Eric Windhorst, PhD, RP ✷
Therapist
Counsellor
Coach
Mentor
About Eric.
HQ: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Client Range: Coaching/Mentoring: Worldwide
Psychotherapy/Counselling: Throughout most Canadian provinces/territories; limited service provision outside of Canada (please contact to explore possibilities further)
Client Age: Teens, Adults
Accepting New Clients? Yes (Waiting List)
Sessions Offered: Virtually + In Person
"What shape waits in the seed of you to grow and spread its branches against a future sky?" - David Whyte.
Are you struggling with anxiety and/or depression? Do you feel driven to grow, yet find yourself perpetually stuck? Are you looking for someone to support your self-exploration and/or guide your existential searching? I can help. I will provide you with the presence, insights, and tools to catalyze your transformation.
I help diverse clients facing a variety of life challenges (for example, addiction, anxiety, career/vocational issues, depression, grief, relationship complexity, low self-esteem, and trauma) and have a special interest in working with individuals who are navigating periods of significant personal growth, self-exploration, life transition, existential searching, positive disintegration, and shifts in identity.
My approach to therapy, counselling, coaching, and mentoring is holistic, eclectic, and intuitively led. While my work with each unique client is necessarily distinct, my perspective is generally informed by, and resonates with, ecopsychological/ecotherapeutic, humanistic, (internal) family systems, Jungian, and transpersonal theory and tools.
Though theory and tools are important, the greatest gifts I offer each of my clients are those of genuineness, empathy, and respect.
Superwell Specialties.
Gifted-Specific Support
I’ve been providing therapy, counselling, coaching, and mentoring services to individuals (and their partners/families) who identify as gifted since 2016. I help gifted clients with a variety of life challenges, for example: self-understanding + acceptance, anxiety, career/vocational issues, depression, imposter syndrome, harnessing complexity + intensity + sensitivity + drive, perfectionism, purpose + meaning, trauma, and relationship complexities. I have a special interest in working with gifted folks who are navigating periods of significant personal growth, self-exploration, life transition, existential searching, positive disintegration, and shifts in identity.
My background in gifted psychology includes completing a stand-alone course in gifted adult psychology as part of my PhD studies (my dissertation explores the question, how do gifted adults experience ecological self?). I also completed InterGifted's Giftedness Profiling course in 2020. I'm continually expanding my knowledge of gifted psychology through deep self-reflection and self-directed learning.
Creative-Specific Support
I've specialized in serving clients who identify as creative since starting my private practice in 2016. While creative folks, of course, can struggle with issues common to all types of humans (for example, anxiety, depression, trauma…), creative’s often face unique challenges which require tailored support: for example, feeling out-of-sync with others (which can lead to social and/or self-esteem difficulties), managing heightened sensitivity + intuition + openness to experience, wrestling with imposter syndrome, and staying true to their inner vision while navigating complex capitalist systems.
Like with gifted clients, I am particularly drawn to working with creative folks who are navigating periods of significant personal growth, self-exploration, life transition, existential searching, positive disintegration, and shifts in identity.
Neurodivergent-Specific Support (other than giftedness)
My support of neurodivergent clients tends to be limited to gifted folks who are twice- or multi-exceptional (gifted + ADHD/autism/learning difference etc.). See earlier description of my work with gifted clients for my specific areas of interest. That said, and depending on how one defines neurodivergent, I do also provide support to clients with chronic mental health conditions and personality differences.
Other Areas of Specialization:
Ecotherapy (nature-based therapy)
Fun Stuff.
How do your clients describe you?
Attuned; insightful; wise; great listener; open
What is one of your quirks/special talents?
I can get lost in the most familiar places (it continually astonishes me).
What are your creative outlets?
I enjoy writing, photography...and, moment-by-moment, co-creating an authentic life.
What are your favorite books?
This is a very difficult question for me to answer! Here are several books which have shaped me: Creating a Life: Finding Your Individual Path (James Hollis); My Side of the Mountain (Jean Craighead George); Memories, Dream, Reflections (Carl Jung); The Voice of the Earth: An Exploration of Ecopsychology (Theodore Roszak)
What would you do with $10M USD?
I would creatively explore new and effective ways to serve the planet and its diverse inhabitants.
Professional Stuff.
Education and/or Training institute
Master of Arts in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy (2013)
PhD in the field of Ecopsychology (2019)
My dissertation explores the question: How do gifted adults experience ecological self?
Professional Licenses and/or Certifications:
Registered Psychotherapist (in Ontario, Canada - 006870)
Coaching Modalities:
Individuals
Couples
Family
