Hamilton Counsellor and Couples Therapist

Hi! I'm Ryan.

My name is Ryan and since 2011 I have been providing individual and couples counselling services to people all over the Greater Toronto and Greater Hamilton areas – as well as all over the world via remote sessions.

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Counselling That Works.

Never did I think I would be doing this as a career. Growing up in Alberta, I did what every good Albertan does – went to work in the oil patch.

My first experience with counselling was seeking a therapist to help me with the struggles and issues I was facing regarding my job… I was skeptical at first – but therapy is how you sort yourself out, right?

I’ll be honest, my experience with therapists wasn’t great, but it sparked a passion in me that I didn’t know was there. I wanted to start helping people the way I wanted to be helped: by a down-to-earth professional in a safe and caring environment.

Where It All Started

So I hung up my hard hat and started my BA in psychology at MacEwan University in Edmonton. While there, I developed a strong interest in relationships, identity and personality.

While in university, I attended a seminar on attachment theory and stumbled onto a meaningful discovery: The same dynamics that govern an infant’s attachment to their parents also govern interactions between adults in intimate relationships.

Why is this a big deal? 

It transforms the average course of therapy from 20+ sessions to 8-12 sessions, meaning you spend less time and money to start feeling better. 

Prior to this seminar, I was a few weeks into a project observing a couple and studying the patterns of their conflict. When I shared my discovery of attachment patterns suddenly their conflict made perfect sense and they had a tremendous breakthrough. 

Through word of mouth, more couples were inviting me to observe their arguments – so I did free house calls to further my research. Over and over again, I witnessed couples going through virtually identical patterns! 

My Journey

In late 2011, I started building the foundation of my own form of couple therapy based on the attachment patterns I observed in these couples, as well as the success they were having once equipped with this information.

By 2013, I had conducted hundreds of hours of sessions with couples and developed my own type of attachment-based couples therapy. 

However, come 2014 I felt compelled to leave my program at MacEwan university in order to pursue my growing business full-time. I packed up with my girlfriend (now my wife) and pursued bigger opportunities in southern Ontario – specifically in my home town of Hamilton.

From there I started a business in Stoney Creek and eventually expanded into Burlington and Hamilton Mountain

From 2016-2019 business was great… almost too great. While I was refining my attachment-based approach to couples therapy, my waitlist grew and eventually I was turning several couples away daily.

It broke my heart turning away people I knew I could help – so I decided to take a giant leap.

My Growth

In early 2019, I founded Empire Psychological, and began directing a private practice in addition to seeing my own clients. We grew quickly, I hired another psychotherapist, trained her in my therapy methods, and added admin staff. 

By March of 2020, I leased a larger space as we continued to grow. As of December 2020, we are now a team of five with a beautiful space on Hamilton Mountain. Being located one block from the exit of two major highways, we can conveniently serve clients in Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas, and Burlington.

My Approach

In 2011, I pioneered a modern, effective form of couples therapy not because I wanted to do something unique and attention getting, but because it made sense and worked for those who needed it.

I’m not going to sit in a stuffy chair in a stuffy office and nod my head mindlessly as you talk about your struggles. I’m going to be there with you, having the conversations needed to guide you to make significant changes in your life.

Being a good fit with your therapist personality wise is *really* important to achieving good results in therapy. In fact, research shows it’s a bigger factor than a therapist’s training or experience!

That said, there’s a few things you should know: I am caring, professional, and compassionate, but I’m also blunt and can be a bit informal. I show emotions, I will swear on occasion and I’ll talk to you like I’ve known you for years.

Some people don’t like that, which is completely fine, but if that’s the case I may not be the right person for you. 

I do free phone consultations with every single client before booking anything, so you’ll have a chance to chat with me for a bit before you make any decisions.  

Recent Courses and Professional Development (2020 – Present)

  • Attachment Injury Repair Model (AIRM)
  • Attachment, Trauma, Affect Dysregulation and Shame: Treating Self-Destructive Behavior
  • Emotionally-Focused Individual Therapy for Clinicians
Hamilton Couples Therapy

Common Questions

What Are Your Fees?

From $168 + HST to $200 + HST per session depending who you see.

Are You Accepting Clients?

Please call me and I’ll let you know.

When’s Your Soonest Appointment?

Often the same week, but during busy periods there can be waits up to two weeks. Please call to find out.

How Long Is A Session?

Each session is 50 minutes of therapy, plus 10 mins to cooldown, rebook etc

How Often Are Couples Sessions?

It varies. Weekly or biweekly is common.

What Are Your Hours?

Monday-Thursday: 10 AM – 10 PM
Saturday-Sunday: 10 AM – 10 PM

Are Sessions Covered By Benefits?

Most benefits cover therapy sessions.

I Have Counselling Benefits. You Aren’t Covered?

All therapists at my practice are licensed psychotherapists. Most benefits provide coverage.

Which Titles Are Covered By Benefits?

Registered Psychologists, Psychotherapists, and Social Workers are the most common titles covered.

What Are Your Credentials?

I’m a counsellor. This is an unprotected title that doesn’t require association membership or license.

Client Testimonials