Becoming Yourself Counselling

Becoming Yourself Counselling My name is Michael Holker MSW RSW Registered Social Worker / Therapist; I offer services in Ontario

Greetings,

I'm Michael Holker, a Registered Social Worker/Therapist. My journey in social work began in 2015 when I completed my Bachelor of Social Work, followed by further education to earn my Master's in Social Work. My path to this point has been marked by what I like to call "fateful detours and wrong turns," but it has always been clear that I wanted to establish my private practice. Over the past decade, I've immersed myself in a world of reading and research, honing my skills and acquiring tools to help individuals transition from merely surviving to thriving. If you or someone you know is merely "getting by" right now, rest assured that my mission is to guide individuals toward flourishing. Throughout my life, I've been driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore the realms of philosophy, psychology, sociology, history, science, and spirituality. I've dedicated myself to understanding the interconnectedness of these facets of human existence and how they relate to our contemporary challenges as individuals and as a society. This curiosity led me to the field of social work and, ultimately, to the creation of my private practice. On this page, you can expect regular posts addressing topics related to well-being and the human condition. I invite you to engage, ask questions, and share your thoughts. Currently, I offer virtual counselling services to clients residing in Ontario. You can easily book a session through the website link on this page or contact me directly for a complimentary 20-minute consultation. Let's explore how I can assist you on your personal growth and well-being journey.

Autistic burnout can last weeks or years — but it’s not permanent.This week explores how to rebuild capacity after burno...
01/09/2026

Autistic burnout can last weeks or years — but it’s not permanent.

This week explores how to rebuild capacity after burnout and re-enter life at your own rhythm.

Read more on the blog → The Ultimate Guide to Autistic Burnout—Signs & Recovery
https://becomingyourself.com/onbecomingyourself/the-ultimate-guide-to-autistic-burnout?utm_source=fb_page&utm_medium=Becoming+Yourself+Counselling&utm_campaign=publer

Explore more reflections on ADHD, Autism, and Giftedness.

"

Share your thoughts in the comments or save for later reflection.

These reflections are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for therapy.

Healing from burnout doesn’t happen in one clear moment; it unfolds quietly.It’s the first laugh that doesn’t feel force...
01/09/2026

Healing from burnout doesn’t happen in one clear moment; it unfolds quietly.

It’s the first laugh that doesn’t feel forced.
The day you say no without guilt.
The moment rest feels like care, not failure.

These aren’t small things — they’re signs that your nervous system is remembering safety. That your body is trusting rest again. That you’re meeting yourself in gentler rhythms than before.

Coming out of burnout isn’t about being productive again — it’s about being present again about recognizing that healing isn’t about going back, but about coming home to your own pace.

Recovery whispers before it speaks. And those whispers are worth listening to.

Learn more → https://becomingyourself.com/onbecomingyourself/the-ultimate-guide-to-autistic-burnout?utm_source=fb_page&utm_medium=Becoming+Yourself+Counselling&utm_campaign=publer

Explore more reflections on ADHD, Autism, and Giftedness.

"""

Share your thoughts in the comments or save for later reflection.

These reflections are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for therapy.

Sometimes recovery means choosing gentleness and progress over perfection.You’re not lazy. You’re tired and healing. ...
01/08/2026

Sometimes recovery means choosing gentleness and progress over perfection.

You’re not lazy. You’re tired and healing.



Share your thoughts in the comments or save for later reflection.

These reflections are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for therapy.

Even systems built to endure need rest. Including yours. How can you unplug more? Share your thoughts in the commen...
01/07/2026

Even systems built to endure need rest. Including yours. How can you unplug more?



Share your thoughts in the comments or save for later reflection.

These reflections are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for therapy.

Recovery doesn’t begin with pushing harder.It begins with permission to rest: to be slower, to not be “back to normal.”F...
01/06/2026

Recovery doesn’t begin with pushing harder.
It begins with permission to rest: to be slower, to not be “back to normal.”

For many autistic, and AuDHD adults, burnout recovery means rewriting what “enough” looks like. It’s learning that acceptance isn’t giving up, it’s giving yourself back.

You start by accepting your limits without judgment.
By letting productivity mean pacing, not performance.
By setting boundaries before your body demands them.
And by seeking support that honours how your mind moves.

This isn’t about returning to who you were before the burnout.
It’s about becoming someone who no longer has to abandon themselves to survive.

Read more → https://becomingyourself.com/onbecomingyourself/the-ultimate-guide-to-autistic-burnout?utm_source=fb_page&utm_medium=Becoming+Yourself+Counselling&utm_campaign=publer

Explore more reflections on ADHD, Autism, and Giftedness.



Share your thoughts in the comments or save for later reflection.

These reflections are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for therapy.

Sometimes burnout doesn’t look like breaking down — it looks like holding it together too well and smiling while empty. ...
01/05/2026

Sometimes burnout doesn’t look like breaking down — it looks like holding it together too well and smiling while empty.

Performing while fading.

Autistic burnout often hides behind achievement until the body refuses to keep pretending.

It’s not a weakness. It’s a nervous system asking to be heard.



Share your thoughts in the comments or save for later reflection.

Warmly,
Michael

These reflections are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for therapy.

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion — it’s what happens when we’ve spent too long performing calmly while under stress.This we...
01/02/2026

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion — it’s what happens when we’ve spent too long performing calmly while under stress.

This week’s blog explores what autistic burnout looks like, why it happens, and how healing begins.

Read more on the blog → The Ultimate Guide to Autistic Burnout—Signs & Recovery

https://becomingyourself.com/onbecomingyourself/the-ultimate-guide-to-autistic-burnout?utm_source=fb_page&utm_medium=Becoming+Yourself+Counselling&utm_campaign=publer

Explore more reflections on ADHD, Autism, and Giftedness.



Share your thoughts in the comments or save for later reflection.

Warmly,
Michael

These reflections are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for therapy.

Unmasking during burnout isn’t a breakdown — it’s your body choosing truth over endurance.When the mask slips, it’s not ...
01/02/2026

Unmasking during burnout isn’t a breakdown — it’s your body choosing truth over endurance.

When the mask slips, it’s not because you’ve failed. It’s because your system can’t keep pretending it’s fine.
This is what survival looks like when you’ve spent a lifetime translating yourself for others.

Rest without justification.
Say no without apology.
Let yourself stim, soften, move, feel.

Unmasking isn’t about becoming less; it’s about becoming honest with ourselves
It’s the nervous system finally exhaling after years of performance.
It’s the quiet, trembling return to the self you had to hide to be accepted.

This isn’t the end of resilience; it’s the beginning of recovery.
Unmasking isn’t giving up.
It’s coming home.

Explore burnout recovery → https://becomingyourself.com/onbecomingyourself/the-ultimate-guide-to-autistic-burnout?utm_source=fb_page&utm_medium=Becoming+Yourself+Counselling&utm_campaign=publer

More reflections on ADHD, Autism, and Giftedness, stay connected with Becoming Yourself.



Share your thoughts in the comments or save for later reflection.

Warmly,
Michael

These reflections are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for therapy.

Masking may keep us safe, but it also keeps us exhausted.When burnout arrives, it’s not a failure of willpower. It can o...
01/01/2026

Masking may keep us safe, but it also keeps us exhausted.
When burnout arrives, it’s not a failure of willpower. It can often be due to masking for too long.

Every moment of unmasking. It can help us rest. Where can you unmask safely?



Share your thoughts in the comments or save for later reflection.

Warmly,
Michael

These reflections are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for therapy.

“Embrace your quirks and idiosyncrasies, for they are the facets that make you wonderfully unique and set you apart from...
12/31/2025

“Embrace your quirks and idiosyncrasies, for they are the facets that make you wonderfully unique and set you apart from the crowd. Being ‘weird’ is often a sign of authenticity and a celebration of your individuality.” James Hollis

There’s something freeing about recognizing that the parts of ourselves once labelled “odd” or “too much” often carry the brightest threads of authenticity. Our quirks and idiosyncrasies are not flaws to correct, but signals of our individuality, the pieces that make us unmistakably ourselves.

Within neurodivergent experience, these quirks can be sources of joy, creativity, humour, and deep identity. Many of us learn to laugh with them, honour them, and treat them as the landmarks of our becoming. They are reminders that authenticity isn’t polished; it’s lived.

Which of your quirks are you learning to appreciate?

“I don't know where I am going, but I am on my way.” VoltaireSometimes we move forward long before we know the destina...
12/29/2025

“I don't know where I am going, but I am on my way.” Voltaire

Sometimes we move forward long before we know the destination. There’s a quiet wisdom in allowing the path itself to teach us, the bends, the pauses, the unexpected detours. The journey shapes us in ways certainty never could, offering clarity only once we’ve lived into the next chapter.

For many of us in the neurodivergent community, we’ve spent years trying to predict every step to avoid missteps, judgment, or overwhelm. Yet the moments of greatest self-understanding often arrive when we trust our rhythm, not the roadmap. We grow with each shift, each adjustment, each new self we meet along the way

What part of “being on your way” feels familiar to you?

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” Albert EinsteinThere’s a gentle power in remembering that we were never ...
12/26/2025

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” Albert Einstein

There’s a gentle power in remembering that we were never meant to shrink ourselves to meet someone else’s expectations of “normal.” Standing out isn’t an act of defiance, it’s often an expression of truth. When we stop trying to contort ourselves into boxes that were never designed for us, our natural shape becomes something to honour rather than hide.

For many of us in the neurodivergent community, fitting in once felt like survival — masking, blending, adapting, overthinking. But the parts that made us feel “different” are often the parts that hold our creativity, intuition, depth, and humour. When we allow those pieces to breathe, we remember that our uniqueness isn’t a problem to solve; it’s a story to live.

Which part of your uniqueness are you learning to let shine?

Address

Toronto/(Offer Virtual Services Only)
Toronto, ON
M2N7A9

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+12892786272

Website

https://becomingyourself.janeapp.com/

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