Michael Holker, RSW—Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapist in Ontario
I know what it’s like to carry the weight of misunderstanding. For many years, I lived under misdiagnoses and masked my differences to fit expectations. Like many of my clients, I felt the pressure to strive harder, to meet standards that left me drained, and to pretend everything was fine even when it wasn’t. That disconnect—between who I truly was and who I thought I had to be—was exhausting.
Discovering my own neurodivergence later in life was a turning point. It was not a quick or easy process. It brought grief for the years I spent misunderstanding myself, but also relief in finally having language for my experience. It permitted me to step away from the “shoulds” that had defined so much of my life and to begin cultivating a more authentic way of being. That journey shapes not only how I live, but also how I practice therapy.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” - Carl Gustav Jung
A Blend of Personal & Professional Experience
As a neurodiversity affirming therapist and Registered Social Worker (RSW), I’ve spent 15 + years in mental health supporting neurodivergent adults. I discovered my own neurodivergence later in life, which helps me recognize the realities many clients face—masking, sensory overwhelm, chronic invalidation, difficult transitions—and how isolating it can feel when those experiences are dismissed.
Therapy here is not about erasing difference; it’s a collaborative space to understand yourself more deeply, practice workable strategies, and cultivate compassion for parts of you that worked hard to get through an often-demanding world.
Education, Registration & Training:
- Honour Bachelor of Arts (HBA) from the University of Toronto
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Dalhousie University
- Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Windsor
- Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Evidence-informed approaches I draw from (tailored to your goals): ACT, CBT, DBT, CFT, Motivational Interviewing, IFS-informed, and polyvagal-informed practices.
My work is relational, client-centred, trauma-informed, strengths-based, humanistic, and existential.
Professional training tools; lived experience deepens my empathy. Both shape how I listen, pace sessions, and collaborate.
"Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul. " - C.G. Jung
