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Meet the Therapist: Mike Deputat, RP Qualifying, RPN

Updated: Oct 18, 2024

Every month, we feature a team member to learn more about their story and approach to all things therapy-related



Picture of Mike

What’s on your therapist bookshelf at the moment?


It didn't start with you book

Being in school has made it challenging for me to pick up a book. However, my favorite book that I still do have to finish is "It didn’t start with you" by Mark Wolynn. Additionally, to name some others, I love the Harry Potter book series, it’s about a child who came from an awful situation and made the best of it, and with my faith I continue to try to read the Bible more, and learn the many lessons it can teach.


What inspired you to become a therapist, and how do your personal experiences shape your approach to counseling?


In my life I never truly could put my finger on one profession I wanted to do. If you ask my mother she would tell you I always wanted to help people. This idea eventually led me into nursing where my love of mental health first started. Nursing is a challenging job and eventually because it was not something that could not keep my love I sought something new. The one thing that I saw around me was individuals who wanted and needed therapy and I wanted to do something about it. My passion for helping those skyrocketed once I found what I was truly meant to do working as a therapist.


Can you share a bit about your therapeutic philosophy and the theoretical approaches you integrate into your practice?


As a therapist we are taught many different philosophies from client centered care to humanistic theory. However, I have not quite found the style that I fully stand in yet. I pull from multiple theories and it changes depending on the client in front of me. I have always been a person who has always been flexible in my approach as a nurse and never stuck with a certain nursing theory which influenced my decision as a therapist. Ultimately, my goal in every session is to allow the person a chance to be heard and hopefully have something to take away.


If you were not a therapist, what profession do you envision yourself being in?


There was always this thought in the back of my mind when I was doing other careers. However, I know in my heart that being a therapist is what I was meant to do and cannot see myself doing something else. 


I believe one of the most important factors that contribute to a successful therapeutic relationship is the openness to change for both the client and the therapist. As a client, you seek therapy to change your situation and move toward the life you envision for yourself. Openness to change for the therapist is important because, like everyone else, we can become rigid in our ways or believe we have all the answers—I know I have. However, we need that openness to change not only to grow within ourselves and learn more, but also to recognize how our clients have changed us.


How do you handle situations where a client is resistant to change or feels stuck?


In my personal experience that comes from my nursing background is to recognize that before the client came to us everyone has already been trying to fix them, we are here to provide the space for the client to be heard and feel safe. When we start with an open, safe and honest conversation a client will begin to trust us more and open up to us.


In your experience, what are some common misconceptions about therapy, and how do you work to address and overcome them in your practice?


With many people suffering from many years of trauma and poor mental health, lots of people are looking for quick solutions to help them through many tough things. However, because they have been dealing with it for so long, and unfortunately no therapy session is a once and done fix it solution. Any amount of hurt you have experienced takes time to process because you have to first have to trust us before the work can begin. By listening and understanding first is the first steps I take to move past this misconception.


What’s your favourite self-care activity?


My favorite self care activity is video games and music


What do you find most rewarding about being a therapist?


What I find most rewarding as a therapist is finding that connection with clients because when I find that connection I am able to help them find the answer they were seeking in the first place. 


What would you say to someone who has never been in therapy before and may be considering taking that first step and reaching out?


That when you first seek therapy it can be challenging to open up and trust someone after the amount of times you have been burned in your life. It’s not easy to trust someone. However, here at First Step Men’s Therapy we understand that your trust is something that is a privilege to earn and I will work towards earning that trust and work hard on helping you. 




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