, all focused on creating good in the world and promoting social and environmental justice and enhanced self-awareness. The most meaningful thread throughout my career has been working closely with people who see each day as an opportunity to grow and take steps toward being the best possible versions of themselves so they can show up and contribute something meaningful to their family, community and the world. This part of my work has moved me so much that I chose to step away from leadership to spend all my time working one-on-one with people.
Counselling has been a significant part of my own life. From a young age to middle age, counselling has helped me grow, evolve, and face all aspects of myself with courage and compassion. This lifelong engagement with counselling informs my belief that everyone should have access to it as a regular part of life, not just in times of crisis. Counselling allows us to explore the many layers of who we are and helps us face our challenges more clearly, grow as people, and find our power.
Reimagining The Idea of Therapy
I have never liked the word therapy and all the stigma associated with it. Therapy seems to imply someone is sick or broken and needs to be fixed. Counselling and coaching are better words because I consider everyone to be naturally creative, resourceful and whole. You are the expert on your life and have the wisdom, intelligence and ability to address and transform your life circumstances. My job is to help you work through challenges, sift through clutter and amplify those aspects of yourself. The greatest athletes, musicians, writers, and other masters of their crafts need someone to observe them, provide feedback and perspective, teach new skills, and help them figure out how to achieve their goals and evolve. We all need someone like that; getting it from family and friends can be complicated. I am here to be that person for you.
Connection to Nature
A deep connection to nature and the earth is a vital part of my life and my work. I view nature as both a source of healing and a means of experiencing reverence for all living things. Over the years, I have guided hundreds of groups on wilderness journeys throughout California, from multi-day off-trail adventures with urban youth who had never been in the wild, to yoga and meditation backpacking retreats in places like Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and Yosemite National Parks. I have also taken solo journeys into the wilderness to fast and sit quietly in solitude, connecting with the earth, emptying out, letting go, and tapping into something larger and more timeless.
These experiences have been profoundly transformative for me, teaching me about myself and about the deeper wisdom and energy of the earth. I bring the insights and vitality gained from these wilderness experiences into my work with clients, offering a grounded, expansive approach to healing, growth, and self-discovery.
Cultural Humility and Intersectionality
You deserve to be seen, respected and appreciated for exactly who you are. As should all people. I practice cultural humility and welcome working with people of all identities – sizes, shapes, colours, genders, abilities, ages, sexual orientations, and worldviews. I have critically examined my own identity as a white man. I am keenly aware of how my ancestry has impacted others, how privilege has given me opportunities, and how my various social locations shape my reality and understanding of power, privilege, and oppression. I work through a social justice lens and promote efforts to shift power dynamics and create a more compassionate, equitable world for all people.
My Qualifications
I am certified as a Co-Active Coach through the Co-Active Training Institute (formerly the Coaches Training Institute) and am completing my Master of the Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. I expect to complete my master’s coursework in 2025. I earned my BA with honours from the Honours Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, did a graduate fellowship at Harvard University, and spent time at UCLA, Georgetown and Cambridge University in England during my academic career. I have also studied and practiced mindfulness for nearly three decades.
Please note that I am currently not a “licensed psychotherapist.” Mental health counsellors are not required to be licensed in British Columbia. As of June 2024, the Province announced it would regulate the mental health industry and they are currently working out how to do it, what registrations and certifications will be required, and when these rules will go into effect. While completing my master’s, I offer my clients a reduced rate, sliding scale for counselling at $95-$125/hour. My counselling rates will increase once I complete my degree and become a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Licensed Psychotherapist or whatever new designation the province creates. At this time, complimentary health insurance providers may not cover my services. I recommend you check with your provider directly.
Book a free intro session
Let’s spend 20 minutes talking about what’s going on for you and what you hope to get out of counselling or coaching. We will quickly learn if we are a good fit for each other. If I feel I am not the best person to help you I will happily refer you to someone who might be a better match.