Sexual Abuse Therapists in London, ON

In my 40 year career as a clinical social worker, I have gained extensive experience in developing, effecting, and managing therapeutic approaches for individuals and families who bear the damage of sexual abuse . I am prepared to offer help for many problem areas but I give special emphasis to male and female adults and youth who have committed, or are at risk of committing, or have been the victim of problematic sexual behaviour, This includes clients with special needs such as intellectual disability. I also support families with safety planning for child protection cases or with family resolution/reintegration.

Sex and eroticism are topics that continue to be associated with a lot of shame, yet they embody elements of our identity, impact our intimate relationships, and influence our physical, emotional and mental health. Empowering your sexuality and advocating for your sexual health and intimacy is what I strive for most! From low desire, to performance issues, kinks/fetishes, out of control sexual behaviour (sex addiction), sexual pain, sexual abuse /trauma, and identity confusion (amongst other sexual challenges), I am here to explore and assist you (and your partner) through these challenges professionally and comfortably.

I help with issues like depression, addiction, or relationship problems. Some of my clients have experienced bullying, domestic violence, or the trauma of leaving an abusive religion. I specialize in trauma, particularly sexual abuse and sexual assault . I avoid trendy and widely-practised techniques, and instead base my approach on the strong recommendations of the American Psychological Association. I have written on trauma for major psychology journals, and my invited paper on the subject appeared in the prestigious journal Self and Society. My research in various fields has been cited almost 2500 times in academic publications.

The body keeps the score. I help trauma survivors live full, and connected lives. I have many years of experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault , as well as harmful, abusive, or neglectful childhood experiences. Trauma may impact your self-esteem, or create relationship issues, anxiety, alienation from the body, feelings of being disconnected from yourself and others. A central focus of my work has been supporting clients impacted by trauma without the lens of pathology. That’s to say: there’s nothing wrong with you at all. Your way of being in the world was developed as means of protection.

Lately, are you having trouble focusing, making decisions or trusting in others? Are you feeling exhausted creating excuses that others don't notice how worried, anxious, depress or irritable you feel inside? Let me help you. I value your interest to seek counselling; it talks volumes about your determination to work in your wellbeing. Together we can find the balance that allows you to enjoy connecting with others, recover more quickly from frustrations, and see the future with openness and optimism.

Are you looking for a safe space to be able to share your thoughts and feelings without judgment? Have you experienced trauma in your life, including sexual trauma? Are you repeating negative patterns? I work with clients with trauma and the impact it can have on their life. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, I can offer a space that allows you to grieve the way you want and need to. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a serious or life-threatening illness I can assist you with the difficult journey. I also offer couples therapy for those who are struggling or need help. I also work with First Responders.

When you have experienced trauma, your whole system can feel challenged day to day. You might struggle with persistent anxiety, feelings of shame and hopelessness and have a bleak outlook on the future. You can feel exhausted by your circumstances and truly at a loss for how to change or heal. Trauma impacts your thinking, your happiness, your quality of life and your joy. You can often find yourself engaging in behaviours that don't serve you, trying to numb out or manage the pain. It can feel hard to get close to anyone. It can be so hard to trust yourself, or other people. I completely understand, and I help people change daily.

When you’re feeling stressed and unhappy, life feels heavy. Issues like depression, anxiety, stress, grief and loss and low self-esteem can make life difficult and you often wonder, “is this all there is?” Perhaps you’re struggling with PTSD, or you are a First Responder who has seen so much you don’t even know where to begin. You might be struggling with anger, addictions, fertility issues, perfectionism or relationship difficulties. Maybe you even find yourself wondering if it would matter if you were here at all. I am here to say, you’re in the right place, and I am going to help you.

The clients I serve in my practice are women, people of colour, indigenous communities and lgbt2sq identified people. You’ve been in therapy before and although you’ve seen results you aren’t yet at the place you want to be. Feelings of stress, anxiety, stuckness and depression are familiar to you. You’ve been going in circles in your relationships and your career and now you’re ready to dig deeper. Your core beliefs keep pulling you back into old patterns like people pleasing, controlling behaviours, co-dependency, and difficulty prioritizing yourself and identifying your needs.

Over the past 24 years I have specialized in working with individuals (adults and youth, male and female) who have done something of a sexual nature that has gotten them into trouble, or have engaged in violent behaviour towards their intimate partner. I also support families with safety planning. I am a qualified expert in Criminal, Family, and Superior court to conduct risk assessments for individuals who have committed a sexual based offence, as well provide the courts with recommendations for treatment options for those individuals. I am also specialized in working with clients suffering with anger management issues.

I have 8 years of experience working with children, youth and adults. I provide evidence-based therapy to support children and adults with various challenges, including anxiety, emotion regulation, depression, anger, attachment disturbance, trauma and family-related issues. I have experience working with difficulties with school avoidance and self-harming behaviors, along with providing parent training and/or consultation.

We have more of an opportunity to become better individuals in relationship with a significant other than alone with shallow relationships. Relationships, Conflict, Anger, Communication, Addictions, are all issues I help people with on a daily basis. I am a Psychotherapist based in London, Ontario; as a registered Social Worker I have a wide breadth of experience in helping people with their life situations, whether it be with a partner, child, or colleague. I do this work because people have value. Everyone has a story of personal pain and my office serves individuals, couples, and families to heal from personal pain.

One of the bravest (and most challenging) things you can do is take the first step towards healing. So congratulations on taking the step that led you to this profile. I specialize in trauma therapy, and have experience working with a wide range of traumas including sexual violence, childhood experiences, birth trauma, and interpersonal traumas. If you are suffering from trauma symptoms, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, relationship breakdowns, chronic stress, and/or addictions, I am here to help. I commit to ensuring that you feel safe, heard, and supported when working with me, as this is the foundation to healing.

The past throws stones to the present, and that is what brings many people to therapy. I believe we all have the capacity to heal, but often our own story can get in the way of that healing. If this is your first time seeking out a therapist or if you've done this before, it is my hope to work alongside you, at your pace, as collaborate to make a plan that addresses your needs. With this, it is important for you to choose a therapist who is a good fit and connects to your needs. I encourage you to explore my website and reach out to me to determine if I am that fit for you.

Let’s figure out what is holding you back and how to move forward in celebrating who you are. We all have parts of ourselves we wish were different, parts of ourselves we are ashamed of or perhaps sad or angry with. Sometimes we start to shape our understanding of ourselves through a narrative that is focused on these parts. My approach is one that uses curiosity to explore, understand and appreciate our unique story. Stories are ways in which we explain and understand our experiences. As your therapist, I will walk alongside you on your journey of exploring your story, rediscovering self and re-writing your story that you value.

Within a compassionate setting, I help my clients understand and address mental health concerns using evidence-based strategies (treatments that have been shown to work). I work with adults with a range of concerns, including depression, social anxiety, excessive worry, panic attacks, PTSD, and eating disorders. I have provided psychological services in various settings (e.g., outpatient mental health programs), and I have a strong research and practice background in emotional disorders and trauma/PTSD.