Greg Babcock, Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist

Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist 

Are you feeling stuck in your relationship? Do you and your partner wish to talk about what you are both going through and explore making some changes? 

Are you a dad-to-be? A new dad or maybe you have kids and are feeling burned-out? An experienced dad who is unsure about what this fatherhood business is all about? A dad who would like to connect better to his kids and family?

Let’s talk. 

About Me (He/Him Pronouns) – Work & Personal:

I am a registered Social Worker (MSW 1994, U of T) with twenty six years experience of working within the field providing a range of services such as psychosocial rehabilitation to youth, child welfare services, individual, couples, and family counselling, and health and wellness coaching.   I also worked at a large family service agency (CFST) for eight and a half years providing individual, couple and group counselling (men’s groups) focusing on men’s wellness issues, emotional intelligence, coping with transitions, fathering, and dealing with intimate partner difficulties including helping men move away from using any form of violence. This spring, I decided to focus on my private practice and now exclusively offer support to individuals and couples through The Healing Collective. 

I am happily married to my wife and best friend. We just celebrated our twenty fifth wedding anniversary.  Together, we have a teenage son.  We have been a part of the  East York community for 20 years.  We love the neighbourhood and enjoy visiting the farmer’s market at the Brick Works, going to Greektown for an iced coffee frappe, browsing the shops in Leslieville or taking a walk on the boardwalk at the Beach.  

Services:

• Individual Counselling: I provide one-on-one counselling in a relaxed space for you to explore your life challenges in a non-judgemental, affirming atmosphere.
• Couple Counselling:  Couple counselling provides an opportunity for you and your significant other to explore issues that are causing tension within your relationship. I use an interactive, strength-based and empathic approach to assist couples with improving communication, increasing trust, strengthening intimacy and creating positive change in the relationship. 

• Men’s Counselling:  For some men, it can be difficult to talk and share with others about problems related to identity, relationships, intimacy and vulnerability because of cultural norms and societal expectations; rigid and sometimes unhealthy forms of masculinity.  This unease around sharing can sometimes lead to problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, toxic shame, anger issues, intimate partner conflicts and sometimes even violence. Unfortunately, many men seem to suffer in silence about their emotional pain.  I provide a relaxed space for men to talk freely about their challenges such as problems related to identity, relationships, fathering and work-life balance, intimacy and sexuality, work, health, stress, depression, anxiety, shame, anger and so on.

• Group Counselling:  I have extensive experience running men’s groups. During the past eight and a half years, I have run three different men’s groups dealing with anger management, intimate partner violence and it’s negative impact on partners and children.

My approach:

I believe that people’s lives are unique and often quite multi-layered.  I do not believe in a “one-size fits all’ approach.  My counselling approach is informed by several therapeutic orientations such as Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Family Systems.

My work with couples draws primarily upon the work of John Gottman, Family Systems and I draw inspiration from relational therapists such as Esther Perel and Terry Real. When working with couples, I see my role as that  of a facilitator of dialogue rather than as a “fixer.” I invite couples to have conversations about how they want to be in a relationship with each other based on their beliefs, values, and commitments and make choices around how they could better live their lives. I believe in self-determination and that each partner in the relationship has to decide for themselves if they wish to continue walking on a path together with their partner or take a separate path.

Availability and Contact:

I offer Video, Phone, In-Person and Walk & Talk sessions.

To arrange a free telephone consultation, please contact me at 416-467-7208 or by email at:  grbabcockcounselling@gmail.com or through The  Healing Collective at: info@healingcollective.ca 

Stay Safe!