Neal Henderson is the founder of Creating Your Balance Counselling Therapy, providing professional counselling services in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with virtual therapy available across most Canadian provinces. With more than 30 years of experience in mental health & addictions, Neal supports individuals, couples, and families seeking meaningful change, emotional balance, and improved mental wellness.

Neal is especially passionate about supporting men’s mental health, helping men navigate stress, relationships, life transitions, and emotional challenges in a way that feels practical, respectful, and empowering.

Professional Background

Neal brings extensive experience from both community and healthcare settings, including work with:

• Mental Health & Addictions programs within Nova Scotia Health
• Youth and family services within the Department of Opportunities and Social Development
• The Halifax Regional Centre for Education supporting children and families
• Adult rehabilitation and community support programs
• Foster parenting and family support services
• Mental health group facilitation and psycho-educational programs

This diverse background allows Neal to work effectively with clients experiencing challenges related to anxiety, depression, addiction, stress, relationship difficulties, and life transitions.

Education & Professional Credentials

Neal holds multiple professional designations and is registered with recognized Canadian regulatory bodies:

Education:

• Masters of Education Counselling (MEd)
• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
• Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Credentials:

• Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) - Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
• Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT) - Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapist - Registered Social Worker (RSW) - Nova Scotia College of Social Workers

Counselling Approach

Neal’s counselling style is client-centered, collaborative, and practical. He believes that clients are the experts in their own lives and that therapy works best when people feel respected, heard, and supported.

His approach integrates several evidence-based methods, including:

• Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Behavioural Family Therapy (BFT)
• Structured Relapse Prevention (SRP)

Sessions are tailored to each person’s goals and may focus on building coping strategies, improving emotional regulation, strengthening relationships, and developing healthier patterns of thinking and behaviour.

Areas of Focus

Neal works with adults, couples, and families experiencing:

• Anxiety and stress
• Depression and emotional overwhelm
• Life transitions and major life changes
• Relationship and communication challenges
• Addiction and relapse prevention
• Men’s mental health and identity
• Emotional regulation and resilience

Counselling Services

Through Creating Your Balance Counselling Therapy, Neal provides:

• Individual counselling
• Couples counselling
• Family counselling
• Walk-and-Talk therapy in Dartmouth
• Virtual counselling across Canada

Sessions are available in person in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, or online through secure virtual counselling.

A Collaborative Approach to Growth

Neal believes counselling is not about “fixing” people—it is about helping individuals reconnect with their strengths, develop new skills, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, navigating a life transition, or simply looking for a supportive space to talk, counselling can help you move toward greater balance, resilience, and well-being.

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Neal Henderson is the founder of Creating Your Balance Counselling Therapy, providing professiona... Read More

Greg has over 20 years of supportive counselling and advocacy for young adults (16+) for community based and non-profit organizations. Helping navigate systems, including education, health/mental health, & community based supports and services.

Along with his team he helped implement a provincial program supporting youth that came to be recognized as the model for other providers of the program. Greg spent time building relationships and understanding of our health, education, and social systems which allowed for solution focused strategies to support clients.

Clients referred to the program came from non-profits, families and individuals as well as:

Halifax Regional Education Centre

Community Justice Program

Department of Opportunities and Social Development

Nova Scotia Health

Greg has years of experience supporting clients through challenging times in their life. Focusing on anxiety, grief, depression, emotional regulation, identity, relationships, executive functioning, and life transitions.

Greg has an affirming approach and knows that understanding a person’s lived experience is key to supporting a clients growth and change. The therapeutic relationship is the most important element in building trust to collaborate together to develop a plan to navigate what causing distress for the client . Greg currently works full-time as a therapist with Autism NS supporting Nova Scotia’s autistic and neurodivergent adult community.

He has worked extensively with many communities including youth (16-24), LBGQT+, African Canadian/Black, Immigrants/New Canadians. Greg strives to be culturally responsive is receptive & understanding of systemic challenges faced by many communities, families and individuals.

Educational

Greg has numerous certifications and is licensed and registered with the appropriate governing bodies.

Education: Master of Education Counselling (M’Ed Counselling), Acadia University

Counselling Skills Level 1, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Saint Mary’s University

Certification:

RCT-C, Registered Counselling Therapist Candidate, with Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapist (NSCCT)

Greg’s therapeutic approach focuses on building a trusting relationship with a client. Using a strength based, trauma informed, client centred approach. I believe that each person can begin a path to well-being when they feel seen, heard, respected and their life experience is valued. Every person is the expert in their life, and I am grateful to work collaboratively with each client to develop the goals, practices, strategies and ideas that will lead to a more balanced and hopeful life. I want to connect to understand your experiences through your lens and help build the skills and knowledge that will help you feel more able to handle life’s challenges and opportunities as they arise.

I believe that curiosity of oneself can lead to insight and connecting with the skills, abilities & knowledge you already have. Therapy can help you reconnect with those parts of yourself and create capacity in your life to navigate the ups and downs.

Greg has over 20 years of supportive counselling and advocacy for young adults (16+) for communit... Read More