Counselling Practice Website
Practice Information
When navigating the dark and unknown or visiting the places we need to go to find peace, a guide or map like a compass, a witness, or just a companion in the dark can make all the difference. I offer secure remote and in-person counselling to individuals and couples in British Columbia to be that companion, to provide that compass, or to be that quiet, gentle witness.
My name is Michael Toft. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors, a neurodivergent person living with a physical disability, and a trauma survivor. My curiosity about life experiences, enjoyment in meeting new people, and passion for deep and meaningful conversations led me to my career in counselling.
My practice focuses on exploring and resolving the kinds of experiences one finds in the dark stages of life, clustered around three general phenomena: trauma, relationship struggles (including sexuality), and life transition, such as grief and redefining life goals and values. However, my therapeutic experience is diverse, and I am happy to work with anyone who resonates with my therapeutic skills and approach.
In my experience, counselling is about unpacking a story. Specifically, it’s about your story, your Truth, and what it means to you. It’s also about the story of your future. Something special- even magical- happens when you explore a painful or delicate story with someone you trust, who listens with openness and curiosity and gives you the space to decide how to move forward with your story. It lifts a burden inside you, letting you proceed in life more freely.
Because of my emphasis on clients’ stories, my approach aligns well with Narrative Therapy. At the same time, I draw upon a few specific counselling theories to support exploring a client’s story: Humanistic Psychotherapy (an umbrella label), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Bowen Family Systems Theory. Each client resonates with different therapy styles, and I tailor the approaches I use to whatever suits the client, which may change from session to session since the session’s topic and the context of the client’s life often change. Please visit my website for more information about these different types of therapy.
My clientele includes both those with prior counselling experience and those with none. In both cases, I respect that the beginning of our work can be unnerving. Whether we are several sessions into unpacking a pivotal life event or relationship rupture or embarking on the initial stage of getting to know each other and establishing trust, I continually tune the climate of my practice toward gentleness, warmth, and patience.
I have often said that my clients are my most inspiring teachers about the human condition and the courage to share and move forward with challenging stories. I would love to hear yours. Please reach out if you have any questions, and visit my website for more information or to book an appointment. Thank you very much, and I look forward to connecting with you.
Specialized Training
- Living Systems Counselling, Education, Training and Research:
Online Clinical Internship and Practicum Program in Bowen Family Systems Theory and Therapy
Client Fee (Individuals)
Client Fee (Couples/Families)
Availability
Latest Blog Post by Michael Toft
My career has been an extraordinary gift. It has given me purpose and a deep sense of fulfillment. I know I have helped clients grow because they have told me so, and this never fails to bolster my spirits. With that in mind, I thought I would share some ways my clients inspire my gratitude for this work and my desire to continue it. First, I am grateful for the opportunity to practice empathy, which is how I learn the most from my clients. When I can enter another person’s frame of reference and dissolve or contain all my projections, it is like the emotional equivalent of proper musical…