Josh Graetz – Intern Counsellor in Vancouver
As an Intern Counsellor Vancouver clients can turn to for compassionate support, I am passionate about helping people explore their experiences. My name is Josh (he/him), and I am currently completing my Master of Counselling at City University in Vancouver.
Before entering the mental health field, I built a diverse career in performing arts, education, and other industries. However, one common thread has always connected my professional experiences: working with and supporting people.
As an Intern Counsellor my goal is to help clients create lives that feel meaningful and authentic, in a safe, collaborative and non-judgmental environment.
Education & Counselling Experience
Alongside my clinical training at City University, I have professional experience as a supervisor with the BC Crisis Lines. In this role, I supported individuals experiencing significant emotional distress. My work included crisis management, de-escalation, risk assessment, suicide intervention, and connecting people with appropriate resources.
My academic work explores the intersection of mental health and creativity, with a particular interest in how creative approaches can support connection, self-expression, and empathy. My current capstone research examines how creative education may help counselling students develop greater capacity for empathy. It is my belief that creative education that invites people to explore the inner worlds of other characters is incredibly impactful and is a large part of the reason I was pulled to the counselling field!
My Approach as an Intern Counsellor in Vancouver
I approach counselling with genuine curiosity about each person’s unique story. Like a character study, I believe that understanding the different pieces of a person’s world—their relationships, experiences, values, motivations, and challenges—can help create a clearer path toward meaningful change.
I also believe that our identities and lived experiences shape how we understand ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. I bring many parts of myself into my work and recognize the importance of finding a counsellor who appreciates the experiences that matter to you. I am a queer man (he/him) and a first-generation white Canadian settler living and working on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
My own experiences have shaped several areas of interest within my counselling work. These include, but are not limited to supporting:
- 2SLGBTQIA+ Identity & Self Exploration
- Chronic Illness & Burnout (17years with Type 1 Diabetes)
- Men, Masculinity & Mental Health
- Relationships, Sex & Intimacy
- Creatives & Artists
- Anxiety, Depression, Stress & Life Transitions
In order to support you I take an integrative approach to counselling, drawing from different theories and modalities. It is primarily informed by Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and systemic approaches that consider people within the context of their relationships, communities, and social and cultural worlds. My background in the performing arts also brings creativity and curiosity into my work. Creativity does not have to mean being an artist, it just invites a sense of play into the work.
At the heart of my approach is the belief that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of counselling. Before any technique, theory, or intervention, I want us to build a relationship grounded in trust, safety, empathy, and mutual respect. I believe you are the expert on your own life and feel privileged to walk alongside you.
Finding an Intern Counsellor in Vancouver
My goal is to provide a welcoming environment where you can explore what matters to you at a pace that feels comfortable for you. The most important thing is finding an approach and a relationship that feels right for you.
I am happy to connect in person in Vancouver or virtually across BC and am able to offer 50 minute sessions for the reduced fee of $30. If you think we might be a good fit, I would love the opportunity to hear your story, and explore how we can work together on whatever is happening for you, or what’s coming next.