Adam Casey

What is your name/nicknames?

Adam Casey

What do you do at Shift?

I offer individual therapy sessions for adults and adolescents and couples therapy. I also provide assessment services for individuals seeking to better understand their mental health concerns. In therapy, my goal is to help clients identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours, and to develop coping skills to manage their symptoms. I aim to improve my client's daily functioning and renew their well-being.

What are your academic credentials?

My undergraduate background is a major in sociology and a minor in psychology. I graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work in 2014. I also attained a Masters in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville.

Why did you decide to become a therapist?

Every therapist has walked in the shoes of a client. I believe that those individuals who have become therapists and have taken an oath to try and help others, have that poignant memory of the time when they once struggled, felt hopeless or alone, but were fortunate enough to find the path to a better life. Sometimes these people venture back into the dark forest to act as guides to others who are temporarily lost or subdued. Admittedly, it's a dark profession, but also a very rewarding one. There's nothing more rewarding than someone telling you that you've made a positive impact in their life, even for a short time.

What do you bring to your therapy sessions, and what are some goals?

• Reducing symptoms of depression or anxiety
• Encouraging the client to be more assertive
• Amplifying client strengths
• Helping the client gain a new perspective
• Assisting the client in implementing healthy boundaries
• Emphasizing solution foci to help the client move past barriers
• Helping the client negotiate issues about identity
• Empowering the client by helping them realize their full potential
• Recognizing maladaptive behavioural patterns and implementing healthier ones
• Improving performance in one occupation
• Moving forward from grief and loss

Who do you work with?

I offer individual therapy sessions with clients aged 18 and over.

Why are you passionate about what you do?

Technically I'm a Gen Y, but my spirit adopts a Gen Z type of philosophy, especially as it applies to the workplace. I need to derive purpose, meaning, and enjoyment from my profession. I need to feel that I've had an impact on someone or something. I usually fail at things when I do them for the wrong reasons i.e. money. I think people are best to find the path of least resistance when it comes to their vocations. Enjoying what you do is never a bad thing, especially when it relates to your livelihood.

What do you do in your spare time?

I enjoy spending time with my partner and daughter, taking my dog for a walk, going to the gym, or playing hockey. In the past year, I've developed an interest in genealogical research. I'm an old soul that's satisfied with the little things in life. My morning coffee, listening to a podcast, hugging my daughter, hanging out with my teammates after a league game, meeting up with old friends, go to concerts, listening/watching true crime mysteries, reading about history/autobiographies, spending time with extended family, etc.

What is a skill that you are currently working on?

I play ice hockey as much as I can outside of work, family, and other commitments. I try and stay as active as possible and hit the gym regularly, but hockey requires a mix of speed, flexibility, and strength. It's the ultimate cardio workout, unlike any I've experienced on the treadmill. It's renewed my sense of vitality and improved my social life immensely.

What motivates or inspires you?

I get inspiration from success stories, especially those from the perspective of the underdog. I could read anybody's autobiography, as long as it has an arc where they transcend the barriers that limit them, whether real or imagined. Like most Psychologists, I believe in the power of stories, and how they inspire and motivate us to be greater than we were meant to be. My practicum preceptor was a narrative therapist and often recognized my narrative sensibilities. He was also instrumental in encouraging me to not hold back.

What's one podcast that you like and why?

The Joe Rogan Experience- In my mind, Joe is a true Renaissance man. He's a man of many talents and interests, but most importantly he's a truth seeker. A man committed to pragmatism and application, not simply the proverbial armchair. I don't agree with everything that Joe espouses, but I enjoy his wide array of guests from various backgrounds, professions, and walks of life. And Yes..I also have a fascination with aliens and parapsychology.

What's one book that you like and why?

Shot in the Heart by Mikal Gilmore. It has everything really, it's an underdog story, has ghosts and spectres, crime and punishment, religion and culture, and the reflection and coming to terms with a less-than-typical origin story.

What's one quote that you like and why?

"Success is buried in the garden of failure"-Rick Wakeman

Available for:

Grief and Loss | Trauma and PTSD | Identity Issues | Forensics | Coping Skills | Depression | Anxiety | Exposure Therapy | Anger Management | Attachment | Coping Skills | Divorce | Family Conflict | Gambling | Infidelity | Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) | Peer / Family Relationships | Sleep or Insomnia | Self Esteem | Stress | and much more...