Mike Mathers

About Mike

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with 2 Masters’ degrees and 15 years of experience working with people dealing with a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges. I have an M.Sc. from Kings College London (UK) in the Philosophy of Mental Disorder as well as an M.A. in Counselling Psychology from the Adler University in Vancouver. I have also completed a 5-year psychotherapy training program with the International Society for Logotherapy and Existential Analysis Vienna. Existential Analysis is an approach that aims to assist people in finding more meaning and fulfilment in their lives. Most recently, I have attained a certificate of achievement in Motivational Interviewing (considered to be the gold standard for working with people with substance use disorders and other addictive behaviours). This training was completed over the course of 2-years from UBC Department of Continuing Education. Along with my work seeing individual clients, I am involved with a mental health outpatient clinic in Yaletown, BC as a clinical counsellor for individuals and groups (https://www.borealwellness.com).

In the past, I have worked as a group therapist offering treatment groups for men who have come into contact with the criminal justice system. I also use to teach addictions counselling to students at the Vancouver College of Counsellor Training and have also run groups for depression, anxiety and addiction with the Mood Disorders Association of BC and addiction treatment groups with Family Services of Great Vancouver. I started working in the downtown eastside many years ago with some of the most vulnerable and traumatized people in our city and these wonderful souls were my greatest teachers.

I feel that it is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with the suffering of others and it is a relationship and a responsibility that I do not hold lightly.

I am passionate about living a life of meaning and purpose. I also have an interest in meditation and anything that helps me stay physically active (playing basketball, going to the gym, being on my bike or exploring the great outdoors) and most of all I love spending time with my 3 kids.