Mark Giesbrecht

Choosing a counsellor is an important decision, and I believe therapy works best when you feel accepted, understood, and able to be honest about your experiences. My goal is to create a compassionate, collaborative space where we can explore not only what is happening in your life, but also the intentions behind your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Together, we can develop a deeper understanding of the patterns that have helped you survive, while discovering new ways of meeting your needs that better align with the life you want to live.

I primarily work with youth and young adults, supporting them through challenges such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions, self-esteem, stress, trauma, school concerns, and questions of identity and belonging. I also enjoy working with adults who are seeking greater self-understanding or navigating significant life changes. I welcome clients from a variety of backgrounds and strive to tailor therapy to each person's unique experiences and goals.

My approach is grounded in humanistic values, emphasizing empathy, authenticity, and respect for your individual story. I integrate somatic therapy to help strengthen awareness of the connection between mind and body, behavioural approaches to support meaningful and lasting change, and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy principles when working with parents of youth. And I draw from evidence-informed approaches including attachment-based, existential, strength-based, and emotion-focused therapies to meet the unique needs of each client.

Therapy can feel like an unusual experience at first; sharing deeply personal parts of yourself with someone you've only just met. I believe it is important to acknowledge that reality, work within it together, and build a relationship that feels genuine, supportive, and hopefully even enjoyable. My goal is that counselling becomes a place where you can slow down, practice self-compassion, better understand yourself, and move toward the person you want to become.