The meaning behind the name
Hollow & Hill reflects the natural rhythm of growth and rest we all move through.
The hollow the quiet space - a place for rest, refuge and reflection, to turn inward and tend to what's being carried.
The hill the steady climb - the gaining of perspective and the courage to move toward growth and healing.
Together, they speak to what therapy offers: a space to slow down, make sense of your experiences, heal and rediscover your capacity to live and feel well.
In-Person Counselling
I provide in-person counselling as it offers a deeper sense of connection that can be harder to access through a screen; a space where we can more easily notice the subtle shifts and be with what comes up together.
Hybrid Options
I also offer a hybrid approach, blending in-person and online sessions as needed, allowing us to build a relationship and stay connected while being flexible to your changing needs and circumstances.
Sam Nielsen, MACP, RCC
REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR
It's so nice to have you here. I believe everyone can benefit from counselling at different points in life. For the hard and heavy moments, and for the times you want to better understand yourself, work toward a goal, or feel supported in navigating life's ups and downs.
Wherever you are, I strive to create a space where you feel heard, valued and safe to explore your experiences with curiosity, compassion and non-judgement. My practice is grounded in trauma-informed, person-centred care, with a strong focus on warmth, trust, and relationship. Because at its heart, therapy is two humans connecting in a meaningful way — and that can make all the difference.
What I Can Support You With
Below are some areas I commonly support. If you're not sure how your experience fits or where to begin, that's completely okay — we can figure it out together at a pace that feels right for you.
Anxiety & Stress
Anxiety and stress can show up in many forms. Like a grip you in the gut, thought spiralling, hard not to notice kind of way; or really subtly, slowly building up in your body in a way you might brush off as 'normal' or 'just the way you are'. Whatever your experience, I'd love to help you better understand and work with the root of your anxiety or stress so you can feel better and enjoy life more.
Personal Growth & Well-Being
You might worry your concerns are not "big" enough for therapy and say things like, "Other people have it worse than me..." or "It's really not that bad". But if you'd like to learn more about yourself, grow personally, feel better or have a safe space to process or just be, then therapy is for you (and we often tend to minimize our own needs more than we realize).
Loss & Life Transitions
Grief and loss are a painful part of life and reach far beyond the passing of a loved one. It can be loss of identity, home, relationship, job, health, childhood - anything. And it can often accompany a life transition like entering adulthood, starting a family or new job, retirement, and more. Whether a natural part of life or something more overwhelming, you don't have to navigate it alone.
Perimenopause & Women's Issues
Perimenopause can bring hormonal changes that shift how your nervous system regulates stress, influencing your mood, energy and well-being. And it's also a season that brings a deeply meaningful time for reflection and recalibration — for clarifying your boundaries, aligning with what's most important to you, and living a life that's sustainable and feels good. Therapy provides a space to understand and honour this transition with the care it deserves, helping you feel more steady and supported along the way.
Relationships & Boundaries
Relationships are central to our lives. From the relationship we have with ourselves to the people, land and animals around us. They bring both joy and pain, and can be developed and strengthened in meaningful ways. Together, we can better understand your attachment needs and relationship patterns, process past experiences, learn how to show up as the parent or partner you'd like to be, and manage feelings of guilt when setting boundaries.
Self-Worth & Perfectionism
Perfectionism, people pleasing and self-criticism try to protect us. They convince us that if we can be perfect, do better or keep the peace, we can avoid pain, conflict or mistakes. As lovely as this intention is, it often leads to exhaustion, increased fear and feeling not good enough. With support, you can learn to gently shift toward progress over perfection, self-compassion over criticism, rest over burnout, and trusting your own wisdom over “shoulds” and “supposed tos", without sacrificing your goals.
Trauma/PTSD
Most people carry the effects of painful and unhealed emotional experiences, often without realizing it. This might include what we tend to think of as trauma - like abuse, bullying, war and accidents - and it can also come from everyday experiences of conflict, stress and shame; feeling unseen growing up; taking on responsibility for others’ emotions; suppressing your needs to please others; or carrying the burden of racism or fatphobia. Over time, these experiences can negatively impact how you think, feel and relate to yourself and the world around you. With care, compassion, and support at a pace that feels right for you, meaningful healing is possible.
Workplace Issues & Burnout
Workplace and caregiving stress can quietly erode well-being. Chronic pressure, unclear expectations, lack of recognition, difficult dynamics, heavy workloads, bias and feeling undervalued can lead to burnout, anxiety and self-doubt — especially for people who care deeply about doing a good job or hold themselves to high standards. Therapy can help you make sense of what’s happening, rebuild your confidence and capacity, and find steadier, more sustainable ways of working and living in alignment with your needs and values.