Move beyond survival.

Counselling and mindfulness coaching for sensitive adults tired of constant self-protection.

You’ve spent years holding things together while inwardly feeling anxious, disconnected, or stuck in patterns you can’t seem to shake. Together, we’ll make space for greater self-understanding, emotional steadiness, and healthier ways of relating.

You’re not broken.
You adapted.

The ways you think, feel, and relate aren’t your fault. Anxiety, shutdown, people-pleasing, or emotional distancing are ways of coping when life feels unsafe.

These patterns can be exhausting, especially when they no longer fit your life or sense of self. But you don’t need to fix them or push them away.

Change begins when we slow down enough to meet our patterns with greater clarity, curiosity, and compassion.

hi, i’m heron.

I’m a complex trauma survivor who’s navigated the healing journey. It shaped who I am today and how I sit with others on their own path

I’ve lived through mental health crises, anxiety, self-criticism and the legacy of experiences that deeply disconnected me from myself and others. I know how vulnerable it can feel to start therapy and share parts of yourself shaped by fear, shame and survival.

I bring my full, imperfect human self into this work, with warmth, honesty and care. I’ll be a calm, steady presence by your side, as we get curious about what’s hurting, how it’s protecting you and what might be ready to change.

Logo of the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada, featuring the acronym ACCT with green swirl design elements.
Text graphic with the words "The Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program Graduate" on a dark background.

all parts of you are welcome here.

You don’t need to show up calm, clear, or put together. You don’t need to know what to say or where things should go.

You can come just as you are, whether anxious, uncertain, shut down, angry, hopeful, or silent. However you arrive, you’ll be met with care instead of judgment.

There’s no pressure to fix, perform, progress, or move faster than you’re ready. Instead, we notice what’s present and cultivate enough safety for your nervous system to start relaxing. When safety is present, a clearer understanding and new possibilities can emerge.

Along with warmth and care, I bring thoughtful, attuned inquiry; the kind that helps reveal patterns without judgment or shame.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, trauma, relationships, or a major life transition, you don’t have to do it alone. This work unfolds in relationship, side by side. Together, we’ll create the conditions where understanding deepens, and real shifts can happen.

testimonials

  • With Heron’s help, I’ve made some real advances towards having a tool kit for working with my anxiety. There’s a feeling that I’m actually capable of handling this. That’s a huge change and it’s invaluable.

    EL - Coaching Client

  • Heron is warm and approachable with a good knowledge base. Working with him, you will feel his care while learning to cultivate a deeper sense of self.

    Craig Wanless - Supervisor

  • Having Heron as a safe anchor during the past year and a half has been pivotal to my healing journey. I now find myself in a vastly more desirable place, thanks to the help of his astute questions, sensitive reflections, and ability to mirror me accurately.

    KC - Peer Client

People often come to this work to explore:

  • anxiety

    Anxiety can feel like living on edge: managing, anticipating, holding it together just to get through the day. It’s often a result of how your system learned to cope with overwhelm at an early age.

    In our work together, we can gently turn toward what’s held inside, creating enough safety for things to relax at your own pace.

  • complex trauma

    Complex trauma often comes from relationships where safety, consistency, or attunement were missing. Its impacts can be subtle and far-reaching, shaping how you feel in your body, how you relate, and how you see yourself.

    I offer a steady, compassionate relationship where healing can unfold slowly, without pressure or re-traumatization.

  • relationships

    If relationships feel confusing, exhausting, or painful, you’re not alone. Early relational patterns can keep showing up long after they’re needed.

    Together, we’ll explore how these patterns live in you now, and what’s possible when they’re met with awareness, care, and safety.

    (I don’t offer couples counselling at this time.)

  • insecurity

    Self-criticism, low self-worth, and perfectionism often emerge as ways to feel safe or preserve relationships. Over time, they can become harsh and exhausting companions.

    In our work, we’ll explore these patterns with compassion, helping you develop a kinder, steadier relationship with yourself and others.

  • grief, illness and death

    Loss, illness, and the awareness of mortality can shake the ground beneath us. These experiences can be isolating, overwhelming, and tough to put into words.

    Through steady, compassionate presence, I offer a place where you don’t have to carry these experiences alone.

  • spiritual/existential crisis or awakening

    Questions about meaning, faith, identity, or purpose can show up suddenly, or unfold slowly over time. They can feel disorienting, unsettling, and deeply personal.

    Together, we can explore where you are, what’s been stirred, and what wants to emerge next, without rushing to answers.

some lenses i look through

A man with glasses and a beard, meditating indoors with his eyes closed, sitting in a relaxed position near a window.

relational mindfulness coaching: another way to explore

Relational mindfulness coaching is a trauma-informed, body-aware approach that supports greater steadiness, clarity, and self-trust through mindful presence and relationship. Rather than offering quick fixes or advice, this work invites gentle awareness of what’s happening in your body and inner world. Over time, this creates space for choice instead of reactivity.

This is a great option for those who prefer a more practice-based, non-therapeutic way of working together, distinct from counselling.

Featured Posts

Why change is hard (and how self-compassion makes it easier) by Heron Payne

A tale of collapse, courage, and healing through the transformational power of inner kindness.

Read on Substack

Taking in the Good by Heron Payne

Why your brain focuses on the negative, and how to rewire it to orient towards the positive.

Read on Substack

When Self-Editing Becomes Self-Abandonment by Heron Payne

A story aboot social adaptation, losing myself, and reclaiming belonging.

Read on Substack

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