One of the things I love most about my career is that it has never fit neatly into one box
For nearly three decades, I’ve had the privilege of working in both the mental health and performing arts communities. While those worlds may seem very different, they’re connected by something fundamental: people.
People navigating change, vulnerability, creativity, recovery, relationships, and the courage it takes to keep showing up.
This season is a particularly exciting one, and I wanted to share a little of what I’ve been up to.
Growing My Counselling Practice
I’m currently offering one-on-one trauma-informed counselling from my office in downtown Nanaimo, as well as secure online sessions for clients.
I am specializing in working with folks navigating transitions, stress, trauma, addiction & recovery as well as those working in the arts & entertainment industry and relationship intense, public facing professions.
At the moment, I see clients in person on Mondays, and I’m excited to share that beginning in September, I’ll be expanding my private practice to include in person sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Supporting Recovery in Community
Every Wednesday, I have the honour of serving as the onsite counsellor at One Life Recovery Society, supporting men who are rebuilding their lives in recovery from substance misuse.
It is deeply meaningful work.
Recovery is about so much more than examining substance misuse. It’s about reconnecting with self, community and rebuilding relationships, learning new ways to cope, and creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling. Walking alongside people in that journey continues to be one of the greatest privileges of my career.
Helping Shape Mental Wellness in the Arts
Another project close to my heart is my work as a long standing CAEA Member volunteering on an Equity Committee to develop mental wellness curriculum and leadership resources for members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA).
This initiative brings together artists and leaders to create practical, trauma-informed resources that support healthier rehearsal halls, stronger leadership, and more sustainable creative workplaces.
I’ve long believed that mental wellness belongs in every industry—but especially in the performing arts, where vulnerability, collaboration, and high-pressure environments are simply part of the work. I’m grateful to contribute to a project that will help support artists and leaders across Canada.
Returning to the Rehearsal Hall
This summer and fall also bring me back into rehearsal rooms as an Intimacy Director, one of the most rewarding parts of my theatre practice.
In August, I’ll be working with Nanaimo Theatre Group on their community theatre production of The Birds and the Bees, helping create a rehearsal environment where actors can safely explore moments of intimacy with clear communication, consent, and confidence.
Then, in September, I’ll join Langley Little Theatre for their community theatre production of The Glass Menagerie, supporting the company through the same collaborative, trauma-informed approach to staging vulnerable moments.
As both a counsellor and theatre artist, I value creating spaces where people feel safe enough to take creative risks, knowing they are respected, supported, and cared for throughout the process.
On the Creative Back Burner…
And then there’s the project quietly simmering in the background…
For the past while, I’ve been developing a new theatrical work called Dot in the City—an original piece exploring what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world.
At the moment, it’s in that wonderful (and slightly nerve-wracking) place that many creative projects find themselves: waiting.
I’m currently waiting to hear whether I’ve received funding to support a week-long creation residency, where I’ll collaborate with acclaimed dramaturge, playwright, and director David Gow. Together, we’ll use improvisation, devised theatre techniques, and playful exploration to discover the story as we write it.
There’s something magical about that stage of the creative process. Nothing is fixed yet. Everything is possible.
So for now, Dot in the City is quietly percolating in the background, gathering ideas and waiting for its next chapter. Fingers crossed!
Why These Roles Matter Together
People sometimes ask how counselling, addiction recovery, theatre, and intimacy direction all fit together.
For me, the answer is simple: they’re all about helping people feel seen, heard, and supported.
Whether I’m sitting with someone in a counselling session, supporting a person in recovery, developing mental wellness resources for artists, collaborating with a cast in rehearsal, or creating new theatre, the heart of the work remains the same.
Creating spaces where people can be authentic.
Where healing and creativity can coexist.
Where courage has room to grow.
Enjoy your Season of Summer.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support my work—in counselling, in recovery, and in the arts. It truly is a privilege to do what I do.
Here’s to a season of growth, creativity, connection, and finding a soft place to land.
— Nicolle Nattrass
Counsellor CAC II, RTCc & Workshop Facilitator
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