A man with curly brown hair and beard, wearing a dark gray shirt, smiling, standing against a stone wall background.

Hi, I’m Lincoln/Linc Grey (he/they)

I’m a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #14645) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCPA #10011163), and the founder of Branch & Anchor. I’m based in Montréal (Tiohtià:ke) and am registered to provide psychotherapy to clients located in Ontario. Under the C.C.C credential, I also offer counselling services to clients in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

Who I am
I’m queer, non-binary, panromantic/sexual, polyamorous and AuDHD, and I’m a white settler. Those identities shape how I understand relationships, belonging and what “a life that feels like yours” can mean. They’re also not a requirement for working with me. You don’t need to share any of them, or have the words for your own, to reach out.

Why this work
In 2012, while living in Montréal, I started a Social Service diploma at Dawson College while dealing with my own mental health, substance use and financial challenges. Through school and practicum placements, I kept running into the same tension: working inside health and social systems often conflicted with my wish for meaningful change. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my work in research made the barriers to affirming care for queer and trans people impossible to ignore. Since then, I’ve spent more than a decade in the mental health and substance use sector, designing trauma-informed education programs, co-leading participatory research and building community partnerships. I now bring that experience into therapy.

Lived experience in the room
I’ve navigated anxiety and substance use, discovered my gender, sexual and neurodivergent identities, and sought out both formal (therapy) and informal support (community). I’ll only share that when it’s useful to you and you’ve consented. The session is about you, not me.

How I work
My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative and anti-oppressive, drawing on Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Person-Centred and Solution-Focused approaches. I’m curious, I offer gentle challenges and consensual observations, and I use humour where it helps. I don’t see my job as “fixing” you. I’m a guide and collaborator, one resource among many in support of your goals.

Who I work with
Individuals, couples and pods (multi-partner relationships) navigating non-monogamy, communication and trust, career transitions and burnout, identity and neurodivergence, anxiety, depression, stress and substance use.

Good to know
I don’t provide crisis services. Resources are listed here. In Quebec I offer counselling rather than psychotherapy, in line with provincial regulation.

Learn more

Approaches & Skills

Whether you’re here for a therapeutic relationship or collaborating on a project together, you can expect to experience a compassionate and reliable person on your side.

The values and skills I bring to this work come from my own lived experience navigating mental health and substance use challenges, along with a strong desire to support others on their journeys. I have also worked within systems that often exclude or don’t understand people like me or prioritize profit, ego and production over well-being. Empathy, compassion, and justice are core practice values that deeply guide both my personal and professional life, shaping the people and projects I choose to collaborate with.

Therapeutic Approaches:

  • Person-centered therapy is a warm, supportive approach where you are the expert on your own life. The therapist listens deeply without judgment, helping you feel understood and accepted just as you are. This safe space encourages you to explore your feelings, discover your strengths, and grow toward becoming your true self at your own pace.

    During sessions, you may notice the therapist:

    - Reflects your thoughts and feelings to show they truly understand you

    - Asks open, gentle questions to help you explore your experiences

    - Offers empathy and acceptance without trying to fix or judge you

    - Supports you in finding your own answers rather than giving advice

    This approach helps build your confidence and encourages personal growth with kindness and respect.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you live a meaningful life by accepting your thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them. It encourages you to notice what’s happening inside you with kindness, even when it’s uncomfortable, while focusing on what truly matters to you.

    In sessions, you may notice the therapist:

    - Guides you to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment‍ ‍

    - Uses mindfulness exercises to help you stay present in the moment

    - Encourages you to clarify your values—what’s most important to you in life

    - Supports you in taking committed action toward those values, even when challenges arise

    ACT helps you build psychological flexibility, so you can face difficulties with openness and keep moving toward a life that feels rich and purposeful.

  • Narrative therapy is a gentle way to explore the stories you tell about your life. It helps you see that you are not defined by problems or challenges but by your own unique experiences and strengths. Together with the therapist, you can rewrite your story in a way that feels empowering and hopeful.

    During sessions, you may notice the therapist:

    - Asks questions that help you reflect on your life stories and how they shape your feelings

    - Supports you in separating yourself from problems, seeing them as outside influences rather than who you are

    - Encourages you to identify your skills, values, and hopes that might have been overlooked

    - Works with you to create new, positive narratives that open up possibilities for change

    This approach helps you reclaim your voice and build a future that feels more aligned with your true self.

  • Solutions-focused therapy is a practical, positive approach that focuses on your strengths and what’s working well in your life. Instead of spending a lot of time on problems, it helps you discover small steps and solutions that can lead to meaningful change.

    In sessions, you may notice the therapist:

    - Asks questions about your goals and times when things have gone well‍ ‍

    - Encourages you to imagine your preferred future and what it would look like‍ ‍

    - Helps you identify your own resources and past successes‍ ‍

    - Supports you in creating simple, achievable action steps to move forward

    This therapy helps you build confidence and momentum by focusing on your abilities and possibilities for change.

Professional Skills:

  • Designing, planning, and implementing learning programs or training initiatives tailored to specific audiences or goals.

  • Creating and sustaining positive, collaborative connections with individuals, groups, or organizations to achieve shared objectives.

  • Involving and valuing people’s personal experiences (often related to health, social issues, or historically/systemically exclusion in program design, decision-making, or research to ensure trust, relevance and authenticity.

  • Developing tools and plans to share information effectively such as reports, toolkits, workshops, or digital content, to promote learning and impact

Background

  • I value self-discovery and belonging, guided by a curiosity about Two-eyed seeing teachings and my role as a settler colonialism benefactor.

    My roots include French, Italian, Irish, English, and Indigenous ancestry from Turtle Island (Canada). On my Italian maternal side, my family immigrated to Toronto post-WWII, carrying both passion and intergenerational trauma. On my French paternal side, I have limited knowledge due to family loss and distance, making it hard to explore my First Nations lineage.

    Raised by a resilient single mother alongside an older brother, we relied on social supports and community programs to heal from loss, grief, and abuse. These experiences shaped my early struggles with mental health and internalized homophobia.

    Through healing, I’ve redefined my purpose and identity by reflecting on my journey, including addressing my relationship with alcohol and smoking. Therapy, community, and learning have supported my growth. Discovering my neurodiversity as an adult helped me better understand my needs and the ways that I mask and adapt in various ways..

    These experiences and identities inspire my commitment to health equity and community collaboration. I’ve gained skills and purpose through roles in mental health education, research, knowledge mobilization, counselling, and psychotherapy.

  • My lived experience and identities have shaped my path into helping others. In 2012, while living in Montreal, I began a Social Service diploma at Dawson College amid mental health and financial challenges. Returning to southern Ontario, I worked various jobs but felt a conflict with my values, which led me back to counselling. I completed my diploma part-time at Humber College, graduating with honours in 2018.

    Through education and practicum experiences, I saw how working within the current social and health systems often conflicted with my desire for meaningful change. I then pursued a bachelor’s degree in Community Development at Humber, which expanded my skills in program design, research, leadership, and advocacy. This degree guided my professional roles in research, knowledge mobilization, and program design.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, I became more aware through professional research the barriers to accessible, affirming mental health care for queer and trans individuals. This motivated me to pursue a Master’s in Counselling Psychology, which I completed in April 2024 after coursework and practicum.

    • Registered Psychotherapist #14645 - College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario (CRPO)

    • Certified Canadian Counsellor #10011163 - Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

    • Professional Member #10011163 Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

    • Professional Member - Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)

    • Certificate on Combatting Anti-Black Racism - Centering Black Youth Wellbeing

    • 2SLGBTQ+ Trauma-informed Care - Rainbow Health Ontario

    • Intersectional Affirming Care Certificate

    • Mental Health First Aid: Supporting Youth Certificate

    • Mental Health First Aid Certificate

    • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Certificate

    • Excelerator Essentials - Intro to Coaching Skills Certificate

Registration/Certification Certificates

Certificate of registration for Luc Lincoln Grey with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
Certificate of registration for Luc Lincoln Grey with theCanadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

Education Certificates

A framed certificate from Yorkville University awarded to Luc Grey for completing a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, decorated with green leaves and gold seal, with signatures at the bottom.
A diploma from Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, awarded to Luc Lincoln Grey for a Bachelor of Community Development degree, May 2021, featuring college crest and signatures.
Certificate awarded by the Board of Governors of Humber College, Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, in June 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Luc Lincoln Grey for fulfilling the program requirements to become a Social Service Worker with honors. The certificate includes signatures of the Chair of the Board, the President, and the Registrar.