Jay Millar

CCC #11264769, RCC #30411

Jay Millar is accepting new clients.

Hi, my name is Jay (she/her). I am a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) from Ireland, now based in Vancouver, and I have a BSc in Therapeutic Counselling and MSc Psychology. I provide counselling for anxiety, grief, life transitions, and emotional stress.

I am an integrative counsellor meaning, in my counselling practice, I draw from multiple therapeutic approaches including, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic counselling, and humanistic counselling approaches, tailoring counselling to the unique needs and experiences of each person I work with. I offer counselling that is collaborative, grounded, and individualized to each person’s needs.

Before moving to Canada, I worked in hospice care and palliative care, as well as in a suicide prevention service. This experience as a counsellor working with grief, crisis, and emotional distress shaped how I understand counselling and the importance of feeling heard. It also strengthened my belief that counselling is not about fixing people, but about supporting people through difficult experiences with care and respect.

As a counsellor from Ireland now living in Canada, I also have lived experience of moving countries and rebuilding life in a new place. I understand how counselling can help with loneliness, identity shifts, anxiety, and the emotional impact of major life transitions.

I understand that people come to counselling for many different reasons. Some people come for counselling for anxiety or stress. Others come for counselling for grief, low mood, or life transitions. Sometimes people come to counselling because something just does not feel right, even if it is hard to name.

Counselling for Anxiety and Stress

Counselling for anxiety can help when you feel overwhelmed, stuck in overthinking, or unable to switch off. Anxiety and stress can affect sleep, relationships, work, and daily life. In counselling, we can explore what is driving these patterns and what support you need. Counselling can also help you feel more grounded and in control.

Grief and Loss Counselling

Counselling for grief and loss can support you through bereavement, anticipatory grief, or other significant losses. Grief can feel isolating, confusing, and overwhelming. In counselling, you can explore your experience at your own pace. Counselling offers a space where you do not have to go through it alone.

Life Transitions and Identity

Counselling for life transitions can help during changes such as moving countries, relationship changes, or career shifts. These transitions can bring uncertainty, stress, and questions about identity and belonging. As a counsellor from Ireland now living in Canada, I understand this personally and professionally. Counselling can help you feel more grounded during change.

Communication and Goal Setting

Counselling for communication and goal setting can help when you feel stuck expressing your needs or unsure about next steps. You might struggle with boundaries, decisions, or feeling heard. In counselling, we can explore these patterns together. Counselling can also support clearer communication and realistic goal setting.

Outside of Counselling

Outside of my counselling work, I enjoy being in nature, spending time outdoors, spending time with friends and family, cooking and sharing good food, and staying connected with loved ones in Ireland. These parts of my life help me stay grounded, and I value bringing warmth, humour, and humanity into my counselling practice.

Approaches Used

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Anti-Oppressive, Attachment Informed / Attachment Based Therapy, Brainspotting, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Creative and Strength Based, Critical Race Theory / Culturally Informed / Culturally Competent, Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Emotion Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Harm Reduction Based, Humanistic / Person-Centred Therapy / Rogerian, Humanistic Approach, Interpersonal Therapy, LGBTQIA2S+ Affirming, Meditation, Mindful Self Compassion (MSC), Mindfulness, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Neurodiversity Affirming, Neuroscience Informed, Queer Theory, Relational / Relationship Therapy, Relational Therapy, Sensorimotor Therapy, Somatic and Body-Centred Approaches, Strengths Based Therapy, Trauma Informed Therapy, Weight-Inclusive Therapy

Specialties and Areas of Practice

Accessible Counselling, Accountability, ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Body Image, Boundary Setting, Break-Ups, Burnout, Career Counselling / Work Issues, Childhood Trauma, Children, Chronic and Life-Limiting Illness, Communication Skills, Couples Therapy, Creative Blocks, Dating, Depersonalization, Depression, Disability, Emotional Regulation and Anger, Family Conflict, Family Counselling, Fears and Phobias, First Nations Issues, Goal Setting, Grief and Loss, Harm Reduction, Health Care Workers/First Responders, Identity, Immigrant Experience, Interpersonal Challenges, Leadership Development, LGBTQIA2S+, Life Meaning and Purpose, Life Transitions, Marriage Therapy, Men’s Health, Menopause, Minority Issues, Motivation, Neurodivergence, OCD, Pain Management, Panic Attacks, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Queer Relationships, Relational Trauma, Relationship Issues, Reproductive Struggles, Self Worth and Personal Growth, Self-Development and Coaching, Self-Esteem, Sexual Trauma, Sexuality and Gender, Shame, Stress Management and Stress Reduction, Student Support, Transgender / Nonbinary / Gender-Nonconforming, Trauma, Youth / Young Adults 14+

Jay Millar is accepting new clients.

How Much Counselling Will I Need?

It depends on what you want. Most clients fall into one of three categories:

One (or two) and done – I just want some advice to move forward on a problem. Cool, just let me know that so I can make sure the session will be focused.
Acute issue – I need some support to resolve an issue, but I don’t want to be in counselling forever. This usually takes 8-12 sessions but could be shorter or longer based on your needs (time, financial, issue complexity). We create the ideal structure together.
Long-term therapeutic relationship – I need a safe space to process life events. Sessions are often booked up to a year in advance so you can count on the structure and support. The topic often changes session to session, but relates back to an overarching theme of self-development, relationship management, or something of that nature.

I can’t tell you which issues fall into which bucket, or guarantee results, because each client is unique. It’s best to let me know which category you think you might fall into, we can check and adjust as needed.

What experience or background do you bring to your counselling and supervision practice that is uniquely yours?

I bring experience working as a counsellor in hospice and palliative care, as well as within a suicide prevention charity. These counselling roles gave me experience supporting people through grief, crisis, loss, and emotional distress, as well as difficult conversations that are often avoided in everyday life.

I am also originally from Ireland and now living in Canada. This lived experience as a counsellor from Ireland has given me personal insight into counselling for life transitions, including stress, loneliness, uncertainty, and identity changes that can come with moving countries.

What is your favourite thing about working closely with people every day?

What I value most is the opportunity to genuinely connect with people and learn about their experiences, perspectives, and strengths. It is incredibly meaningful to witness clients grow in confidence, self-understanding, and self-compassion over time, and to see the positive changes that can come from feeling heard and supported.

What have you learned from your work?

My work as a counsellor has taught me that mental health affects everyone, even though many people still struggle to talk openly about it. Reaching out for counselling support is not a sign of weakness, I believe it takes courage, vulnerability, and self-awareness.

I have also learned in my counselling work how powerful it can be when people feel safe enough to speak honestly about their experiences. The more openly we talk about mental health and counselling, the less alone people feel.

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Last Updated: October 6, 2026 Created: May 25, 2026

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