About

Michael Mackenzie PhD, RCC

I am an experienced Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. I am also a professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

I draw on 20+ years of experience as a therapist, educator, and researcher to provide counselling & psychotherapy, health coaching, and mind-body therapy for people facing health challenges.

Since 2003 I have worked as a therapist offering individual, family, and group counselling as well as mindfulness-based and yoga programs in community, research, and clinical settings.

Prior to returning to full-time clinical practice in Canada, I was a tenured Associate Professor of Health Behavior Science in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, at the University of Delaware (2014-2023). In this role I served as:

My research focuses on developing community-based health behaviour change programs for those facing health challenges. My work has been featured in the Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, Evidence-based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Journal of Women’s Health, Frontiers of Human Neuroscience, Consciousness & Cognition, and Stress & Health among others (please see Research page).

I also have significant experience teaching and coaching in the areas of: 1) applied counselling and coaching skills, 2) health behavior change, and 3) mindfulness-based treatment approaches. I am currently a sessional instructor in the University of Victoria Counselling Psychology program.

I hold a PhD in Health and Exercise Psychology and MSc in Counselling Psychology, both from the University of Calgary. I also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Exercise Psychology at the University of Illinois and extensive training in Health Coaching while at the University of Delaware.

I have been learning and practising in the area of mindfulness-based interventions and yoga for over 20 years, including working as a clinician, teacher, and researcher to share the healing benefits of these traditions.