Meet Zach

Zach is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who approaches therapy with warmth, curiosity, and a deeply human-first perspective. He values depth, authenticity, and meaningful connection, and strives to create a therapeutic space where clients feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood. Zach is known for his grounded, gentle, and nonjudgmental presence, and for his ability to meet people with openness and respect, regardless of their background or life circumstances. He views therapy as a collaborative process and works alongside clients as partners, recognizing them as the experts in their own lives.

Zach holds a Master’s degree in Counselling (MC) from City University of Seattle. His professional journey began in the direction of emergency services, including formal education through a diploma in Police Studies from MacEwan University and work in wildland firefighting in Peace River, Alberta. Through a period of reflection, he recognized that his interests and values were leading him toward a different path—one centered on deeper human connection and understanding. This realization led him to return to university to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

As he transitioned into the field of mental health, Zach gained direct clinical and community-based experience working at a community drop-in centre in Edmonton operated by the Mustard Seed, where he supported individuals navigating housing instability, addictions, and unmet basic needs. He later worked as a Behavioural Therapy Assistant with the Edmonton Catholic School District, supporting youth of diverse ages and abilities. Currently, and in addition to providing therapy services at Authentic You, Zach also works as a clinician at Cornerstone Counselling in Edmonton.

Zach’s therapeutic approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and grounded in evidence-based practices. His primary modalities include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). He also integrates elements of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) as appropriate. Zach is deeply interested in existential, narrative, somatic, and emotion-focused approaches, and thoughtfully weaves aspects of these perspectives into his work. He has received formal training in EMDR and ACT and plans to pursue further training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), with the goal of expanding into couples therapy in the future.

Zach works with individuals, including adults, teenagers, and seniors. He brings particular care to understanding how early life experiences, attachment patterns, emotional development, and trauma shape present-day functioning. He believes strongly in people’s innate capacity for healing and change, viewing his role as a facilitator who helps clients access insight, build emotional flexibility, and reconnect with their values and inner resources. While he recognizes the utility of diagnosis when helpful, his approach is largely non-pathologizing and focused on reducing shame and self-blame, especially in the context of systemic and relational influences.

Clients working with Zach can expect a therapeutic environment that is warm, slow, gentle, and collaborative. He places a strong emphasis on building a secure therapeutic relationship and pacing work in a way that feels safe and respectful. Zach often incorporates self-compassion into therapy and is particularly passionate about trauma-informed practice, believing that healing involves not just symptom reduction, but integration, meaning-making, and restored connection to self and others. His style is generally laid-back and supportive, though he is able to be more structured or directive when it aligns with client needs or preferences. When appropriate, he also brings humour into sessions as a way to foster authenticity and ease.

At the core of Zach’s work is a fascination with the human experience—life, suffering, meaning, purpose, and change. He believes that growth is always possible and often already underway, even when it feels out of reach. Above all, Zach considers it a privilege to walk alongside clients on their journeys and to support them in creating lives that feel more connected, meaningful, and aligned with who they truly are.

Zach is accepting new clients as of January 26th, 2026, and will be available for counselling bookings on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00am-4:00pm.