Joel Myers

Joel Myers: Holistic Counselling for Trauma, Addiction and Inner Healing

Joel Myers is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor at Thrive Downtown whose integrative approach weaves together evidence-based therapies, body-based practices and spiritual inquiry. Joel supports people living with trauma, addictive patterns, depression and anxiety, as well as neurodivergent adults and anyone drawn to deeper questions about meaning and healing. This guide explains what that work involves and how to begin.

When Coping Becomes a Pattern: Addiction Support with Joel Myers

Joel’s page describes carrying pain in quiet ways, through habits that numb, distract or soothe. Seen this way, addictive behaviours are not moral failures. They are often attempts to cope with feelings that once seemed unbearable. Joel Myers works with people who are in recovery, people questioning their relationship with substances or patterns, and people who simply feel ready for something different.

Patterns people bring to counselling

• Alcohol, cannabis or other substances
• Gambling, gaming or compulsive scrolling
• Overworking, overspending or overeating
• Compulsive sexual behaviour or pornography use
• Relationships that repeat the same painful dynamics

Signs it may be time to reach out

• You use a substance or behaviour to get through difficult emotions most days
• You have tried to cut back and found it harder than expected
• Loved ones have expressed concern
• The habit is affecting your health, work, money or relationships
• You feel shame or secrecy around it

Recovery is rarely a straight line

Many people move through cycles of change, with periods of progress, setbacks and fresh starts. A lapse does not erase the work you have done. In counselling, setbacks can be explored with curiosity: what was happening, what you needed, and what might help next time. This shame-free stance often makes it easier to keep going.

A note on safety

Stopping some substances suddenly, including alcohol and certain medications, can be medically risky. If you are thinking about cutting back, talk with a doctor as well as a counsellor. Health Canada’s substance use resources and peer programs such as SMART Recovery can complement counselling. Thrive also offers dedicated addiction counselling.

Trauma, Depression and Anxiety

Trauma is not only what happened; it is also how your mind and body adapted to survive it. Joel’s page puts it gently: the parts of you that struggle are parts that learned how to protect you. With compassion, they can begin to soften.

How trauma can show up

• Feeling on edge, easily startled or unable to relax
• Numbness, shutting down or feeling far away from yourself
• Intrusive memories, nightmares or sudden waves of emotion
• Low mood, hopelessness or loss of interest
• Persistent worry and physical tension

Understanding your nervous system

Many trauma-informed counsellors describe three broad nervous system states:

• Mobilized: the fight or flight response, with a racing heart, restlessness, anger or panic.
• Shut down: the collapse or freeze response, with heaviness, numbness, fog or disconnection.
• Safe and connected: a settled state where you can think clearly, feel your feelings and connect with others.

Recognizing which state you are in is a first step toward gently shifting it. Breath, movement, grounding and connection can all help.

EMDR with Joel

Joel is formally trained in EMDR, an approach that uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, while you briefly focus on a distressing memory. The goal is to help the memory lose some of its emotional charge. Sessions begin with preparation and grounding so you feel resourced first. EMDR Canada offers more information, as does Thrive’s EMDR therapy page.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT, developed by psychologist Steven Hayes and colleagues, focuses less on getting rid of painful thoughts and feelings and more on changing your relationship with them. The aim is psychological flexibility: the ability to stay present with what is here and still move toward what matters to you.

The six core processes of ACT

1. Acceptance: making room for uncomfortable feelings rather than fighting them.
2. Cognitive defusion: seeing thoughts as thoughts, not facts or commands.
3. Present moment awareness: returning attention to the here and now.
4. Self as context: noticing that you are larger than any single thought, feeling or story.
5. Values: clarifying what truly matters to you.
6. Committed action: taking steps, even small ones, guided by those values.

Clarifying your values

Values in ACT are not rules or goals. They are qualities you want to bring to your life, like kindness, courage or curiosity. Some questions to explore:

• What kind of person do I want to be in my closest relationships?
• What would I do more of if fear or cravings had less say?
• When have I felt most alive and most like myself?
• What do I want my life to stand for, in small everyday ways?

ACT and cravings

Many people find ACT especially useful with urges. Rather than obeying or battling a craving, you learn to notice it, name it and let it rise and fall, a skill often called “urge surfing”. Over time, this can create space to choose a response that fits your values.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

MBCT blends mindfulness meditation with elements of cognitive therapy. It was originally developed to help people who have experienced repeated episodes of depression, and research suggests it can reduce the risk of relapse for some people.

Key ideas in MBCT

• Decentring: stepping back to watch thoughts pass, instead of being carried away by them.
• Being mode versus doing mode: shifting from constant problem solving into simply experiencing the present.
• Early warning signs: noticing the first signs of a downward spiral so you can respond with care.

A three-step breathing space

One well-known MBCT practice takes about three minutes. First, notice what is here: thoughts, feelings and sensations. Second, gather your attention on the breath. Third, widen your awareness to include your whole body. Many people use it as a reset during a stressful day.

Sound, Breath and the Body

Joel Myers lists sound and vibration exploration and healing as a specialty and sonotherapy as an approach, and also weaves in breathwork, meditation and somatic practices. These body-based tools aim to support regulation, clarity and reconnection to self.

Sonotherapy

Sonotherapy uses sound and vibration, which may include instruments such as singing bowls or the voice, as a way to invite relaxation and deepen body awareness. Research on sound-based approaches is still developing, and many people simply find them calming and grounding. It is always optional.

Breathwork and meditation

Slow, steady breathing, particularly with a longer exhale, is widely used to help the nervous system settle. Meditation builds the ability to notice experience without being overwhelmed by it. Both can be practised between sessions.

Somatic informed care

Somatic work pays attention to what your body is doing: tension, posture, breath and impulses to move. Because trauma and stress are held in the body as well as the mind, this attention can open doors that talking alone does not.

Transpersonal Work and Inner Healing Intelligence

Some people arrive with questions that go beyond symptoms: questions about purpose, spirituality and what it means to be whole. Joel’s page describes working with your thoughts, nervous system, body and “your soul’s longing for connection”.

What transpersonal means

Transpersonal psychology is a branch of psychology that takes spiritual and transcendent experiences seriously as part of human development. In counselling, this can mean exploring meaning, connection to something larger, or experiences that are hard to put into ordinary words.

Trusting your inner healing intelligence

“Inner healing intelligence” describes the idea that every person carries an innate capacity to move toward healing. In this view, the counsellor’s role is to create safety and follow what emerges, rather than to direct it. It echoes Joel’s words that healing is about remembering who you are and returning home to that truth.

Narrative therapy

Joel also uses narrative therapy, which helps you separate yourself from the problem stories that have shaped your life. As Joel’s page puts it, you are not your pain, your patterns or your past.

Neurodivergence: Autism and ADHD

Joel lists neurodivergence, including autism and ADHD, as a specialty. For many neurodivergent adults, anxiety, burnout or reliance on numbing habits can be linked to years of masking or navigating systems not built for them.

• Understanding how your brain works, without judgment
• Recognizing sensory needs and overwhelm
• Exploring the link between ADHD, impulsivity and addictive patterns
• Building routines and supports that actually fit you

Learn more about Thrive’s neurodiversity counselling.

Is Joel Myers a Good Fit for You?

Finding the right counsellor matters. You may feel at home working with Joel Myers if you:

• Want an approach that includes the body and spirit, not only thoughts
• Are curious about breathwork, meditation or sound as part of healing
• Are exploring your relationship with substances or habits without wanting to be judged
• Carry trauma and want a pace that respects your protective parts
• Are asking deeper questions about meaning, purpose or spirituality
• Value a counsellor who offers grounded presence rather than quick fixes

If you are unsure, the free consult is a simple way to find out how the conversation feels.

What a Session with Joel Might Look Like

Because the approach is integrative, no two sessions are identical. Still, many follow a gentle rhythm:

1. Arriving: a few moments to settle, perhaps with a breath practice or simply noticing how you feel.
2. Checking in: what has been happening since last time, and what feels most important today.
3. Focused work: this might be EMDR processing, exploring values with ACT, re-authoring a story, or somatic attention to what your body is holding.
4. Integration: making sense of what came up and how it connects to your life.
5. Closing: grounding before you leave, and, if helpful, a small practice to carry into the week.

Starting Counselling with Joel Myers at Thrive

If you feel ready to meet yourself with more honesty and compassion, beginning with Joel Myers follows Thrive’s simple process.

1. Free 15 minute consult: book through the new client appointment page and ask anything you need to know.
2. Choose Joel or be matched: request Joel directly, or share what you are looking for on the contact form. You can also browse Thrive’s team.
3. First session: you talk about what brings you in and what support feels right.
4. A shared plan: together you choose which approaches to use, from EMDR and ACT to breathwork or sound.
5. Your setting: meet in person at 470 Granville St., near Granville and Waterfront stations, or online by secure video.

The Thrive Formula

Joel’s integrative style maps well onto Thrive’s three phases. Regulate draws on breath, meditation and somatic work. Reveal uses EMDR and narrative therapy to understand how you adapted to pain. Reclaim uses ACT’s focus on values and committed action to build a life that feels like yours.

Fees and coverage

Current rates are shown when booking or on the contact page. Extended health coverage varies, so check your plan regarding Registered Therapeutic Counsellors. Thrive also offers low-cost counselling with supervised interns.

Frequently Asked Questions About Joel Myers

What are Joel’s credentials?

Joel Myers is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC #2866 of ACCT) with a Diploma in Professional Counselling and formal EMDR training.

Do I have to stop using before starting counselling?

No. You can begin wherever you are, whether you are in recovery, cutting back or still exploring your relationship with a substance or behaviour.

Is the spiritual side of the work required?

No. Spiritual inquiry, sound and breathwork are offered, never imposed. You decide what fits your values.

Does Joel work with autistic and ADHD adults?

Yes. Neurodivergence, including autism and ADHD, is one of the listed specialties, and sessions can be adapted to your sensory and communication preferences.

Does Joel see couples?

Yes. Joel’s page lists both individual and couples counselling.

Can ACT and MBCT help with anxiety as well as depression?

Many people find both helpful for anxiety, because they change how you relate to worried thoughts and uncomfortable sensations.

What is sonotherapy like in practice?

Sound-based work usually invites you to rest, listen and notice sensations as sound and vibration move through the space. There is nothing you need to do or achieve. You can always choose to skip it.

Can I combine in-person and online sessions?

Thrive clients can meet in person, online by secure video, or mix both. Ask about current options during your free consult.

What if I am in crisis?

Counselling is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency. You can also visit 988.ca.

Walk with Joel Myers Toward Healing

The Joseph Campbell quote on Joel’s page suggests that the cave you fear to enter may hold what you are looking for. You do not have to enter it alone. Book a free 15 minute consult through the Thrive contact page or call 604-227-0297 to ask about working with Joel Myers.