What’s at the Core?
What's in a name?
The choice of the name Branch & Anchor is a symbolic one. The word branch is interpreted as a part that reaches out through healing, growth and a need for belonging. The word anchor is interpreted as what keeps us connected to ourselves and others; our values. What we hold true in belief, purpose and meaning guides who we are and in relation to our co-existence.
This practice originated with the name Luc Grey Counselling in August 2022. The purpose of offering services was in response to awareness to ongoing barriers to accessible and affirming mental health care for gender and sexually diverse folks in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. In changing the name as part of the re-opening in late April 2024, indicates the growth and openess that this practice sprouted as a call to action and can now branch out to continue providing space for an empathetic and supportive environment.
We must acknowledge the support of Fallon Grey for their consultation on the logo and web design.
Our Values & Approach
We believe in a humanist approach. This is at the core by respecting and embracing an individual with empathy and genuine care. Understanding that at our core we have the ability to heal, grow and create change and alignment in our lives. The participant is the expert on themselves and our services facilitate awareness and discovery of that belief as needed.
Initially a Person-centred and Humanist baseline is set as a standard in first developing the therapeutic relationship. Services provided ensure an integrative and tailored approach of techniques based on the participant's values as possible and areas of focus. This can include: Narrative Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy or Solutions-focused Therapy.
Given the historical and ongoing social and structural impacts on our health. It's essential that our work is trauma-informed and anti-oppressive. Validating inter-generational experiences, promoting collaboration, consent and ensuring a safer environment. This also includes ongoing learning, cultural humility, considering ways to decolonize the practice by: increasing access to services, relearning and ongoing efforts for growth, knowledge/resource sharing and opportunities for social action.
Our Approach
Our Values
Whether in counselling, psychotherapy or through consulting, the humanist lens comes first. Each participant is seen with existing strengths and values. This is why services offered encourage a collaborative and tailored experience that aims to facilitate healing and growth through values-led curiosity and validation.
In collaboration we encourage openness and trust to share when ready how we exist within our intersecting identities and lived/living experiences. We know that the concept and process of healing, growth and change inherently are political and are informed and disrupted by the roots of colonization. This requires helpers to acknowledge and address the power dynamics and systems that exist in healing work, prioritize the journey of patience, transparency and accountability allowing for trust to develop within the therapeutic alliance. Participants can experience prioritized efforts to understand your values and beliefs that guide your life.
It's key that we also acknowledge the unceded lands where this practice operates from. The lands of the Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mississaugas of the Credit covered by Treaty 13 signed in 1805. In learning that generations of litigation has been needed to address failures of the crown to uphold the original land purchase agreement where more land than agreed to was taken. Not until 2010 has a settlement been made with the Mississaugas of the Credit (Ref. Canadian Encyclopedia). Our team works towards relearning history of Canada and contributes to supporting Indigenous artists and cultural knowledge holders.