You can contact us to book your first session if you prefer. However, a free consultation is a confidential, one-on-one session designed to:

1. Understand Your Needs – Share your concerns and gain clarity on how counselling can help.

2. Create a Plan – Collaborate with Mike to build a personalized plan that fits your goals.

3. Start Taking Action – Get guidance to take the first steps toward meaningful change.

This session is your opportunity to explore your options, establish a relationship with Mike, and start your journey toward better mental health.

Counselling is a personalized journey tailored to your needs:

1. Getting Started – In your first session, we’ll address questions about confidentiality, explore what’s bringing you to counselling, and identify your goals and supports.

2. Adapting to You – Each session focuses on what’s most important to you, adjusting as your needs evolve.

3. Finding Your Rhythm – You’ll meet as often as suits your goals—weekly for deeper work, or bi-weekly to monthly for ongoing support.

This flexible approach helps you gain clarity, tools, and resilience for lasting growth.

Gratus Health is currently offering

• 60-Minute Counselling Sessions: $175

• 90-Minute Counselling Sessions: $225

• 90-Minute Walk-and-Talk Counselling Sessions: $225 (*contact to book)

• Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Visa Debit & Debit Mastercard, as well as interac e-transfers.

Mike is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, qualifying for insurance and health benefits reimbursement.

Please contact your insurance provider with questions about your coverage.

We do not provide direct billing at this time.

Mike is offering convenient appointments weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time. 

Please book a discovery call to determine if we are a good fit to work together and to find a session time that is convenient for you.

Mike brings a wealth of experience to his counselling practice, including an extensive history of elite-level Olympic development coaching, peer mentorship in the spinal cord injury community, professional speaking, sports mental training, working in education, and working with youth in his community. 

Mike graduated with honours from Yorkville University’s Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. 

He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia Okanagan.

Mike is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a member of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.

• What are Mike’s areas of focus?

Mike focuses on helping clients with an array of mental health difficulties:

• Injury Rehabilitation

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Trauma-Care

• Stress Management

• Emotional Regulation

• Self-Esteem and Self-Worth

• Goal Setting and Motivation

• Grief and Loss

• ADHD Strategies

• Men’s Mental Health

• Youth Issues

• Athletic Performance

• Professional Coaching and Mindset

The best way to get in touch with Mike is to email:

mike.s@gratushealth.com

Mike will communicate with clients by text or phone as needed. If something urgent comes up, please understand there may be a slight delay in response time. 

For crisis support, please contact the Canadian Crisis Line (available 24/7):

9-8-8

or visit your nearest emergency room. 

Mike is active on social media and posts helpful mental health content. You can find him on Instagram; however, Gratus Health does not provide clinical support through social platforms due to limits of confidentiality.

@gratushealth @mikeshawski — Gratus Health Social Media Policy

Sessions are conducted in-person or online.

Please inquire about booking in-office sessions at our downtown location in the Cook Street Medical Building (1175 Cook St, Victoria, BC) or Walk-and-Talk sessions across Greater Victoria.

Virtual sessions are hosted on an encrypted meeting platform via Jane App.

Your safety, security, and privacy are our top priorities.

The number of sessions depends on your needs. Committing to 8-12 sessions is recommended to achieve consistent, lasting results.

This duration allows you to build rapport with Mike and make progress. Ultimately it depends on what you are seeking counselling for, the kind of support you are seeking, and the treatment plan you decide on. 

You have complete agency in this process and can choose a shorter or longer duration as required. After the first few months, many clients continue working with Mike on a less frequent basis as a form of accountability and ongoing support.

As necessary, Mike will provide strategies, tools, videos, and other resources to support you and your growth. Typically, Mike encourages you to take action and employ valuable tools between sessions. Your participation in treatment outside of your scheduled sessions deepens your experience and enhances the therapeutic process. 

You’ll never be asked to do anything you’re uncomfortable with and will have Mike’s support every step of the way. 

Everything you share in a session is kept completely confidential. Your privacy and safety are essential in therapeutic work. Counselling sessions create a safe space to explore difficult emotional content and issues. You may say things to Mike (and to yourself) that you’ve never said before, which is essential to healing and growth. 

There are only a few exceptions to confidentiality:

1. When disclosure is required to prevent the clear and imminent danger to you or others.

2. When a child or person of diminished capacity requires protection. 

3. When mandated by municipal, provincial, or federal law. 

Life happens. If you’re running late, please send us a quick email. If you’re more than fifteen minutes late, we will need to reschedule, and the session will be charged in full. We kindly ask you to do your best to arrive on time so you can make the most of your time with Mike. 

Please provide at least 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment, so that it gives us a chance to offer the spot to someone on the waitlist. Cancellations within 24 hours will be charged the full session fee. Thank you for understanding!

Gratus Health is committed to operating in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice established by:

British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors

Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association