My name is Brandon and I’ve been interested in the field of counselling from the age of 15-17 when myself and some friends went through some mental health struggles that had a profound impact on how I understood how helpful it can be to have a person to confide in. From that point, I’ve been on a journey to help people struggling with a wide variety of mental health challenges which I am still very adamant about. I’ve worked with a variety of individuals ranging from those with financial struggles, intellectual disabilities, family conflicts, brain injuries, among others. The biggest thing that I’ve learned is that every situation has to be treated differently and that no singular solution applies to every individual, despite people getting lumped into categories and stereotypes. I find pride in connecting with people and hearing their stories; then being able to apply that to strategies they can use to improve their day-to-day lives.
I find great satisfaction in giving back to the community that has made me the person that I am today. It makes me happy to see more people seeking mental health services and to see the stigma around these services get reduced and I’m proud to be a part of that movement, both as a provider and a consumer.
