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.
Mental health is part of our wholeness and how that looks will also be different for each of us. As a counsellor I am here to meet you where you are at. There’s no universal truth, no one-size-fits-all. My goal is to provide a safe environment for clients and support clients in accessing their natural potential for healing
Hi, I’m Ness, I use he/him pronouns and I’m Human first. For me, ‘Human’ is a reminder of shared experience, imperfection and individuality. Our lives are not linear, we are human and we are supposed to shift and change. My counselling sessions are a space for you to come as you are.
I gratefully acknowledge the land I currently reside on and practice from is the unceded and ancestral territories of the Coast Salish people (British Columbia).
I offer individual counselling sessions online and work with a diversity of clients and client needs. In my practice I focus on relationships: the ones we have with ourselves, others and everything around us.
As an integrative counsellor, I use a humanistic, person-centred, and trauma-informed approach that draws on a variety of therapeutic modalities. I actively engage anti-oppressive frameworks in my counselling style and throughout my practice. Experience of difference, intercultural competence and the margins are places I comfortably practice from and operate within.
My sessions are built around openness, acceptance, curiosity and non-judgment. As your counsellor, I want to create as safe of a space for you as possible. I also respect that only you can define what feels truly safe for you. I invite and welcome your direction during and or after our sessions.
Counselling is an interactive process. What works looks different for each person. Therapy doesn’t “fix” people because people are not broken. Counselling work includes support to process life experiences, tending to life structures and implementing tools to help 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 solution 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 therapeutic counselling and coaching as best meets your needs.
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 aims for the first session is to collaboratively establish the goals of therapy.
At each session we start wherever you are at. 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. Both and everything in-between are okay and natural. The flow can and will change between sessions. I will support you in whatever is coming up for you and as it comes up for you.
During our session I will listen and work with you. 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 structured on consent.
Counselling can raise feelings of uncomfortable. This is a natural 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 natural to have feelings about the counselling process and approach. I welcome and will invite us to talk about our session dynamics too.
Online.
Sessions are conducted via telehealth videoconference.
Individual sessions
I offer individual one-on-one sessions. These are 55minutes or 85minutes (interim 30minute sessions are available with discussion).
* I do not prescribe medications, provide therapeutic letters or provide formal diagnoses.
** 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 tax
Connection Call — No Charge
This is an optional 20 minute consultation. This is for us to talk about what has brought you here and what you’re wanting to work towards. It’s also an opportunity for us to explore “fit” with each other.
individual session (55 minutes) — $125
individual session (85 minutes) — $175
Sliding Scale Available. I am an equity-access mental health support provider, I reserve sliding scale session spaces as part of my practice. Please discuss your fee needs with me prior to booking a session.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
** All matters discussed in sessions are held in the strictest confidence in compliance with privacy acts and professional code of ethics.
** My practice is based in Canada; I offer sessions to clients located outside of Canada; All session availability is offered in Pacific Standard Timezone.
** There is a 24 hour cancellation policy for sessions. Sessions are non-transferrable.
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. You can also email me directly at ness@nessmurby.com if that feels more comfortable.