Real Life Counselling • Construction & Trades

Mental Health Support for Construction Workers and Trades Professionals in BC

If you’re working long hours on site, carrying physical pain, dealing with financial pressure, or trying to hold it together for your crew and your family — you’re not alone. Real Life Counselling provides proactive mental wellness and counselling for construction workers, trades professionals and small business owners across British Columbia and Ontario. Virtual sessions. No waitlist. People who actually get it.

✓ Virtual sessions — from your truck, your home, wherever you are ✓ Evening and weekend availability ✓ Registered clinicians licensed in BC and Ontario

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Mental health counselling for construction workers and trades professionals in BC

4×

higher burnout rate in construction than the national average

83%

of construction workers report moderate to severe mental health challenges

79%

therapeutic alliance score across our tracked client outcomes

24hr

intake response guarantee — no waitlist for proactive support

Mental Wellness Built for the Construction Industry

Real Life Counselling has a dedicated focus on serving the construction and trades community across BC and Ontario. We’ve built clinical and organizational programming specifically for this industry — virtual one-on-one counselling, leadership coaching for owners and supervisors, and Lunch and Learn sessions designed for construction crews. We understand the culture, the pressures and what it actually takes to reach out in a world that doesn’t always make that easy.

Counselling Built for the Construction Industry

Construction is one of the most demanding industries in Canada — physically and mentally. Long hours, high-stakes work, financial pressure, chronic pain, seasonal layoffs and a culture that often makes it hard to say you’re struggling. The result is one of the highest rates of burnout, substance use and mental health challenges of any workforce in the country.

Real Life Counselling provides proactive mental wellness support specifically for people in this industry — workers, foremen, site supervisors and small business owners across BC and Ontario. We understand the culture, the pressures and what it actually takes to ask for help in a world that doesn’t always make that easy.

Burnout and chronic exhaustion
Anxiety, stress and overwhelm
Depression and low mood
Substance use and alcohol concerns
Chronic pain and injury recovery
Relationship and family strain
Financial stress and job insecurity
Leadership pressure and decision fatigue

How It Works

Getting started is simple. Virtual sessions mean no time off work, no commute, no waiting room. You can attend from your truck, your site office or your home.

Tell us what’s going on. Complete a brief intake so we understand what you’re dealing with and what kind of support fits best.
Get matched. We connect you with a clinician who understands the construction industry and your specific situation.
Start working on it. Confidential sessions focused on what’s actually affecting your life — practical, direct and built around your schedule.

Real Life Counselling is led by Ashley Kreze, Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC) and Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO), with 17 years of clinical experience and a personal understanding of the pressures the construction industry carries.

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Who We Work With

Real Life Counselling serves the full range of people who make the construction industry work — from the worker on site to the owner carrying the whole operation. We serve clients virtually across Kelowna, the Okanagan, Greater Vancouver and throughout BC and Ontario.

Construction Workers and Tradespeople

Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, roofers, concrete workers and general labourers dealing with the physical and mental toll of demanding site work. Virtual sessions fit around your schedule without requiring time off.

Foremen and Site Supervisors

You’re responsible for your crew’s safety and performance while managing your own pressure. Leadership coaching and counselling for the people who hold it together on site — because you need somewhere to put it down too.

Small Business Owners and Contractors

Running a construction or trades business means carrying financial risk, managing people, navigating regulatory pressure and still trying to be present at home. Executive coaching and clinical support for the owner who has nobody to talk to about what’s really going on.

What We Help With

The pressures that come with construction work are specific. These are the things we hear about most from workers and owners in the trades across BC and Ontario.

Burnout from back-to-back projects and long seasons

Alcohol or substance use as a way to decompress

Anger, irritability and shutting down at home

Chronic pain affecting mood, sleep and relationships

Anxiety about job security, contracts and cash flow

Relationship strain from being gone, exhausted or checked out

Grief after a workplace injury or loss of a coworker

Returning to work after injury or extended time off

Decision fatigue and leadership pressure for owners and supervisors

Financial stress and the weight of carrying a business

Identity and purpose after leaving the trades

The cost of never asking for help until it’s acute

The research is clear — construction workers don’t reach out because they’re waiting for someone to go first. They’re waiting for support that actually understands their world. That’s what we’ve built.

Ashley Kreze, RCC, RP — Founder and Clinical Director, Real Life Counselling

Support for Construction Companies and Teams

The most effective way to improve mental health outcomes in the construction industry isn’t a poster or a 1-800 number. It’s building a culture where the foreman goes first — where leaders model that asking for help is part of running a safe and effective site. Real Life Counselling delivers organizational programming built specifically for the trades.

Lunch and Learn Sessions

Virtual psychoeducation sessions for construction crews, trades teams and company staff across BC and Ontario. Topics built specifically for the construction industry — not generic wellness content, but practical sessions that speak to the culture and the pressures your people are actually experiencing.

Excellence Without Burning Out
Men’s Mental Health in Construction
How to Have the Conversation on Site
Leadership Under Pressure for Foremen and Supervisors
Burnout and Sustainable Performance

From $1,200 per session. Virtual delivery across BC and Ontario.

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Leadership Coaching for Owners and Supervisors

One-on-one coaching for construction business owners, site supervisors and foremen navigating the unique pressures of leading people through demanding and high-risk work environments.

EQ-i 2.0 Emotional Intelligence Assessment
DISC Team Communication Profiling
Decision-making under pressure
Managing your own mental health while managing others
Building a team culture where people stay

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Getting Started Is Straightforward

No referral needed. No waiting months. Virtual sessions across BC and Ontario with a 24-hour intake response.

Complete a Brief Intake

Tell us what’s going on and what kind of support you’re looking for. Takes about five minutes. No obligation.

Get Matched Within 24 Hours

We respond within one business day and match you with the right clinician for your situation and schedule.

Start Your First Session

Virtual, confidential and built around when you’re actually available. Morning, evening or weekend appointments available.

Construction Mental Health FAQs

The questions people in the trades actually ask before reaching out.

Why is mental health such a big issue in the construction industry?

Construction workers in Canada experience burnout at four times the national average and 83% report moderate to severe mental health challenges. Long hours, physical pain, financial pressure, job instability and a culture that discourages talking about struggles all contribute. The work is genuinely hard and the support system has historically not been built for this population specifically.

Is counselling confidential? Will my employer or union find out?

Counselling is fully confidential. Your employer, your union and your crew are not told you are attending sessions, and what you share with your therapist stays between you and your therapist. The only exceptions are legal duties to report immediate risk of harm — the same rules that apply to any healthcare provider in Canada.

I work long days and can’t take time off — how does this actually work?

All sessions are virtual, which means you attend from wherever you are — your truck between jobs, your home after a shift, your site office during a break. Sessions are typically 50 minutes. We offer early morning, evening and weekend appointments specifically so you don’t have to take a day off work to access support.

Does my benefits plan cover counselling?

Many union plans, construction benefits packages and extended health plans cover registered psychotherapy and counselling. We provide receipts for direct reimbursement. If you’re a small business owner, counselling is often eligible through a Health Spending Account (HSA). We can help you confirm coverage — just ask when you reach out.

What if I don’t have extended health benefits?

We offer accessible self-pay rates for construction workers and trades professionals without benefits coverage. Rates are discussed during your intake conversation. We believe access to proactive mental health support shouldn’t depend on what plan your employer offers.

Can you help if I’m drinking or using more than I want to be?

Yes. Substance use is common in construction and is almost always connected to stress, pain, exhaustion and hard days. We work with you without judgement — understanding what’s driving it and building healthier ways to manage what’s actually going on.

Do you work with construction companies and provide team sessions?

Yes. Real Life Counselling delivers virtual Lunch and Learn sessions and leadership coaching programs designed specifically for construction companies and trades businesses across BC and Ontario. Topics include burnout prevention, men’s mental health in construction, leadership under pressure for foremen and supervisors, and building a site culture where people actually ask for help. Sessions start at $1,200. Contact us to discuss your team’s needs.

Are you licensed to work with clients in BC and Ontario?

Yes. Real Life Counselling is led by Ashley Kreze, Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC, British Columbia) and Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO, Ontario). We serve clients virtually across both provinces with full regulatory standing in each.

What’s the difference between counselling and crisis support?

Real Life Counselling specializes in proactive mental wellness — working with people who are struggling but still functioning, before situations become acute. If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, please contact 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), the BC Crisis Line at 1-800-784-2433, or your local emergency services. We maintain a documented referral protocol to appropriate crisis resources for any situation outside our proactive scope.

Ready to talk to someone who gets it?

Virtual sessions for construction workers and trades professionals across BC and Ontario. 24-hour intake response. No waitlist for proactive support.