Counselling for people Who carry a lot and need a place to set it down
A grounded, collaborative approach for people navigating pressure, responsibility, relationships, and the quiet weight they hold alone.
I help people who carry a lot — responsibility, pressure, emotional weight, or depth — and rarely get a space where they don’t have to hold it all together. Many of my clients are people who appear composed on the outside while carrying stress, self-doubt, overthinking, relational strain, or a sense of being overwhelmed beneath the surface.If you want a space that feels thoughtful and genuinely supportive — I’d be glad to meet you.
How I work
A grounded, collaborative approachTherapy with me is steady, respectful, and centred on what matters most to you.I don’t diagnose your personality or look for what’s “wrong.”Instead, we start from your strengths, your values, and the ways you’ve already been carrying so much for so long.You bring the expertise of your life.I bring structure, questions, clarity, and a calm presence so things can shift.
What our sessions focus on
1. What’s happening right nowWe stay close to your present experience — the pressures you’re navigating, the responsibilities you’re holding, and the moments where things feel heavy or unclear.This isn’t about reliving everything that came before.It’s about making space in the here and now so you can move forward with steadiness.2. The life you want to move towardYou don’t need a five-year plan.
You just need a sense of direction.Together, we explore small signs of change, moments of strength, and the conditions that help you feel more grounded and capable.These become the foundation for building a life that feels more aligned and manageable.3. What’s already working — even if it feels faintMany people who carry a lot rarely notice their own resilience.Part of our work is identifying what’s helping you cope, what supports you already have, and where you’ve shown clarity or strength in small, overlooked ways.These moments matter.
They become the footholds for change.
My therapeutic style
Steady and groundedI bring a calm, contained presence so you don’t have to hold everything alone.Non-pathologizingI don’t label or reduce you to symptoms.
You are not a problem to fix.CollaborativeWe work together — you’re the expert in your own life.Practical and concreteOur conversations lead to clarity, next steps, and small shifts you can feel in your day-to-day life.Informed by long-standing Buddhist practiceNot in a religious sense — but in a way that values presence, compassion, clarity, and the understanding that things can change, even when they feel stuck.
What sessions feel like
Clients often describe our work as:calm and steadyspacious and thoughtfulfocused and cleargrounding without being heavysupportive without pressurea place where they don’t have to performYou won’t be rushed or talked over.
There’s room for honesty, uncertainty, and complexity.
Who this approach helps
This way of working is especially supportive for people who:appear composed on the outside while carrying stress or emotional weight internallyhave high-responsibility or leadership rolesare navigating burnout, overwhelm, or decision fatiguewant clarity more than deep analysisprefer practical conversations with a steady paceare neurodivergent and value direct, non-judgmental supportwant therapy without feeling pathologizedappreciate thoughtful questions and a grounded presenceIf you move through the world carrying a lot, this approach is designed for you.
If this feels like the right fit
I’d be glad to meet you and learn more about what you’re hoping for.
About Me
Hi, I’m Conlan.I’m a clinical counsellor based in Vancouver, and I work with people who tend to look composed and capable on the outside while carrying stress, responsibility, or uncertainty on the inside.My clients are often thoughtful, driven, and self-aware — the kind of people others rely on.They’re used to holding things together.
They’re not used to having a space where they can set things down.That’s what I offer:
a calm, steady place to pause, reflect, and make sense of what’s unfolding in your life.
My Approach
I work from a grounded blend of:Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, which helps us find clarity, direction, and small steps that make a real differenceNarrative Therapy, which help us understand the stories shaping how you see yourselfMahayana Buddhist psychology, which informs the way I listen: with presence, curiosity, and the belief that change emerges here, in this momentOur work is collaborative, practical, and centred on what matters most to you.You won’t get jargon or judgement.
Just honest, steady conversations that help you see things more clearly.
What clients often say
People who work with me tend to describe me as:calmsteadyclearthoughtfuleasy to talk togrounded without being distantMany say they feel more settled after sessions — not because everything is solved, but because things finally make sense in a way that feels manageable.
Why I do this work
I’ve always been drawn to the places where people carry weight quietly —
responsibility, self-expectation, overwhelm, questions of meaning, the push to keep moving even when things feel heavy.Counselling offers something rare:
A space where you don’t have to perform, protect others, or hold everything together.
A space where what you’re carrying is seen directly, without judgement.Being with people in that process is meaningful to me.
It’s the heart of my work.
Outside of counselling
My own background includes years of study and practice in Mahayana Buddhism, time spent working in substance use and mental health programs, and a steady interest in how people make sense of their lives.When I’m not working, I spend time reading, training, and and studying Buddhist teachings — and supporting people who want to explore their own practice of Dharma in a grounded, accessible way.All of this informs how I show up — not as an authority, but as a collaborator in the work you’re doing.
who I work with
A steady space for people who carry a lot quietlyI work especially well with people who move through the world with thoughtfulness, responsibility, and composure — even when things feel heavy underneath.Many of my clients are used to supporting others, managing pressure, or appearing grounded while feeling overwhelmed, unclear, or alone in their experience.If you’re someone who holds a lot internally, this is a space where you don’t have to.
People I often work with
Individuals in high-pressure or high-responsibility rolesPeople others rely on — leaders, caregivers, professionals — who hold stress, expectations, or decision-making quietly.You may feel steady on the outside while carrying tension, fatigue, or self-doubt within.
Counselling becomes a place to set things down and find clarity again.High-functioning or masked neurodivergent adultsPeople who have learned to “hold it together,” blend in, or perform competence while feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or misunderstood.You might struggle with sensory load, internal pressure, masking fatigue, or difficulty expressing what’s happening inside.This is a calm, non-pathologizing space to speak plainly and be fully yourself.Thoughtful men navigating overwhelm or emotional confusionMen who want to communicate better, understand themselves more clearly, or find steadiness in relationships, work, or identity.You may feel pressure to stay composed, handle everything alone, or avoid burdening others.
Our work focuses on clarity, grounded presence, and next steps — not judgement or jargon.Spiritually inclined or contemplative clientsPeople drawn to questions of meaning, practice, inner life, or Buddhist psychology.You don’t need to identify as Buddhist — just an interest in presence, compassion, clarity, or living more intentionally.We can explore Dharma teachings if you want to, or simply work with the grounded, practical insights they offer.High-net-worth individuals seeking private, steady, non-judgmental supportPeople who move in demanding environments and want a grounded, discreet therapeutic relationship without performance, jargon, or hierarchy.You may be responsible for others, leading teams, or navigating complex pressures that are difficult to talk about openly.This space is calm, focused, and free of pretense.Creatives and people with strong internal pressureArtists, writers, designers, martial artists, and others who hold themselves to high standards or feel pulled between possibility and overwhelm.Counselling becomes a collaborative space to find clarity, momentum, and direction.
If you recognize yourself in any of these roles
You don’t need to fit neatly into a category.Most people I work with simply feel:responsibleoverwhelmedthoughtfulhigh-functioningtired of holding everything togetherunsure how to talk about what’s going onready for something to shiftIf something in you resonates with this, we can talk about what support might look like.
Fees & Contact
Rates:$170 per 50-minute sessionReceipts are provided after each session.Many extended health plans cover counselling; I encourage you to check your benefits for details.
Location & Format
Sessions are offered online to clients across British Columbia.
This allows for flexibility, privacy, and the ability to meet from wherever you feel most comfortable.
Booking a session
If you’re interested in working together, the easiest place to start is a brief consultation.
It gives us a chance to meet, talk about what you’re looking for, and see whether this feels like the right fit.Please use the form below to reach out; I respond within two business days.