Therapists in Richmond Hill, ON

When we avoid what we need to face, we suffer the symptoms that bring us to therapy. We are wired to bear the pain of real life, but our psychological suffering can be unboreable. Sigmund Freud called psychotherapy “a cure through love” and I truly believe in this. The wounds that accrued in a relationship must be healed in a relationship. A relationship where the therapist doesn’t talk “at us” but “with us.” I believe all individuals can develop into mature, fully realized adults. However, inner or outer obstacles can make this path difficult. My role has always been to support my clients to remove these obstacles.

Have you been feeling “stuck” in old patterns of anxiety, low mood and numbness? Have you wondered if there is more to life than "just coping”? You’re not alone and there is a way forward. The catalyst to change is when we recognize that staying hidden underneath the “I’m okay” armor is no longer an option. Root-cause therapy focuses on addressing unprocessed painful experiences that feed our current symptoms and emotional patterns. This approach empowers you to let go of fears, self-doubt and old wounds so that you can gain a sense of control over your life and form strong bonds in relationships.

Are you overcome with guilt about your addiction and behaviours? Maybe you find yourself saying that it was the last time...only to find yourself relapsing. Choosing the right specialist is essential to your recovery. As an internationally certified addiction counsellor and holistic health practitioner, I have helped hundreds of individuals and families treat addiction and heal unhealthy patterns. Using evidence-based therapeutic methods, I’ll work with you to create a recovery path that fits your lifestyle and goals. Recovery means something different to everyone. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.

If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, disconnected or struggling with difficult emotions (i.e. depression, anxiety, burnout or anger), I can certainly support you. We all get hit with hardships. It takes courage to seek help. I am happy to work with you to relieve your stress, achieve wellness and improve you quality of life. My area of specialty includes working with individuals, couples and families to manage and heal from the impact of depression, anxiety and trauma. I have an eclectic approach that combines several modalities i.e. CBT, Psychodynamic & Narrative therapy). I also offer group counselling & supervision services.

Do you feel ...overwhelmed? ...numb? ...stressed? ...anxious? ...depressed? ...angry? ...hopeless? ...ashamed? ...lost? ...haunted by the past? ...alone? At times we can become stuck in these painful emotions, and we desperately wish to avoid them. We temporarily block them or distract ourselves only for them to return with a vengeance. Instead, when we turn towards them to hear and heal what is underneath, the painful emotions can be truly transformed. In this way, we can use emotions as a guide and overcome the obstacles in reaching our full potential.

Are you experiencing burnout in your relationships? Do you feel overwhelmed with life's challenges? Let me help you. My therapeutic approach helps you to be more aware of your fears, resentments, anger, anxiety, negative thoughts, and undesirable habits. On the next step, I will assist you to overcome all these challenges. On every level, this process improves your relationships with family, partner, co-workers, friends, and more importantly with your own sense of self. During the course of therapy, I commit myself in providing a confidential, empathic, and collaborative approach to build an effective relationship with you.

As your therapist, my goal is to create an authentic connection where you and I can make a space where healing and change can happen. I have provided therapeutic counselling for over 10 years with racial identity. I am passionate about supporting family and individual, by using a trauma-focused, and culturally sensitive approach. I am experienced in Dialectical Behaviour, and cognitive behaviour while understanding your multicultural needs. I often utilize Narrative and Strength-Based approaches to assist clients to tell their stories and use Emotionally Focus to connect with their feelings. I recognize you are unique

Karrela is a Registered Clinical and School Psychologist in Ontario. Karrela has extensive experience from having served as an integral member of an interdisciplinary diagnostic team at TRC, Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Karrela is a Psychologist with the Toronto District School Board and Owner of Kids Psychological Centre (KPC) . KPC strives to support the well-being of children & adolescents by providing assessments that reveal the unique profile of each child & adolescent and recommendations, interventions, and consultation to support/enhance their every day functioning at home and school.

I am especially passionate about and certified to work with individuals in the perinatal period who may be dealing with infertility, pregnancy (both planned and unplanned), perinatal loss/bereavement, coping with an antenatal diagnosis, perinatal mood disorders, transitioning to parenthood and/or are parents with disabilities. I also offer disability affirming therapy and have experience working with parents who have children with disabilities, adolescents and adults with both congenital and acquired disabilities. I also work with individuals who experience anxiety, and/or depression.

When we are left to our own thoughts and feelings, we may be stuck in viewing ourselves, situation, and the world in a negative lens. Our thoughts are not always true and much of what we think is learned. Fortunately then, we can learn more balanced and healthier ways of thinking that can make our daily lives more pleasurable, efficient, and enjoyable.

Life can present many different challenges. Some days can be more difficult than others. If you are experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, loss or loneliness, I am here for support. Whether the challenges include past pain, present stressors or concerns for your future, I can help you navigate through your days, explore ways to regain control of your life and create a better future with healthy relationships. I believe in every individual’s intrinsic worth and innate ability to tap into their strengths and rise out of life’s challenges. I am here to help you find your joy again.

Malaka Hakim has a Doctorate in Medicine and a Master's of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She is an active member of the CRPO and a certified Clinical Traumatologist. Malaka helps clients with their stress, anxiety, depression, substance-use, anger management, behavioral issues, ADHD, ASD, along with other mental health disorders. She also works with a multitude of different approaches, including client -centered, ACT, Trauma-Focused CBT, DBT, MI, EFT, and strength based therapy. Malaka’s authentic personality, paired with a genuine respect for others allows her to work with clients that encounter varying degrees of challenges.

Marital issues can weigh heavily on our heart, leaving us feeling lost, confused, and disconnected from the partner we once cherished. Perhaps communication has become strained, leading to unresolved conflicts and increasing emotional distance. Trust may have been broken, leaving wounds that are yet to heal. You are longing for more intimacy, both emotional and physical, but find yourselves stuck in negative patterns that seem impossible to overcome. These challenges are slowly eroding the foundation of your relationship, leaving you with a sense of dissatisfaction, loneliness, and unmet needs.

Sometimes we are mentally injured by events or accidents in our lives; they can cause shallow or deep wounds and trauma to our emotions. In some cases, we scratch our wounds unconsciously and worsen them instead of accepting and healing them compassionately. Uncompassionate focus on our injuries or pain can negatively impact our quality of life. They may bring stress, anxiety, depression, and other uncomfortable feelings. Counselling can soothe wounds and ease pain. I try to help you heal those wounds and improve your health. I will be there with you throughout this journey by listening to you and gaining insight together.

IN-PERSON or ONLINE sessions! OTC is home to a skilled team of psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers dedicated to providing psychological assessments/evaluations and counselling treatments in a convenient and accessible online format. Our goal is to help children, individuals, couples and families improve their mental health and well-being through support from our experienced team. OTC offers a range of evidence-based therapies to address a variety of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, addiction, anger management, emotion regulation, mood/behavioural disorders and more.

We all face challenges in life and can lose a sense of ourselves. I strive to uncover a person’s authentic self, in allowing them to understand their purpose and bring empowerment and healing. During our meetings, it is important for me to create an alliance with you from a non-judgemental space that fosters trust. I value all parts of a person that are conflicted, afraid, ashamed, and parts that appear relentless.

I am a registered psychotherapist with the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario and a Canadian Certified Counsellor. Also, I have an MPH and Ph.D. in Public Health with more than 15 years of public health academic and research experience to help my clients overcome their anxiety and mood concerns, relationship and attachment issues, trauma, cognitive, behavioural and life difficulties. My top priority is to be culturally competent, help you attain self-growth, live your authentic life again, and enjoy optimum performance and results.

Kirthana invites her clients into the counselling journey with warmth and humility. She both intentionally and naturally creates a safe space for her clients to be themselves, by actively listening to their experiences in a non-judgmental, empathetic, and compassionate way. She is client-centered and uses theories and interventions from various approaches to best suit her clients’ needs and goals. She seeks to support, value, and respect her clients on their journey of healing and growth.

We all want to be more balanced, more present, and to feel empowered as we move through this world. However, people often experience blockages such as depression and anxiety due to traumas and conscious or unconscious fears about their own worth, inner wisdom, and ability to pursue their own path. My purpose in working with you is to help you find meaning in your pain, heal, feel into your purpose, develop deep self love, find depth in your joy, manifest your highest good, and reflect the sparkling light of who you are back out into the world.