Therapists in Parkdale, Toronto, ON

From major life transitions to overwhelming feelings and thoughts, life can deplete us. I support children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety, depression, trauma and self-esteem challenges. With roots in perinatal mental health, my passion is to support you in finding stability and clarity in times of transition, no matter the type. My practice draws on a growth-oriented approach to changing family dynamics. In highlighting your resiliencies, we will tend to your needs in the here and now.

I practice trauma-informed somatic & relational psychotherapy. Relational psychotherapy values how the relationships in our life, from birth to death, impact how we understand ourselves, each other, our connections, ruptures and how we engage in daily experiences. Body-centered therapy uses the body to access, resource and heal unresolved trauma. Developing somatic resources, increases our capacity to feel safe in our bodies, gain a deeper knowing of ourselves, feel resourced & to heal. Together we will explore, what's happening in your life, where you struggle, your hopes, and how to move towards healing & thriving.

Therapy is an act of consciousness. Through awareness, curiosity and a sense of play, we can explore and open up new ways of being. I’m interested in the human experience and the stories we tell to make sense of it. Informed by my literature studies, I dive into observing all angles of a story, finding patterns in behaviour, and exploring points of view. Understanding that you’re the expert of your story, I offer my queer, existentially-informed perspective to support you in aligning with your most authentic self.

Have you always had an alternative approach to lifestyle, relationship, or spirituality and wonder if you'll ever find a therapist who will "get" you? Are you struggling with anxiety, mood, ADHD, life transitions, grief or trauma? Tired of feeling stagnant and ready to take a leap to change? Reaching out for help is half the battle and together we will challenge you to heal, grow, and transform. I am a Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Canadian Counsellor, and have an MA in Counselling Psychology. I have 9 years' experience working in mental health, and am certified in virtual counselling.

I welcome clients who are looking for support related to anxiety, ADHD/neurodivergence, depression, grief and loss, LGBTQ+ identity, pregnancy and parenting, relationships (dating, partnership, separation), and other life transitions. I delight in working collaboratively with clients in holistic and trauma-informed ways, incorporating humour and mindfulness. At a foundational level, I take a humble, decolonized, intersectional and otherwise anti-oppressive approach to my work. I value individual identity and collectivism/community and support diverse genders, ethical nonmonogamy, harm reduction and various recovery pathways.

We often overlook the ways in which ADHD impacts our emotions, relationships, and self-concept; where overwhelm, guilt, shame, frustration, and anger can leave us feeling stuck and isolated. I can help you clear the clutter and focus on what matters; allowing you to uncover your strengths and improve your relationship with yourself and others. My approach is trauma-informed. This means that I'll recognize your “bad habits” as learned adaptive responses to a maladaptive environment, not character flaws.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by a difficult situation in your life? You don't feel like your usual self, or may be going through change or loss that has impacted you in unexpected ways. I’m a trauma specialist focusing on depression, anxiety, grief, and relationships to self and others. I will help you change your negative thinking and let go of limiting beliefs about yourself. You'll begin to understand the connections between your thoughts, emotions, and actions, and be supported to live life fully, aligned to your highest values. You may be searching for meaning and purpose or wanting to feel more satisfied in your relationships.

Therapy is about connection and support. My therapy approach prioritizes person-centered care that supports individual agency within a safe therapeutic holding environment. I have supported individuals working through a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, chronic pain, grief and loss, existential identity issues, and life transitions in both hospital and community settings.

Whether you self-identify as an ADHDer or love someone who is, if you want support from someone who really gets it, I can help. If you seek answers to the challenges that often go with being an ADHDer, or if you're newly diagnosed and seek guidance on moving forward, I can help. If overwhelm, stress, or anxiety is making it difficult to function, I can help. If you're feeling misunderstood, alone, frustrated or hopeless in a relationship with an ADHDer or non ADHD partner, I can help. If you seek a better connection with those who matter, but struggle to create healthy boundaries and communication, I can help.

Accepting a few new clients: Are you feeling anxious in your relationships? If you are feeling unseen, misunderstood, and stuck, I can work with you. Unprocessed events often show up as overwhelm, depression, conflicts, lack of boundaries, codependency, and low self-confidence and self-esteem. This can include things that happened within your close circles or systemic trauma. Through therapy, I will help you understand and unpack why you feel, think, and behave the way you do and learn and practice new skills for making positive changes. You can have agency over your own life.

Welcome. You may have found your way here because you are struggling with difficult thoughts and emotions, stress at work or at home, challenging relationships, or maybe you’re not even sure what is going on with you (that’s okay too)! Together, we will create a safe place to make sense of what is happening for you. My role is to support you as we explore your experiences, emotions, and, most importantly, relationships to increase your knowledge and awareness of yourself.

I offer therapy to people who are struggling to move forward and feeling stuck in some way. You may be feeling disconnected, carrying negative perceptions of yourself, or feeling a general sense of not living the life you want to live and wanting change. I provide a space for you to be seen and known. I want to find what is holding you back. I often work with people through challenges in relationships, in living more authentically, and in building a more secure sense of self. Together we look at the ways you protect yourself and whether these ways are still serving you.

Anxiety, intrusive thoughts, & emotional difficulties can be extremely isolating, leading to feelings of shame and secrecy. Everyday "normal" functions might feel tough. Things as necessary as eating, moving, & relationships might feel confusing, overwhelming, or scary. It may feel like your nervous system is hijacked & you react in unintended ways. One's inner world feels chaotic, while those outside say "it's in your head". Trauma informed therapy recognizes that experiences shape our symptoms/coping/survival strategies, and relationships. Together we may work to calm your system, heal, and discover new ways of being.

Therapy is a journey towards appreciating, knowing and growing into who you are. I want to help you find breathing room in the spaces that feel small, tight and limiting in your life. With the support of my presence, curiosity and body-mind awareness we can clarify what is confusing and bring energy and focus to the next step. With person-to-person humility, I endeavour to meet you in the blank, heavy and unsteady times ready for tears to unravel or the spark of humour that puts it all into perspective. This process can help you create a life that is rich in meaning, dignity and purpose unique to you.

The Only Constant in Life is Change"- Heraclitus. Who can't relate to that being true the past years with the pandemic & unrelenting change?! The ability to navigate challenges of ALL sorts, to understand our reactions & needs, to have a varied "toolkit" of skills to deal with what life brings our way, & to create the supports & practices to help us through as best possible...it's more important than ever. And for so many of us, trauma & loss have been an additional, important part of the past years. For many, trauma and loss were already in our history, and continue to be. Please know, therapy can help!

I have over ten years of experience working with dynamic populations who have come to therapy to heal from a wide spectrum of traumatic experiences. I specialize in perinatal therapy with specific experience working with perinatal loss and birth trauma that considers shifts in identity that can accompany pregnancy, birth and perinatal loss. I have also worked closely with survivors of violence and childhood trauma, addiction and mental health survivors, as well as LGBTQIA+ youth and their families. I am passionate about helping trauma survivors honour their experiences as they move toward a place of self-discovery and healing.

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.

Compassion. Challenge. Joy. Working together, we will co-create a place for you to build clarity and capacity in your life. You will be invited to gain more self-compassion and acceptance. We will work with your thoughts, relationship patterns, and unexpressed feelings through talk and sensation awareness. My approach is warm, honest, playful, and embodied. It is important to me that you feel change through our work together to suppor your ongoing wellness and vitality.

I am Shawna - a passionate and innovative therapist who believes strong mental health is rooted in resilience and connection. Having worked exclusively with young cancer patients and their families over the past decade helped me realize that emotional pain and resilience are not mutually exclusive experiences - they live together. Through the process of recognizing and experiencing our deepest pain, fear and longing we can become better versions of ourselves. My style is empathic, intuitive, and interactive, and I uncover and guide my clients to use their untapped strengths, resilience, and potential for connection in their lives.