Therapists in West Toronto, Toronto, ON

Maybe you are looking to get some relief from anxiety, grief, depression, or to heal trauma. Or maybe you are looking to build confidence, strengthen relationships, or explore ways to communicate. I am here to support and provide a kind, compassionate space to explore, find clarity, steady footing and to grow and thrive. I believe that each individual already has the wisdom and knowledge needed for their own well-being and healing. My role as a therapist is to act as a guide along this journey and provide the tools to work with and help one get in touch with the inherently healing force within each individual.

Investing in understanding yourself — what makes you unique, what makes you strong, and how you may hold yourself back — is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Self-awareness is like a super-power — it doesn’t solve all life’s problems, but it gives you ways of navigating challenges that make you more likely land well. Whether you are looking for quick tools to help shift your mood, or longer-term support for charting a course through a major life transition, or puzzling through challenges with end-of-life, grief, family, relationships or work, I feel privileged to support your success and be and a part of your story.

In my private practice as an expressive arts therapist I use the arts along with conversation and reflection, to help clients get ‘unstuck,’ uncover resources for change and growth, live with suffering when necessary and celebrate the joy of life as we humans always have -- by making meaning through making art. Increasingly, I also draw on Internal Family Systems (working with our "parts") to support and inform a safe and effective healing environment. I work with clients suffering from anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, creative blocks, eating disorders, physical illness, grief, trauma and sexual abuse.

They say our greatest weakness lies in giving up! We have all been there. I decided that if life was going to be difficult, I would become its greatest “warrior” and teach others to do the same. Too often we use our armour to hide our inner selves, rather than see it as our strength which only comes from taking a risk, facing our fears, taking a step forward, and learning that every battle is won with wisdom. I am here to empower you to take that chance on yourself — your mind is a powerful force, but you are its master!

Does any of this sound familiar? You survived emotional neglect. You work hard and are independent. Sometimes, your drive has harmed relationships and partnerships. Perhaps your family members struggle with alcohol or addictions. You often feel isolated and "not enough", and could use help from a person who understands these challenges. If you are Neurodivergent, in Recovery; or considering gender transition, I have specific education + experience to support you (Rainbow Health Ontario provider). I am Autistic (AuDHD), adopted, ACE, trans and in a loving marriage. I work, volunteer and learn in Harm Reduction communities.

I'm a queer, disabled, neurodivergent, self-identified weirdo who knows how important it is to have a therapist who 'gets it' and who you 'click' with! Are you having a hard time finding a therapist who has lived experience similar to yours? Do you want to explore your queer identity, find your voice or break an unhelpful pattern? Are you navigating complex relationships with family as you break those intergenerational trauma cycles? Were you recently diagnosed with ADHD or ASD or just feel like an outlier? I got you! Together let's shed those layers of unworthiness and get you feeling confident about who you are and what you want!

My clients are ready to do the heartwork required to overcome hardship & forge a positive path for the future. Many of my clients come to my associates and me for support to heal from trauma and to navigate the justice system. I am passionate about healthy relationships (starting with self-love) & I teach individuals, couples, families, and professionals new strategies for clear & honest communication. I use EMDR and other interventions to help you move from surviving to thriving, and from Post-Traumatic Stress to Post-Traumatic Growth. I also provide trauma-informed education & consulting to journalists, lawyers, police & leaders.

Hello, my name is Debbie Papadakis. My goal is to empower you to unfold your inherent potential by accessing the subconscious mind using a combination of psychotherapy with hypnotherapy to help you live a healthy, wealthy, productive and happy life. For more than 25 years, I have worked with a wide variety of individuals, couples and groups from diverse backgrounds to help empower them to overcome limiting beliefs, unwanted behaviours, negative thoughts and emotions, addictions and/or afflictions, fears and phobias that were hindering them from achieving their goals, unleashing their full potential, and living in harmony.

As a therapist, my goal is to help you to navigate through the difficult situations, life changes and events. Together, we can focus on skills that foster resiliency in the face of inevitable life challenges and stressors. I have several years of experience working with teens and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, substance use and other mental health concerns. I appreciate the complexities and challenges that life has to offer especially from a cultural and racial lens.

**In person & virtual appointments available** Welcome! I use evidence-based methods to work with patients experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness, self-criticism and relationship issues including family difficulties. My approach is insight-oriented and focuses on understanding thoughts, behaviours and emotions; this method of psychotherapy allows for lasting and meaningful change. We'll work together to improve your well-being so that you can live your best life. I work from an empathic and non-judgmental perspective to meet every client’s individual needs. Deciding to enter therapy takes courage. You can feel better!

Are you struggling in your relationships with others? Relationships are complex and could be complicated. Yet, as human beings, we need others, and when there are challenges in our relationships we suffer and struggle. We all need to be loved and cared for, yet we often push away the very people we want to be close to. Rejection or the fear of it, could be so painful and makes us withdraw, isolate or hurt back. As a result, we may feel inadequate, unlovable, unworthy, and hopeless. Deep down, we want to feel connected, and we want to feel good about ourselves, and at peace.

Sometimes life can become overwhelming. In the midst of the many challenges we face, it can be difficult to remember that it is okay to feel confused, frustrated, angry, sad, or apathetic. As a Registered Psychotherapist (RP), my approach is client-centred. I assist people with discovering and accepting all the unique aspects of themselves, encouraging self-care and to speak freely without fear of judgement. The simple act of sharing our experiences and trials in our lives in a safe, comfortable space can help to begin the healing process.

With over 15 years of social service and criminal justice experience, I appreciate the complexities and diversity that each of us bring to therapy. I seek to create an environment that encourages curiosity, collaboration and growth as we navigate your unique circumstances. My therapeutic style is client-centered and solutions-focused, drawing from evidenced-based and trauma-informed practices that honour the entirety of an individual and their lived experiences.

Are you neurodivergent (Autistic? ADHD?) or partnered with a Neurodivergent person? Are you struggling with anxiety, depression or simply life in a world, that has been created for the Neuromajority? Did you grow up in a family in which there wasn't emotional support? Were your needs, i particular your sensory needs, not understood or respected? Our team fully understands those challenges!

Ms. Johnson provides English/Spanish psychotherapy for children/youth/adults. The hardships we face in life can have an impact on the health and mental well-being of us and our love ones. Ms. Johnson's goal is to help people who struggle with anxiety, depression, and trauma succeed, and find inner peace. She provides psychotherapy for people of diverse backgrounds, including Christians, who want to overcome fears and limitations, achieve spiritual growth, and create meaningful relationships with others. She is also a Play Therapist Supervisor who cares and works well with children 2 & up, families, parents and couples.

I believe it's always possible to reconnect with our strengths, joys, values, and desires, even in times when we feel stuck: when it's particularly hard to see the meaning in our lives, when feelings of regret outweigh feelings of acceptance, when shame and anxiety hold us back from engaging with ourselves and our loved ones. In my work with you, I want to point out those sacred parts of yourself that might have been forgotten. I want to help you see the different paths you can take, and be alongside you as you choose and move forward.

Welcome! Every one of us has grown and been shaped by the relationships we have had and continue to have throughout our lives. Along this path, there may have been pain, anxiety, grief, loss, and joy. Perhaps you are searching for support with depression or loss, or anxiety, or the sense that something isn’t as you wish it to be in your life and relationships. You are seeking a path out of your distress. In therapy, building the space for acceptance and curiosity, for compassion and repair, is what heals.

As a Registered Psychotherapist, and Marriage & Family Therapist, I work with individuals, couples and families. I offer an emotionally safe, non-judgmental and relational approach for my clients to share the content of their stories, circumstances, and life experiences. I have worked with a wide range of clients within the realms of cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and relational issues, however at the root of nearly all presenting problems is the emotional impact of a relationship. My specialty in relationships enables me to work confidently, and effectively with my clients regardless of their identified issue.

With 15 years of experience as the head counsellor at The Michener Institute, I offer professional support for anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and family challenges. My use of both Gestalt Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) gives me a wide range of options for support for both individual and couples. Gestalt focuses on the 'here and now,' our body experiences and childhood patterns and helps us be present in our relationships. CBT has been rigorously tested in over 1000 studies, and is a therapy that supports depression, attention deficit disorder (ADD), panic and anxiety, phobias and stress.