Reviews from past and current clients and families.
“He offers compassion, skill and expertise, and the highest level of professionalism in the work he does.”
Michael Walsh is an exceptional recovery coach and interventionist. I have worked closely with him for several years, and refer clients to him with the utmost confidence. He offers compassion, skill and expertise, and the highest level of professionalism in the work he does. I recommend him in the highest possible terms.
– Dr. Michael Berry R. Psych
“Over zoom, Michael became a turning point for my own behaviour, which affected the rest of my family dynamics, with powerful results.”
Michael is a fully equipped resource for help and hope. So many families in BC and Vancouver have struggled with substance use. It affects us all. Over zoom, Michael became a turning point for my own behaviour, which affected the rest of my family dynamics, with powerful results. Thank you, Michael!
– S.P. - Vancouver
Michael and his team, are very caring and we are so grateful to have them to talk and guide us in a positive outlook. Moving forward can feel impossible at times and we are so fortunate to be able to reach out and talk to someone who has struggled and understands what we’re going through. Michael and his team are genuinely understanding and compassionate.
– R.S. - Chemainus
“Michael has been an incredible resource for myself and my family during a time of crisis, I will be forever grateful and I highly recommend working with him.”
Michael's exceptional knowledge, expertise and guidance have been invaluable while navigating the difficult, scary and emotional reality of a family member's SUD. Before I met him, I had no idea where to turn as there is not a SUD resource center in Victoria. I feel so fortunate that I was referred to Michael who provided intervention support, referrals to treatment facilities, case management, recovery coaching and ongoing family support. Michael and his team are pioneering a much needed comprehensive care and resource program on the island. Michael has been an incredible resource for myself and my family during a time of crisis, I will be forever grateful and I highly recommend working with him.
– S.C. - Victoria
“We’re convinced his careful and non-confrontational approach was the only one that had a chance of working on our family member, who is bright and creative and in her senior years.”
When our family member had hit her bottom, destitute and self-sabatoging, Michael and his team helped us find a way forward. His vast network of caring professionals provided quality options for care, connections to legal help, and a coping strategy for us. He is patient, kind, knowledgable, and dedicated to treating every member of our family with respect. We're convinced his careful and non-confrontational approach was the only one that had a chance of working on our family member, who is bright and creative and in her senior years. Thanks to Michael and his team, she now has a chance at a much better life.
– K.N. Toronto
“Michael answered the phone, pulled to the side of the road on his commute home, and listened to us.”
We reached out to Michael Walsh on a Friday afternoon, after work hours. Our family situation needed urgent attention and we had no idea where to turn. We found Michael through a Google search, we thought we were going to leave him an emotionally-heightened voice-message, to only be returned after the weekend. Instead, Michael answered the phone, pulled to the side of the road on his commute home, and listened to us. After hours of back-and-forth through telephone and email conversations, we hired Michael and his team. We felt comfortable and supported.
– A.S. Victoria, B.C.
“Michael and Dylan amazed all of us with their calm and open demeanour. It was like we had known these two guys forever.”
My family and I got together with Michael and Dylan recently. These guys were simply fantastic in helping with our family situation. They made us all feel so comfortable and helped us in so many ways.
Our family member that needed their help and advice was so comfortable talking to them from the start. They amazed all of us with their calm and open demeanour. It was like we had known these two guys forever.
I can’t thank them enough for being there for us and would recommend them to help anyone having a family problem with alcohol and drugs involved. Just so wonderful that my family member that needed the help was so very comfortable discussing this issue with them and will always be so thankful for what they done for all of us.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Michael and Dylan if you find yourself in need of help.
– J.B.
“Thank you for helping him, thank you for helping us (although it has been super hard), and thank you for giving me and his mom this moment.”
Hi Michael,
I just want to say thank you for helping my husband and my mother-in-law’s son when I couldn’t and wouldn’t. I am watching him talk to his mother about his addiction and recovery and what’s happening with him, very honestly and candidly.
He has never spoken to anyone other than me about it, and knowing them both for more than 20 years, I can tell you this conversation is amazing.
Thank you for helping him, thank you for helping us (although it has been super hard), and thank you for giving me and his mom this moment.
– Wife & Mother
“I appreciate their approach from a love-first perspective. I think this was the key to our success.”
Our family is immensely grateful for the help and support my brother received from Michael & Dylan. From the start, they were professional, non-judgemental, understanding, knowledgeable, helpful, empathetic and supportive.
We were at a point where we were unsure on how to get our family member to seek help & treatment. Michael & Dylan spoke with all of us individually to understand our situation.
I appreciate their approach from a love-first perspective. I think this was the key to our success in helping my brother go to treatment and he is now 7 months sober! We are forever grateful for all the help & support we received from Michael & Dylan. I highly recommend their services to anyone who needs help for themselves or for a loved one.
– R.C.
“Our family situation needed urgent attention and we had no idea where to turn.”
We reached out to Michael Walsh on a Friday afternoon, after work hours. Our family situation needed urgent attention and we had no idea where to turn. We found Michael through a Google search, we thought we were going to leave him an emotionally-heightened voice-message, to only be returned after the weekend.
Instead, Michael answered the phone, pulled to the side of the road on his commute home, and listened to us. After hours of back-and-forth through telephone and email conversations, we hired Michael and his team. We felt comfortable and supported.
– A.T.
“Their continued support and guidance with aftercare enabled us all to learn.”
Michael and Dylan helped our family immensely. Very calm and helpful with the process to help our son to treatment. Their continued support and guidance with aftercare enabled us all to learn.
Thank you for this help as our son has a new healthy life.
– K.N.
“Michael was professional in his approach and was able to bring the family together at a time when our son needed us most.”
We called Michael because our son was actively using cocaine and we were worried for his safety. Our son had lost a lot of weight, lost many friends and became very isolated.
We loved the idea of an Invitational Intervention vs the confrontational surprise ones that we’d seen on TV. The idea of a “family meeting” fit with our values around communication as a family and even though our son had drifted off track we figured he’d be receptive to having a meeting with the family to get him some help.
Over the course of 10 days Michael was able to gather enough information from the family to be able set a day and time for the family meeting to be held. Michael has empathy and listened to all of our concerns which eventually played out when we all met as a family.
When we approached our son to let him know the family had reached out for help, we asked if he’d join in a family meeting — he said yes. Michael was professional in his approach and was able to bring the family together at a time when our son needed us most.
Michael educated us all on substance use, addiction and recovery. Together with Michael we were able to provide the appropriate treatment solution for our son. So far so good! Thank you, Michael!
– A.D.
“I was particularly impressed with the way he related to our brother and his sincere, authentic demeanour.”
Our brother had, over the past few years, shared with my sister and I his concern about his excessive drinking and how his family doctor was not able to help. His excesses were becoming apparent to people working with him, especially as his stresses mounted and his responsibilities became overwhelming.
After working with him for a year to understand his issues, my sister and I found the perfect time to push for rehab to deal with his pain. But we knew we needed professional guidance.
My sister’s vigilance brought us a referral to Michael Walsh. Michael is a knowledgeable, skilled professional who helped us stage an information meeting for our brother that proved very successful in getting him to quickly enrol in a rehab program.
I was very impressed with the way Michael solicited background information to assess and understand our brother and his situation. I was particularly impressed with the way he related to our brother and his sincere, authentic demeanour.
Because of Michael our brother has a great chance to improve his life, his health and his future. We are forever grateful.
– Anonymous
“Without Michael’s knowledge, experience, expertise, and support, this story might’ve had a very different ending.”
Our family hired Michael to stage an intervention and arrange admission to a rehabilitation facility for a loved one close to dying from alcoholism. Fortunately, our loved one said “yes” to treatment, successfully completed the program, and continues the sobriety journey.
Without Michael’s knowledge, experience, expertise, and support, this story might’ve had a very different ending. We will always be grateful to Michael for helping us navigate unknown territory to give our loved one a chance for a new, healthy life.
– P.M.
“Michael was able to communicate with her and make her feel secure enough to make the decision to accept help.”
I had never heard of an interventionist when the decision was made by my friend’s sister to get Michael involved as our only alternative to save her life. My friend was in dire straits from alcohol abuse and her sister was her only family.
Both of us were living in the US so couldn’t manage her help adequately from this distance. Our time was limited so as soon as we arrived, Michael was there to consult with us about our approach, involvement, timing; really any and every scenario that could unfold the day of the intervention. The coordination is so integral to the success of something like this and you need someone like Michael with a clear head who has handled many of these situations before to almost orchestrate the event.
My friend needed to be convinced that we were all in this for her well being and to support her and she needed to feel that it was her decision to proceed. Michael was able to communicate with her and make her feel secure enough to make the decision to accept help. He then accompanied us to the rehabilitation center where she was moved through their system smoothly. Michael knows the staff and works with other clients there so we felt she would have someone checking in on her and letting us know if she needed anything.
I suppose what Michael is: is the head coordinator or choreographer of a very emotional situation in the case of an intervention.
Michael not only helps the person in need feel capable of making their decision to accept help, but he also assists his clients who feel helpless during this difficult situation, cope and contribute constructively. It is a tricky edge to balance on and I think he manages it very well. Thank you Michael.
– S.M.
“We were very fortunate to have found Michael who responded to us immediately and guided us forward in a way that worked for all of us.”
My wife and I are very grateful for Michael and Dylan’s support to our son and ourselves. We were at a crossroads, not knowing what to do to help our son, when he had tried many avenues without success.
We wouldn’t give up on him as we knew he wanted help.
We were very fortunate to have found Michael who responded to us immediately and guided us forward in a way that worked for all of us. They both continue to be there for us when all kinds of stumbling blocks have emerged. We cannot express our gratitude enough.
– S.McM.
“Michael was very supportive and understanding throughout the process and provided wonderful guidance in many ways to both my son and myself.”
I recently had to make a trip from Ottawa to VIctoria to help my son who had succumbed to his alcohol addiction. He was in really bad shape and he needed to get into a rehab centre quickly.
I had no knowledge of the rehab centres in BC or how to get him into one. A counselor recommended contacting Michael Walsh. I am so glad I did… Michael was a life saver. Michael is thoroughly knowledgeable of all of the rehab facilities in BC and he coordinated the route to getting my son admitted into an excellent rehab facility.
Michael was very supportive and understanding throughout the process and provided wonderful guidance in many ways to both my son and myself. He was also someone I could confide in.
My son is out of rehab now and doing great! I am so grateful to Michael for everything he did. I totally recommend MIchael.
– J.W.
“Having Michael’s support was the essential factor in connecting our friend with the appropriate resources.”
Michael was truly a guiding light to my friends and I while we were trying to assist a friend in the throes of his battle with addiction. Having Michael’s support was the essential factor in connecting our friend with the appropriate resources. Not only did Michael have tremendous insight, knowledge, and experience dealing with the complexities of addictions, he was kind, empathetic, and supportive every step of the way.
I would highly recommend anyone who has a loved one struggling with addiction to connect with Michael.
It can sometimes take a team to help someone, and when it came to our team, Michael was our most valuable player.
– Kate, Lana, Tash and Paul
“The invitational approach was different than what we did the first time and it was surprisingly relatively smooth, calm and seamless — and […] successful!”
I retained Michael and Dylan to help plan an Intervention for a loved one.
The invitational approach was different than what we did the first time and it was surprisingly relatively smooth, calm and seamless — and most importantly it was successful!
Michael and Dylan are responsive, efficient, patient and organized. They walked my family through every step of the way leading up to and including inviting our loved one to join in the family meeting, attending in person the day of the family meeting and providing regular and continued support after.
– A.S.
“Michael helped us immensely, without him we would not have had a successful outcome with our daughter.”
Our daughter was in a crisis and required immediate help. Michael helped us immensely, without him we would not have had a successful outcome with our daughter who was struggling with addiction and mental health issues.
He was very knowledgeable, kind and attentive to our needs. I would highly recommend his services, you are in very qualified and safe hands.
– M.D.
I hope that the testimonials listed above give you hope that positive change is possible.
To help you start your own success story, I offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation call. We will discuss your family and your loved one who is experiencing substance use or substance-related mental health concerns.
My team and I provide virtual support across Canada, and can facilitate in-person interventions in most major Canadian cities. Reach out to get started today.
Did you know I can also work directly with your loved one? To learn more about Recovery Coaching or Sober Companionship, please visit my partner site at MichaelWalsh.com
RECOGNITION: I strive to create an inclusive environment for all, while also recognizing the historical and ongoing relationship between Indigenous communities and their lands. I acknowledge and respect the Indigenous peoples of the unceded and traditional territories on which our offices operate. In Victoria, we recognize the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, including the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. In Duncan, we acknowledge the Cowichan Tribes, which include Quw'utsun', Si'em Lelum, S'amuna', and Penelakut. In Vancouver, we honor the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
