Therapists in M4C

If you're reading this, things might be hard right now. As a therapist I don't have all the answers or a magic wand, but working together, we can find the insight and understanding to open the doorway to a new way of being. As a queer woman I provide a safe space to sit with questions, confusion and ultimately finding your true self. You have within you the resources to live with more joy and less regret! We will work together using creativity, laughter and healing to support in the challenges of making changes in your life.

I work with people who identify with a number of different concerns, including but not limited to: a history of childhood or adult trauma, interpersonal difficulties, self-esteem, stress, anxiety, body image issues, depression, emotion regulation, sexuality and gender identity.

With a calm, non-judgmental and supportive approach, I consider it a privilege to work with my clients to feel better amid life's many challenges. Whether it's through modifying habitual negative thinking, developing greater self-awareness or moving past unhelpful patterns in relationships, I help my clients make positive changes in their lives. In therapy we would undertake a thorough exploration of your background and concerns, and collaborate to set concrete goals with the overarching aim of improving your mental health and well-being. My educational background includes degrees from Yale University and University of Toronto.

Hi - I’m Ayala. Thank you for reaching out and taking the first courageous step in your journey toward greater health. I am here to facilitate your shift towards a deeper self-awareness as you process a range of emotions and learn effective strategies to manage them and to together navigate the path whereby pain, struggle and uncertainty become strength. Over the course of our interactions, we will draw upon lessons and experiences from a range of modalities, including client-centered therapy, emotion focused therapy, narrative therapy, mindfulness, trauma informed interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy and ACT.

Welcome and thank you for checking out my profile. Individuals are moved to pursue therapy for a variety of reasons. You may find that you are lacking in resilience, feeling "stuck" in patterns that aren’t working for you, or are enticed by the prospect of living a life aligned with your true values, but are unsure of how to get there. Whatever the reason, I am here to meet you where you’re at. I am skilled in working with a variety of issues including anxiety, emotion regulation, self-esteem, adjustment, parenting and family issues. I look forward to meeting and partnering with you in this growth process!

I believe that thinking outside of our literal reality allows us to see the world through a more creative lense and find alternate ways of dealing with our problems. As a result, I use the Expressive Arts as a tool for therapy.

Are you seeking support to work through distress, navigate life changes, develop coping strategies, explore goals, build positive mental health habits, or increase your understanding of self and others? Whether you have experience with therapy or are trying therapy for the first time, I would like for us to join forces.

Finding the right therapist can be time-consuming, emotionally exhausting and expensive. For this reason, I offer a complimentary full-length introductory session. I have experience with youth and adults navigating struggles with self-esteem, depression, early childhood or other trauma, disordered eating, relationship issues, anxiety, grief and loss, life transition, and existential anxiety. Clients say they appreciate my precision, as well as my gentle but directive approach to therapy. Mindfulness and meditation inform my practice and I am available, if you wish, to support you to explore this part of yourself.

Arriving at the decision to explore yourself and your life in therapy, can be informed by a range of influences. A loved one may have suggested it, you could be on a mission to find "the right fit" or you might know you want to create a shift and are seeking a place to begin. Regardless of your reasons, the desire for change and healing are universal and commendable.

Currently accepting new clients, I am skilled in various counselling modalities. I have extensive experience working with adolescents and adults to support them with concerns related to anxiety, depression, relationships, boundaries, self-esteem, self-harm, suicidal ideation and trauma. I am trained in Solution-focused Therapy, Trauma-Informed, Feminist, and Anti-Racist Anti-Oppressive Approaches, Cognitive and Dialectical Behaviour Therapies (CBT/DBT), Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness practice.

I work with clients that want support processing experiences and emotions, challenging life transitions, and exploring their relationships with others. As a person that has been to therapy myself, I understand how important it is to find a safe place to receive support and be listened to. In working together, I hope to create a healing space that you feel safe and welcome. My therapeutic approach is based in Gestalt Psychotherapy. Gestalt helps create understanding and compassion for how we have lived our lives, and offers us a new perspectives so we can regain our spontaneity that may have been lost along the way.

At the Heitmann Centre our goal is to support individuals in distress to regain their equilibrium, hope, self-esteem and joy. We support people in finding a way to accept where they are in this moment (rather than where they wish they were or think they should be) and take the steps necessary to help them move closer to the life they want to live.

My approach to therapy can be described as eclectic, meaning, I incorporate a cognitive behavioural, dialectical, somatic, interpersonal, emotion-focused, and lived experience into my work. For me, being involved in even a small part of a client’s mental health journey is a gift. The gift of having the opportunity to hear your story, to collaborate and work together, and to help you find relief in your life. My approach also includes practicing from a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive lens. I offer both in-person and online individual therapy.

She has a warm, caring and collaborative approach in her work. She is very skilled at maintaining safety and connection in her integrative approach, creating a clear plan for healing and strengthening your relationships, as she works to empower each of you to understand yourself and each other.

Please note I offer secure video counselling and therapy, and do not offer in-person appointments at this time. Most concerns can be effectively addressed via video. Effective, understanding therapy utilizing an integrative approach is what I can offer. Many people who reach out to me are feeling highly stressed, are anxious, or may feel lost, down and helpless about how to address their issues. Our sessions together are designed to help you address your emotional or behaviour concerns, and help you find the tools to live your life better. I believe that good therapy has to fit you and what you need, not the other way around.

I provide psychotherapy to clients struggling with challenging life experiences. It can be difficult to feel understood or to cope when experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, interpersonal conflict or low self-confidence. It takes courage to reach out and ask for help, and I can provide a safe space where together we focus on skills that foster resiliency in the face of inevitable life challenges. I have more than a decade of experience working with adults (18+) dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, adjustment issues, grief, shame and guilt, interpersonal conflict, and perinatal concerns, etc.

Whether you are a busy working professional, a single parent, or an individual with health or mobility limitations, making time to access mental health services can be challenging. By offering assessments and therapy directly in your home, Guide Mental Health aims to reduce some of the barriers to receiving the help you need. Our goal is to be able to join you in your environment and stand side by side with you as you navigate the challenges of your daily life. Through direct first hand observation, our therapists are able to provide in-the-moment coaching, and more targeted interventions for you and your family.