Mic Deane Counselling | Registered Clinical Counsellor
About Me
A bit about me personally
I’m a queer, cisgender, neurodivergent woman and my preferred pronouns are she/her. As a white settler who grew up in Ireland, I am grateful to now live and practice on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ peoples.
I've been in therapy at multiple points in my life, and it has changed me in many ways. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the therapists who sat with me through the hardest parts.
I name these things because you deserve to know who is sitting across from you, what I carry, and what I can't fully know from my own experience.
Some people do a few therapy sessions, learn the coping skills, and still feel depressed or anxious. Did you ever play whack-a-mole as a kid? That's how I envision anxiety when you apply a coping skill without exploring the root cause. You push it down as fast as you can, but it keeps popping up somewhere new, getting louder each time. Deep breathing might take the edge off, but it won’t make the underlying issue go away. My approach to counselling is collaborative and anti-oppressive, meaning we’ll look at the bigger picture together, really taking the time to explore why you’re coming to therapy in depth.
I'm quite direct, meaning I'll remind you of what you said you wanted when I see you moving away from it. I'm comfortable with dark humour, though I'll probably ask questions about what's underneath it too!
I don’t want our sessions to feel like a doctor's appointment. If you want a therapist who'll keep your favourite tea in stock, laugh with you when something is genuinely funny, and not bat an eyelid at you swearing in session, that might just be me.
A bit about me as a therapist
Experience & Trainings
Relational Life Therapy Level 1 (Couples) – Relational Life Institute
Gender Affirming Primary Care (part 1) – ECHO Trans Care BC
Sex Therapy: Assessment, Referrals, & Best Practices – The Chicago School
Intro to Gender Diversity – Trans Care BC
Indigenous Gender Diversity – Trans Care BC
Loving The Whole Self: Utilizing Parts Work with Drug Users – Let’s Talk About It Professional Education
ADHD Executive Functioning Workshop – Vancouver Coastal Health
Eating Disorders & Body Image in a Skinny-Tok World – Let’s Talk About It Professional Education
A little more about me
I love to read! Non-fiction has its place in my life, but I’m a fiction girl at heart; there's something about stepping into a life that isn't yours that helps you understand people better. I read a lot of books by queer and trans authors, about motherhood, relationships, addiction, grief and loss. As a queer person I might share some experiences with you, but I won't assume that they look the same. Reading helps me to learn about the parts of queerness I haven't lived.
I started a community called Sober Babes Vancouver back in 2022, and while I don't run it anymore, the messaging still shapes how I work. Sober, soberish, and sober curious folks are all welcome here. I take a harm reduction approach to substance use, because I’d rather you get help at a pace that feels right for you than not get it at all.
I adore cats and have a ten-year-old one-eyed orange cat named Chilli. Despite the "It's a Boy!" banner in the picture, this photo was not from a gender reveal party (I feel weird about those). It was from his adoption party. Unfortunately a "Congratulations On Your Adoption!" banner was a little tricky to locate. Luckily he didn't mind too much because he can't read.
My values are community, authenticity, learning, inclusion, and connection. They're the reason I do this work, and they shape how I show up in every session.
Credentials & Care
I'm a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) based in Vancouver, BC, and hold a Master of Counselling degree.
My membership number with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) is #25501.
I am committed to participating in ongoing learning and am shaped by educators, colleagues, and the clients I work with every day.