Our Team

My name is Leland Maerz. Prior to accepting a role as a counselling therapist at Dalhousie University (where I now work part time), I spent a significant amount of years working internationally as a teacher and counsellor. Living, working, and travelling in different continents has given me an appreciation for diverse ways of being in the world, and for how people make meaning out of, and seek help to address, their mental health – especially in times of crisis or transition.

In recent years I have further developed my practice as a therapist through concurrent roles with the Nova Scotia Health Authority (Mental Health and Addictions) and in the non-profit sector addressing and supporting those affected by family conflict , intimate partner violence, and sexualized violence (Bridges Institute).   I aim for collaborative therapy relationships that are trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive while still making way for curiosity, creativity and the restoration of individual agency.  I have training and practice experience in Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (for Trauma)  and Psychodynamic Therapy to name a few.  I value that we are often not to blame for the negative impacts our experiences have on our mental and physical health but that we can be supported to respond in our own unique way to cope and even overcome the effects of these impacts.  This can often involve working to further understand the past with fresh perspective and learning to attend to ourselves more compassionately and responsibly in the present. The future can thus be imagined with less dread and more hope. 

When not at work I can be found enjoying time with my small family along Nova Scotia’s eastern shore, improving my old home, surfing, mountain biking, and contributing as I can to vibrant community. 

I look forward to connecting with you.

Leland Maerz MEd, RCT