Seamus Sullivan

I enjoy working with a variety of clients: folks dealing with loneliness and relational challenges, men exploring identity and transitions, creative people and outsiders navigating the modern world, Atlantic Canadians or those from Celtic backgrounds, individuals with ADHD, young people coming of age.

I have a naturally relational approach, with a warm, personable and engaging presence. In our sessions, I bring together empathy, curiosity, psychological insight, practical skill-building and a willingness to be direct – always with care.

In helping people navigate the complex and, at times, painful experience of being human, I foster a calm space where you can safely explore thoughts, impulses and emotions you may find difficult to discuss elsewhere – no matter how dark, confusing, shameful, unconventional or silly they may seem. I embrace critical thinking and the nuance of a “both/and” lens that makes room for seemingly conflicting perspectives and parts of ourselves.

My sense of humour and playfulness will likely show up in our work together, reflecting my belief in the connective and healing power of laughter, as well as its ability to soften the seriousness with which we can hold our thoughts and beliefs.

I am formally trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a trauma-focused psychotherapy that uses bilateral stimulation through guided, side-to-side eye movements or taps. This process can help you work through difficult or distressing experiences, reducing their impact on your present-day thoughts, emotions and reactions.

In talk therapy, I primarily draw from:

• Attachment Theory: Early relational patterns – even painful ones – can become templates the nervous system returns to because they’re predictable and familiar. This deeper, sometimes longer-term therapeutic approach focuses on making our patterns conscious and using the counsellor-client relationship to introduce safer, more flexible ways of relating to ourselves and others.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): A mindfulness-based approach that helps you make space for and respond more flexibly to difficult thoughts and feelings, while identifying what really matters to you and making choices that align with your values.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Identifying unhelpful patterns of thinking, exploring how these affect your emotions and behaviours, and developing more balanced and helpful ways of responding.
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): Focusing on your strengths, what you want to change, and practical steps toward getting there.

My style sometimes incorporates a coaching element, helping you clarify what you want, think through decisions and turn insight into practical next steps. 

My practice is trauma-informed, culturally responsive and anti-oppressive. I am sensitive to the broader systems and contexts that affect our lives, as well as the unique ways each of us experiences and responds to them.