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Becoming Yourself Counselling

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Canada
Toronto, ON
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 t

he 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.

08/26/2025

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

Novelty enlarges cognitive architecture. Once perception expands, it refuses to shrink. We cannot unsee it.

For Neurodivergent nervous systems, new experiences might require sensory precautions, but the reward is widened adaptability and self‑concept.

Which upcoming experience could stretch your perspective?

What accommodations will help you engage it fully?

08/23/2025

“Emotions are not problems to solve, they are messengers to listen to.” — Tara Brach

Treating feelings as glitches to fix fuels internal war. Listening turns them into translations of unmet needs.

Set a timer: pause, name the emotion, ask ‘What do you need?’ This practice builds Neurodivergent-friendly communication between body and mind.

What message is your current mood delivering?

How will you respond?

08/20/2025

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” — Lao Tzu

Identity isn’t a museum exhibit; it’s a river. Clinging to yesterday’s labels can dam potential. Release invites undiscovered tributaries of talent and connection. For Neurodivergent folks, some labels were survival masks, ‘people‑pleaser,’ ‘workaholic,’ ‘quiet.’ Dropping them lets natural stims, pacing, creativity, or leadership surface. The unknown self can feel risky, but it’s also where spaciousness lives.

Which self‑story feels tight or outdated?

What micro‑act of letting‑go could you practice today?

08/16/2025

Truth is a stubborn companion; it walks beside us even when we’d rather follow comfort down an easier road. Choosing clarity over convenience asks courage, yet the relief of honesty outweighs the momentary sting of disillusion.

Neurodivergent self‑discovery can feel like this: confronting internalised ableism, revisiting misdiagnoses, acknowledging burnout. The mirror might reveal exhaustion we’d prefer to ignore, but seeing it clearly is step one toward sustainable change and self‑compassion.

What uncomfortable truth have you been tiptoeing around?

How might facing it actually lighten your future path?

08/13/2025

“He felt that he was himself and did not wish to be anyone else… only wished now to be better than he had been formerly.” — Leo Tolstoy

Self‑acceptance and aspiration are collaborators, not opposites. Contentment with our essence fuels improvement of expression.

Authenticity, keeping stims, sensory aids, creates stable ground from which we can challenge our skills without self‑rejection.

What core trait are you proud to own?

How can you elevate its expression tomorrow?

08/10/2025

“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.” — Bob Marley

Adversity writes letters of recommendation we never requested. Strength surfaces in the crucible of necessity, revealing muscles built quietly over years of unseen effort.

ND individuals often develop hidden resilience—navigating sensory overload, social misunderstanding, or bureaucratic mazes. When push arrives, these adaptive skills crystallise into visible strength.

What past challenge revealed an unexpected strength?

How can you honour and leverage that strength now?

08/07/2025

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” — Lao Tzu

Identity isn’t a museum exhibit; it’s a river. Clinging to yesterday’s labels can dam potential. Release invites undiscovered tributaries of talent and connection.

For ND folks, some labels were survival masks—‘people‑pleaser,’ ‘workaholic,’ ‘quiet.’ Dropping them lets natural stims, pacing, creativity, or leadership surface. The unknown self can feel risky, but it’s also where spaciousness lives.

Which self‑story feels tight or outdated?

What micro‑act of letting‑go could you practise today?

08/04/2025

“There is no coming to consciousness without pain…” — Carl G. Jung

Awakening often feels like stepping into sunlight after years in a cave, eyes sting before they see vividly.

Pain is the fee for deeper awareness. Late ND diagnosis can trigger grief for ‘lost years.’ Allow the sting; then invest the new consciousness in crafting a gentler future.

What awakening has hurt yet helped you recently?

How can you soothe while still honouring that growth?

08/01/2025

“Seeking what is true is not seeking what is desirable.” — Albert Camus

Truth is a stubborn companion; it walks beside us even when we’d rather follow comfort down an easier road. Choosing clarity over convenience asks courage—yet the relief of honesty outweighs the momentary sting of disillusion. Neurodivergent self‑discovery can feel like this: confronting internalised ableism, revisiting misdiagnoses, acknowledging burnout. The mirror might reveal exhaustion we’d prefer to ignore, but seeing it clearly is step one toward sustainable change and self‑compassion.

What uncomfortable truth have you been tiptoeing around?

How might facing it actually lighten your future path?

07/29/2025

“There is but one solution to the intricate riddle of life: to improve ourselves, and contribute to the happiness of others.” — Mary Shelley

Self‑development and being of service are intertwined gears; one turns the other. Growth that never leaves the mirror stalls, and giving without renewal drains. Neuodivergent self‑care (sensory breaks, task batching) isn’t selfish, it sustains capacity to advocate and innovate for the community.

What skill upgrade could enhance both your life and others’?

How will you schedule its practice?

07/26/2025

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” — Mark Twain

Bravery coexists with trembling knees. Mastery is turning fear into a compass pointing toward growth.

Exposure hierarchies, tiny, safe challenges, help neurodivergent anxiety transition from paralysis to participation.

What small act of courage fits today’s capacity?

How will you celebrate completing it?

Be Bold, Be Brave.

07/23/2025

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is not education at all.” — Aristotle

Facts construct a capable machine, but compassion pilots it toward humane horizons. True learning integrates cognition and care, wisdom and warmth; otherwise we risk building clever architectures with empty rooms.

Neurodivergent individuals frequently receive skill drills while their emotional landscapes are overlooked. Embedding sensory regulation, and self-advocacy into our dialogue nurtures the whole-brain and protects well‑being.

Where can you add heart to a head-based task this week?

How might emotional literacy enhance your next learning goal?

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.com/

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