Compassion Focused Therapists in Toronto, ON

I am deeply invested in anti-oppressive, trauma-informed care and creating safety around tough topics. I believe in the power of including the body when exploring our emotions and thoughts, and work with the understanding that what wanted to happen (but couldn't happen) can get stuck in the body. Holding space to experiment with and process this is a beautiful thing. I believe that the parts of ourselves we tend to push away are not only manageable but valuable and that exploring our responses to the world can strengthen an understanding of what we need so that we can release what’s no longer working for us and thrive.

I honour your bravery in reaching out for help in a capitalistic, ableist society that favours individualism. I am so excited for you to lean into the support of a therapeutic relationship. The foundational element to our work together is the therapeutic relationship where I center your individual experience with consideration for systemic, cultural, and political factors that influence our quality of life and relationships.

Choosing the right therapist is a big deal. Just like a travel partner will impact the experiences you have on your trip, your therapist will impact how your mental health journey unfolds. I commend you for making this important decision thoughtfully. To tell you a bit about myself, I am a psychologist working with adults facing a variety of life struggles including trauma, OCD, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, perfectionism, shame, health issues and life transitions. I am grateful to have received training in a range of modalities including mindfulness, compassion focused, emotion focused, CBT and psychodynamic therapies.

Booking for May - Living in survival mode is exhausting & I know it took a lot of energy to get here. I support folks looking for new ways to cope with distressing symptoms related to trauma, depression & anxiety. If you are struggling with anger, grief or major life transitions, this is not something you need to do alone & I can be with you while we bring understanding & compassion to what you're experiencing. I also offer Sex Therapy for individuals with concerns such as desire discrepancies, erectile dysfunction, pain, sexual trauma & understanding kink identity.

At the heart of compassion focused therapy, is befriending ourselves and our humanness, as we navigate the challenges and pain that are part of our life journeys. Cultivating an inner ally and creating a place of safe refuge is foundational in quieting the harsh voice of self criticism, and making room for a more compassionate voice to emerge. Whether you are seeking guidance in navigating the impact of life stresses, losses, transitions, burdens, anxieties or depressions or are on a path of personal growth, I am devoted to supporting you in being with yourself in kinder, gentler and self honouring ways.

Do you feel a sense of yearning… for change, to understand yourself, to understand why certain challenges keep arising, and how to build a more meaningful and enjoyable life for yourself? I know this yearning is a resource, and it shows your capacity and curiousity to learn and care for yourself. I offer space to connect to yourself in a meaningful way, to overcome challenging and traumatic experiences with compassion and support, and to realize your full capacity. I am here to offer a way through. You don’t have to do it on your own. My role is to help guide you to find what works and what’s helpful.

Nikolai is an internationally trained psychotherapist with a nursing background who has worked in the mental health field since 2009 first in Russia and then in Canada. He provides a safe, supportive, and confidential environment for one-on-one virtual therapy work. He offers personalized sessions that allow individuals to explore their feelings, thoughts, behaviours, and relationships. Psychotherapy and supervision services are available in both English and Russian.

How important is it for you to engage with a therapist who deeply understands and can help you with childhood trauma and adverse experiences? Would you value a therapeutic experience centred on empathy, safety and a personal commitment to your growth and healing? I am passionate about assisting my clients grappling with childhood trauma, addiction, self-esteem issues, and relationship challenges. Offering individual and marriage counselling, I emphasize self-esteem, anxiety, alcohol addiction, coping strategies, childhood trauma, and life transitions.

As a clinical psychologist, I provide assessment and treatment for youth and adults with a variety of mental health concerns, including low mood, anxiety, emotion regulation and anger, life transitions and interpersonal difficulties, and psychosis. I view the therapeutic relationship as a key component to change, and take a collaborative approach with clients to establish goals that are achievable, personally relevant, and meaningful.

Are anxiety and worry taking up too much space in your life? Do you feel like have tried everything to deal with your anxiety but nothing has helped? You're not alone, but freedom from a life controlled by fear is possible. I'm Phoebe, I specialize in helping those with anxiety, fear, and self-doubt get back to living their best lives. I offer supportive, compassionate, and practical support for anxiety. My approach is rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy.

I provide clients with a safe space to explore their emotions, so that they can heal from past wounds, become more self-accepting, and make meaningful changes in their lives. Clients can always count on my warm, empathic, and non-judgmental manner, which leaves them feeling understood and supported. I am passionate about helping people struggling with a range of concerns including depression, low self-esteem, grief, anxiety, worry, childhood and adult traumatic experiences, overwhelming emotions, stress, life transitions, relationship difficulties, life satisfaction, and challenges associated with living with a health condition.

I’m an open, compassionate, and curious psychotherapist that approaches sessions from a trauma-informed lens. As a creative and an intuitive, I practice integratively, curating my approach to each unique client’s needs, personality, and intersectionality. My experience includes the treatment of depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, burnout, PTSD, phobias, grief, relationship health, relationship ruptures & infidelity, ethical & conscious non-monogamy, and gender-specific issues. I also have background in tantra & kink and am very comfortable holding space to explore sexual issues, desires, and satisfaction.

If you experienced narcissistic abuse in your family, relationship or any other setting I understand how challenging it might be to heal the wounds, find your voice and self-esteem back. I believe that there's always a way to move forward and start to heal. What matters is that instead of giving up, you are seeking help and that means you are getting ready to use external and internal resources to move past what's causing you distress. I believe in providing a non-judgmental atmosphere where you feel safe to be yourself.

Thank you for being here! I work with adults who may experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. I specialize in treating anxiety disorders, OCD, depressive disorders, personality disorders, PTSD, racial trauma, grief and loss, and other relational problems. I also work with those who have experienced childhood trauma. In my work, I consistently and sincerely acknowledge the importance of the transgenerational impact of acculturation on our beliefs, worldviews, and sense of self. I genuinely believe that we are not broken, so we do not need "fixing;" instead, we work to be the self we want to be!

Welcome! It is a privilege to support my clients. I am intentional in creating an atmosphere of safety and hope during consultations by bringing kindness to the therapy space, and a desire for developing an authentic connection. I can support you overcome issues with depression, anxiety and chronic worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, family conflict, relationship issues, lack of assertiveness and boundary difficulties, anger issues, low confidence and self-esteem, trauma, grief and loss, adjustment to illness and injury, life changes, workplace difficulties, and discrimination.

Do you want to find a way out of the stress, fear, and sadness that you’re going through? Find some peace and comfort? Maybe you feel hopeless and overwhelmed. It can be scary and tiring, an uphill battle, and you feel like you will collapse and shatter at any time. When you face all this fatigue, despair, and frustration, you wish you could confide in a trusted person and get some support. I can be that support person for you, so that you can make sense of your world, find peace, and reclaim control. You don’t have to feel so helpless anymore.

I have been working in the field for over 25 years, supporting people who are dealing with personal difficulties of different kinds: sadness, depression, sex and sexuality related issues, dating/intimacy/broken-heart, anxiety, trauma, grief, immigration and displacement related issues, existential and mid-life crises, or simply "figuring out" their life. I provide compassionate, empathic, non-judgemental, and both intellectually and emotionally rewarding therapy experience.

Life can throw you challenging situations that leave you feeling overwhelmed and emotionally drained. Whether you're battling stress, anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties, you're not alone. I understand the emotions and challenges you're experiencing and want you to know there's a path towards healing. I will provide a safe, judgment-free space where you can freely share. Together, we'll uncover the root causes of your struggles and find strategies to move forward. I draw upon various therapeutic modalities, tailored to your unique needs, to help you regain control of your life and achieve emotional well-being.

I have over 20 years of experience working in mental health supporting people with depression and anxiety. I help individuals develop skills to become more assertive, build self-esteem and manage emotions such as anxiety, low mood, anger, and cope with the ups and downs of loss.