Are you experiencing challenges in your relationships? Are you struggling with intimacy or sexual issues? Have you been feeling worried, confused, or frustrated? If so, customized treatment with a qualified and experienced therapist can help. My approach examines your history, attachment style, and thought patterns to help reach your goals. Imagine having authentic relationships where you feel connected and supported by those you care about. You can have balanced emotions and clear thinking, even in challenging situations. I am here to support you on your journey. You deserve this and can get there.

Has sexual behaviour, anger, or drug/alcohol abuse caused problems in your life, or in the life of your loved one? Do you have thoughts or feelings in these areas that seem overwhelming to you, and you don't know where to turn? Are you having difficulty in your relationships, your job, or in other important areas of your life because of your thoughts or behaviours in these areas? Do you feel like you are a "sex addict?" Have you, or has your loved one, been charged with a criminal offence? I might be able to help...

Understanding why and how we react or feel the way we do in relationships with others is a step towards a healthy, grounded, and fulfilled place in the world. Working with a trained psychotherapist will help you explore your life with different lenses and introduce alternative choices and pathways. I seek to help people who wish to break out of patterns and behaviours that keep them feeling stuck in their lives.

Every single person will need compassionate support, personalized guidance and wisdom, at some point in their lives. If you have a history of trauma, a painful childhood, or have suffered from anxiety/depression for a long time, then this is even more true of you. Emotions and thoughts can be confusing and even hurtful to yourself and others. Some mental states are so complex, that seem to be layer upon layer of suffering. Life can be a rollercoaster and healthy stable relationships appear to be too much work! Imagine not to be defined by your history or struggles. Imagine being able to tap into joy and inner strength at any time!

With a sensitivity for the unique challenges and issues facing Chinese Canadians, I bring diverse tools to help you adapt to Canadian living. We can address emotional and relational issues associated with moving abroad and support your efforts to build your social network. I have practiced as a counsellor and therapist both in China and in Canada. I completed a Master of Science in Psychology in China. More recently, I completed a Master of Pastoral Studies at the University of Toronto, adding a faith-based component to work with those who wish to consider problems in a spiritual framework.

***During COVID-19, I am offering a reduced rate and a large sliding scale in order to make therapy accessible for everyone during this distressing time*** I believe that even through hardship and struggle, every person has resiliency. I am committed in helping individuals find their strengths in order to live happier and healthier lives. I am oriented in providing a non-judgemental, empathetic and warm environment as we work collaboratively to achieve therapeutic goals. I specialize in complex trauma/PTSD, depression, anxiety and relational issues.

Experiencing sadness, worry, or distress? Are past traumas impacting your present? Feeling "different"? Is it hard to navigate the world socially? These are some of the mental health, identity, and social concerns that can impact individuals and their families, impeding wellbeing. I provide psychotherapy and assessments to assist with a range of issues including mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, abuse, attachment concerns, anger, autism spectrum disorder, learning/attention issues, addictions, family functioning problems/transitions (e.g., divorce, adoption) etc. I also have unique training and experience supporting gender/sexual identity-related exploration, coming out, and/or transition/surgery readiness assessments.

Welcome! I am a Registered Social Worker with over twenty years of clinical experience providing relational psychodynamic psychotherapy to both adults and youth. I have worked extensively in both private practice and hospital settings addressing a broad range of issues including anxiety, depression, low self esteem, body image, grief and loss, relationship and family issues, parenting, trauma, gender issues and sexual identity. Through relational psychotherapy I believe we can grow as individuals finding greater clarity, peace, freedom and happiness in our lives.

I am interested in working with people who have a determination to find their true self. I love working with clients willing to be courageous and determined to grow, despite their struggle with anxiety. I can guide you through the narrative of your life and help to find the root of long-lost feelings. My non judgmental empathic space allows you to face the truth and work though to freedom. Lost a loved one, disappointed in a friendship, marriage, career, health problems?. I am here for you now to help you remember how much more significant your life can be.

Welcome. Looking for creative ways to make meaningful change? Or a safe place to sit with the uncertainty of the moment? Therapy and counselling is a place that can help you voice your thoughts, explore and move through challenges, and grow in your desired direction. Our work together will look at your unique experience, and what is meaningful in your life. My approach is emotionally-focused, neurobiological, and trauma-informed.

Are you struggling with school stress? Would you like to manage your emotions better? Do you want to learn healthy ways of coping? Do you want to understand your child better? I am a warm and empathetic Registered Pyschotherapist with a passion for building relationships and instilling hope in individuals. My background is in working with children, teens, young adults, and families in the school system and community settings. I believe childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood are formative years and I am here to help you and/or your child navigate life stressors to lead engaged and fulfilling lives.

UPDATE: Sept. 14, 2020 I am not accepting new clients. Please email me at drjoannewest@gmail.com to be added to my wait list. I use evidence-based interventions to help people address challenges and use their strengths. I create a safe space in which you will feel heard, not judged. I treat issues including anxiety, depression, PTSD and trauma, grief and loss, life transitions, gender identity issues, substance abuse, and relational difficulties. I provide therapy and assessment to adults, adolescents (13+), couples, and families.

I am a relational psychotherapist who works to help clients find a sense of empowerment around the issues that are troubling them, to help them explore and understand the meaning and impact of these experiences, and to find change. I draw on many theories, and work particularly in a psychodynamic way (seeing how one is impacted in the present by one's past experiences). With clients who would like to work on childhood issues, I help them resolve and integrate those experiences - family issues, relationship issues, trauma. Together we decide whether short or long term work is preferred.

I offer a space to talk about what is present for you. A place where we can be curious about your experiences, feelings and insights together. A place where complacency, wondering, confusion, grief, loss or anger can be a shared experience between us, met with curious empathy and without judgement. While I am not living your experience, I will do my best to understand and provide a container for whatever you may bring to our sessions. I currently work at a non-profit addiction service agency as an addiction therapist. I have a private practice in Toronto and teach at the Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy

I have a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Toronto, and a certification in Mental Health and Addictions, as well as specialized training in several therapeutic interventions including cognitive behaviour therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, solution focused brief therapy, emotionally focused therapy, narrative therapy, and mindfulness. I have been fortunate to work with youth, adults, couples, parents, and families, as they cope with symptoms of anxiety, depression, stressful events, relationship conflicts, grief, and life transitions, among others.

I am a registered Clinical and Counseling Psychologist in Ontario with expertise in individual and couple therapy. My approach to psychotherapy is client-centered. Below I list the therapy approaches I have substantial training in. I always start off with getting a good understanding of the issues a client is dealing with and where they are coming from before collaboratively developing a treatment plan. Learn more by visiting me at http://torontopsychology.com

Children and adolescents need support now more than ever. As an Expressive Arts Therapist, I am passionate about helping young people tap into their full potential. Through my holistic, whole-child approach, I see your child for who they are - the child behind the diagnosis, the child behind the disappointing report cards and the child behind the pointing fingers of their peers. I will take my time to get to know your child, to gain their trust, to develop a relationship, and when they're ready, work from a resource-oriented perspective. Every child has so much to offer... it's just a matter of helping them to uncover it all.

As a relational psychotherapist, I specialize in working with individuals and couples who are searching for meaning and new direction in their lives. Based on over 25 years of experience working with clients, I realize that there is no one method to be used with every client. Pulling on a wide range of modalities, I tailor our way of working based on the client's needs and issues. Also as a Jungian, I have come to understand the value of working with dreams in order to tune into the deep unconscious currents in the psyche.

I am experienced working with individuals, adolescents, young adults, families, parents, older adults, Indigenous communities, newcomers and the LGBTQ + community. I am skilled in providing the following modalities: Psychoanalytic, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy,(MBCT), Narrative Therapy, and Family Systems Therapy.

*Accepting New Clients* Are you a parent who is worried about your daughter? Does she seem more worried, sad, or withdrawn lately? Would you like a safe space for her to talk about how she's feeling? As a parent, it can be really difficult to know what to do. You do not have to face the storm alone. I am dedicated to helping girls and young women between the ages of 11-24 overcome a variety of challenges that often arise during these stages of life. Some of these challenges include anxiety, depression, grief, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and interpersonal difficulties.