Practice information:

Life can feel overwhelming.  It can get complicated.  It’s easy to feel stuck, powerless and empty and sometimes it feels impossible to see past that.  

My name is Nicole McLeod, I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor working on Vancouver’s North Shore. My life’s work is to help you unravel what is keeping you stuck and move from those feelings towards a life that has you thriving.

I work with people who feel they are failing at losing weight, quitting smoking, leading healthy sex lives, eating well or just taking care of themselves; teens struggling with the stress of school, adjusting to blended families while simultaneously trying to figure out the complicated puzzle that is themselves, who they are, and where they fit in; families and individuals who are grappling with dealing with a new normal that was not part of their plan. 

How we get there

The most important thing we do together in counselling is get to know you better: what makes you unique, what happens in your body, what you feel from moment to moment. The bulk of the counselling session focuses on the present moment. 

This technique and style is quite different than most conventional therapy. I do not spend large amounts of time on your childhood. Instead we work together to uncover the roots of the problems you are dealing versus the problems themselves. This way, you develop tools right away to put into action. 

Working together towards a commitment of self-discovery sets the tone for learning how to move towards your dreams and goals, create a healthy relationship with food, feel safe in your home that has changed, discover how to tolerate your anxiety and even start to like it, be curious about your emotions and begin to see the value and important information that lives behind them. People are often pleasantly surprised to know things can actually be different for them even when it doesn't feel that way. 

Who Am I?

I bring a varied background into my practice. I was an RN for 10 years at Lion's Gate Hospital working with critically ill patients in the ICU while supporting families through the stressful process of illness. I’ve also been a BCIT instructor teaching science and theory and I ran a health a wellness company serving corporate clients providing in-house wellness programs and executive health management across the Lower Mainland.  My passion is how the brain works and I am a Master's trained counsellor with extensive education in interpersonal neurobiology, developmental psychology as well as Adlerian theory.

At home I am married and a mom to 2 children and a stepmom to 2 children, I have 1 dog, and like you I strive to strike the elusive work-life balance, with varying degrees of success. I keep myself sane by getting as many hours as I can outside hiking and running the north shore trails with my dog. 

I get great joy from my work and from helping others.

I look forward to meeting you.