About Cory Pisiak

Welcome! I am Cory Pisiak, an Associate Therapist at Thrive Counselling, and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC). Currently I hold a Bachelor of Arts, and a Master’s of Education in Counselling Psychology.

Life can be painful. Sometimes we may have expectations for how it ought to be, the unexpected happens, and yet it often continues whether we like it or not. My focus is not to help my clients think more positively, rather I focus on being present with them, hearing their genuine story, and helping them find meaning in their suffering. I would be honoured to metaphorically walk alongside you on your life journey. Throughout my career as a therapist, I have supported clients with various challenges, including addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, obsessive tendencies, intellectual disabilities, identity confusion, and conflicts in intimate relationships.

Typically, my approach to counselling is a blend of existential and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). What that means is I use a philosophical approach to counselling that addresses fundamental problems of the human condition like mortality and making choices, while also using experiential exercises and techniques to help my clients do intentional and meaningful actions despite experiencing suffering. In other words, I empower my clients to discover what is important to them, recognize their inner strength, for the sake of doing what matters deep in their hearts. However, I may integrate material from other theoretical approaches such as gestalt, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and narrative to tailor the experience to your needs. I work with adolescents, adults and families (kids ages 13 and up).

In my spare time I particularly like to be absorbed in fantastical worlds via reading, video games, or tabletop roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons. I also love spending time in nature.