Therapists in M6R

Loss, Grief, Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Life transitions, Parenting Challenges and Relationship Conflicts impact self-esteem, identity and overall well- being. I support clients to make sense of their journey and to understand how their past experiences can influence their present challenges. I apply a person-centered approach in supporting both individuals and couples. My goal is to support you to learn new ways of coping, gain perspective on your life and develop insights that empower you to take the next steps on your path towards healing.

One of the many things I can appreciate about our society is how people come from different walks of life - we all have a story. These stories, or worldviews, are what shape our personalities and how we perceive and overcome the various obstacles that life may throw at us. I also understand how beginning therapy can be daunting, so I provide a validating and non-judgemental environment with the goal of making clients as comfortable as possible. Helping clients explore their emotions and navigate any problems they may have, together, has always been a passion of mine.

I work with children, youth, adults, couples and families. Along with my Master of Social Work, I have additional training in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Therapy (TF-CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, Brief Solution-Focused Therapy and Mindfulness-based approaches.

I enjoy working with individuals experiencing various concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, romantic and peer relationships, life transitions, and gender/sexual identity explorations or challenges. My approach to psychotherapy is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, feminist, 2SLGBTQ-affirmative, and sex-positive. I take a narrative-based approach to therapy, which is client-centred, using empathy, self-compassion, and humour. I value collaboration and aim to develop a strong therapeutic relationship where we collaboratively create a plan incorporating your specific goals, cultural traditions, experiences, and strengths.

Do you feel stuck in old patterns of thoughts/behaviours? Are you trying to embrace who you truly are as you graduate into adulthood, steer through relationship endings, or transition into a new stage/year in life? Do you struggle with being imperfectly human in societal structures calling for your perfection to belong? Is guilt/shame messaging from cultural norms about your gender, sexual orientation, 'race' etc. holding you back from achieving your full potential? Are losses weighing you down? If YES to any of these, I'd like to support you to grow into your wholehearted authentic life. Now is the time to invest in YOU!

Starting therapy can feel like embarking on a journey into uncharted territory. It's confronting overwhelming challenges like the persistent weight of anxiety, the pervasive cloud of depression, the tension of stress, or the intricate interplay of life’s multifaceted issues that often drives us to seek therapeutic support. Making the decision to start therapy marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of self-discovery and healing. Entering therapy is a testament to resilience. It's about bravely confronting internal struggles with the hope of finding relief, understanding, and ultimately, positive change.

Are you ready to change? to become ‘unstuck’? to cease being shackled by your past, by others and their opinions? to establish and embrace your autonomy? I can help.

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.

I have learned there is wisdom and resilience hidden in even the most painful of patterns, even when these patterns leave us trapped in destructive habits, despair or bad relationships. Once we find the wise intentions behind the old strategies, healing can happen. If you’re used to numbing out or criticizing yourself to get through the hard times – we’ll do it differently. Therapy with me is a judgment-free space to bring your sorrow, anxiety, anger and confusion without having to hide it or push through on your own.

We all have times when we feel overwhelmed by unexpected changes in our family life, relationships, careers or health - times when strong emotions are difficult to manage alone. Perhaps you are experiencing divorce, looking for a career change, deeply saddening by the state of our planet, or wondering what comes next. Maybe you long for a different life, but don't know what to move towards. You might be a high-achieving professional whose drive for success has left you feeling isolated and disconnected. You may be an exhausted or frustrated parent/partner, or grieving the loss of someone you love. You may be male/female/non-binary.

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.

Whether you are coming with clear practical goals or for more open-ended exploration, my compassionate therapeutic approach will help you create more stability and move you out of habitual patterns of restrictions and avoidance, towards a meaningful and valued direction. I have worked as a psychotherapist for over 20 years in both private practice and mental health settings. I have experience with a range of issues including, childhood trauma, violence, anxiety, depression, addictions, parenting and relationship issues.

I offer individual and group therapy to youths (16y/o+) and adults who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of colour). Many of the clients I work with are racialized queer and trans survivors who are experiencing and/or have experienced intimate partner violence, childhood abuse, sexual assault, family abuse, state and workplace violence. Other areas I can support with include impacts of racial trauma, intergenerational trauma, grief, migration, exploration of gender/sexuality, interpersonal relationships and reconnecting with self.

I work with people from all nations and cultures, and I work more with adults in my practice and with some Chinese when I also speak both Mandarin and Cantonese. Life is never smooth. From time to time, we need to seek help from others to face the challenges. As a professional psychotherapist, I am keen to journey with you through your life difficulties such as traumatic events, life changes, loss, and grief. I will help you to identify your own feelings, emotions, values, faith, and strength to face your life problems causing stress, anxiety or depression etc. Hopefully we work together to find meaning and transcend life changes.

My therapeutic approach is centred on the client’s needs. Everyone comes from different and unique circumstances in life, and I believe that the therapy process should be unique to each client. For this reason, my approach is warm, judgment free, and draws on a variety of evidence-based therapeutic methods. Therapy can provide positive outcomes for a wide variety of reasons. My belief is that therapy itself can be a healing process. The act of sharing your thoughts, feelings, and worries is an essential step to a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Are you feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed? Are you finding yourself stuck in the same pattern over and over again? We have all been there. Sometimes we need some additional support and guidance to help get through these challenges and move towards the positive change we desire.

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.

Hi, I’m Marla (they/them). Exploring consensual non-monogamy (polyamory, open relationships, etc.), gender, and sexual orientation are my specialties. I work predominantly with couples and non-monogamous constellations (partnerships of more than 2). My aim is to offer accessible, wholistic, non-judgmental support services. My work is informed by anti-oppression, anti-racist, intersectional feminist, and harm-reduction philosophies. I aim to co-create respectful, safer spaces where peoples’ identities are understood within the framework of their own experiences and social context.

Are you struggling with feeling sad, anxious, angry, ashamed, lonely, or confused? Are you struggling within yourself or in your relationship? Psychotherapy can really help. It helps enormously to have a safe person to be able to feel, express, digest and understand your experience with, including how it was shaped by your early relationships in life. Our early development powerfully shapes how we feel about ourselves and what we expect in our lives and in our relationships. More freedom, connection, and joy is possible. I work with adults, specializing in relationships, attachment, self-esteem, parenting, and trauma recovery.