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Welcome to the ‘couch’

I love how mental health has long been connected to imagery of the ‘couch’. Firstly, there’s no actual couch to my practice, session environment is about what feels most comfortable for you. But when I imagine my couch it’s long worn and journeyed. Familiarity and safety live here, You can sink into it and feel firmly supported by it. Sometimes it feels uncomfortable and over time you might begin to notice threads you haven’t seen before. You might even contemplate redecorating, whatever that looks like for you, and, as is intended, there will be a time when it no longer serves you. Welcome to the couch.

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“Everything is mentionable
and from there manageable”

My approach is to meet you where you are. I believe there’s no one-size-fits-all. Mental health is part of our wholeness and how that looks will also be different for each of us. I believe in the healing capacity of each individual. Often, we get stuck in our lives due to events and layered experiences. My goals are to provide a safe environment and help clients help themselves to access their natural potential for healing and self-growth.

Meet Ness

Hi, I’m Ness, I use he/him pronouns and I’m Human first. For me, ‘Human’ is a reminder of shared experience, falability and individualility. I believe counselling sessions are a space for you to come as you are. Journeys are not linear, we are human and supposed to shift and change. My approach is centred in everything being mentionable and from there manageable.

I live on and practice from Coast Salish Territory (British Columbia). I am Australian and also Canadian by immigration. My accent and communications reflect a mosaic of these and more. I’m mixed race and white presenting. I’m queer, trans and blind. I’m a lover of puzzles, connection and culture. Wooden marble runs sit upon my desk; sun, sand and water are integral to my sense of well-being; and weights workouts help ground me.

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Monochrome. Ness angled slightly to the right of camera. His expression is kind,with a thin smile and at ease. He’s wearing a light tshirt and square framed sunglasses. He has a neat beard and moustache. His hair is short, fuller on top, a high fade shave. In his ear he has a large black disc stud in the lobe with two small silver loops above that.

About Counselling

I believe counselling is more than problem solving. In my practice I focus on relationships, the ones we have with ourselves and with others. 

As an integrative counsellor, I use a humanistic, client-centred, and trauma-informed approach that draws on a variety of therapeutic modalities. I strive to offer clients a safe environment to explore who you are, process your experiences and understand how these connect. My sessions are framed with openness, acceptance, understanding and non-judgment. I also offer tools to develop resiliency and well-being.

I offer individual counselling sessions online. 

I work with a diversity of clients and client needs. My practice actively engages anti-oppressive frameworks. Experience of difference, intercultural competence, the margins and intersectionality are places I comfortably practice from and operate in..

My practice is a safe place for transgender clients. “Dad” is an identity I wear with pride, and as a transgender man it is also a sacred journey marker. I began medically transitioning at age 36.

Counselling is an interactive process, a therapeutic relationship. What works looks different for each of us. Therapy doesn’t “fix” you because you are not broken. You are not broken. Feelings of broken are normal and common, you’re not alone. The work we do together is to support you to process your experiences in the here and now, tend to early dynamics and learn skills to help you navigate the ups and downs of life ongoing. 

Counselling conversations are confidential.

In it’s simplest form, counselling delves into all of our lived-experience to unpack feelings and experiences to support us in our life whereas coaching focusses on strategies for achieving our goals. Both involve a spectrum of therapeutic approaches and both empower us with tools to help manage and meet our day-to-day. My approach is to draw on both counselling and coaching as best meets your needs.

To note: I cannot provide medication prescriptions or therapeutic letters nor do I diagnose. Whilst counselling, coaching and psychotherapy do share certain traits and aims, they are different health practises. Counselling and Coaching are not a replacement for psychotherapy, however all can benefit each other and be subscribed to simultaneously.

The first session involves us meeting and for me an opportunity to understand what brings you to therapy. It is also an opportunity for you to get to know me and ask questions about the therapeutic process. One of the goals for the first session is to collaboratively establish the goals of therapy.

At each session I start wherever you are at. I’ll check-in with you and we’ll proceed from there. During therapy you can talk about whatever is on your mind. There’s no right way to do therapy. You may come with specific experiences and feelings you’d like to talk about or you might not know what you want to talk about. Both and everything in-between are okay and normal and it can change between sessions. I will support you in whatever is coming up for you as it comes up for you.

During our session I will be holding space for you; I am here to listen and want to understand where you are coming from. Sometimes this involves me speaking less. Other times I may ask you to explore and unpack some of what you’re sharing with me. There will also be times I’ll invite you to participate in an exercise such as breathing or process work. We will always work with what feels okay for you. Sessions are always structured on consent.

Counselling can raise feelings of uncomfortable. Uncomfortable is part of openness (vulnerability) and growth (change). Most people who take risks in therapy find it useful. You may gain a better understanding of yourself and your values and beliefs and may overcome a specific problem you came to therapy for.

And it’s okay to have feelings about sessions, we will talk about session dynamics too.

Online. 
Sessions are conducted via telehealth videoconference.  

Individual sessions
I offer private one-on-one sessions. These are 55minutes in length (extended 90minutes and interim 30minute sessions are available with discussion).

*My services are offered online, so you can be anywhere as long as there is awareness that the therapy sessions will be considered under Canadian law and jurisdiction.

*All rates are in Canadian dollars and are inclusive of GST

Chemistry Call — No Charge
This is a complimentary 20 minute consultation. This is for us to talk about what has brought you here, establishing where you are at, and what you’re wanting to work towards. It’s also an opportunity for us to explore “fit” with each other. 

individual session — $125
Private one-on-one session.
Standard 55minutes in length.

Sliding Scale: I am an equity-access mental health support provider, I reserve sliding scale session spaces as part of my practise. 


TERMS & CONDITIONS:
All matters discussed in sessions are held in the strictest confidence in compliance with privacy acts. Whilst I offer sessions internationally, my practise is based in Canada; session availability is offered in line with the Pacific Standard Timezone. There is a 48 hour cancellation policy for sessions. Sessions are non-transferrable.

Wanting to reach out?

If you have questions, curiosities and or would like to set up a connection call, initial consult or book a session, please send me a message using this online form and we’ll start from there. Alternatively, you can email me directly at  ness@nessmurby.com