Couples Counselling Therapists in Central Toronto, Toronto, ON

To grow and to heal. This is a choice we can make. If you are reading this, you have already taken a step in that direction. Perhaps you are wondering if therapy can help you take some more steps. These steps can be in many directions – doing better, achieving goals, reducing distress, managing difficult emotions, understanding unhelpful patterns, dealing with relationship issues, coming to terms with the issues of the past, or seeking answers to life’s challenging questions. We arrive in therapy with our own unique expectations. My goal is to help you take the steps towards meeting those expectations.

Our feelings are a compass pointing toward personal growth and movement. I have learned to listen to and respect these feelings and I can help you to do the same. My approach is honed through years of clinical work with children and families. Through this developmental lens, I can help you bring context to your concerns, see unhelpful patterns, and change portions of the picture that don’t serve you so you can show up differently in small moments and in big ones.

Our ability to move happily and confidently through life is in large part informed by how our sense of self developed and exists today. Feeling emotionally unwell or stuck is often a product of unhealthy relational experiences or patterns.

Whatever has brought you here, whether recent or long-term concerns, being seen and heard by someone during moments of vulnerability can be impactful. Through the therapeutic process, we will work to understand your thoughts and feelings and the significance the past plays in shaping your experience.

Through life we can encounter uncertainty, loss and confusion on our path towards inner growth. Having to chose a therapist should not be one of such barriers. In my work I offer a safe environment and supportive collaborative work for clients to explore and remove life barriers. I also effectively use evidence based therapeutic approaches in helping people manage and heal from overwhelming emotions, trauma, anxiety, depression, shame, abuse, low self esteem, relationship problems, and other issues. My work is collaborative non judgmental, compassionate, respectful, thoroughly confidential and preserves dignity of people.

I am Dr. Maura Ferguson, and I am a psychologist licensed in the state of California and in the province of Ontario. I work with adults, couples ’, and adolescents. Looking for help for yourself or your loved one can be challenging. People from all types of backgrounds endure a wide range of hardships. The patterns and coping mechanisms we have learned may not be working for us anymore and frequently, it takes two minds, you and your therapist, to identify and work through psychological blind spots.

Our lives and all the intersecting parts can be too much to bear at times. Carrying around trauma, negative self-talk and heavy emotions is exhausting and impacts the mind/body. Having someone actively listen without blame, shame or judgment can be the life line needed when your struggling to cope, or just seeking balance and change. I am a Registered Social Worker and have over 18 years of experience working with individuals with complex mental health/addiction issues. I provide professional and confidential counselling to address a number of issues such as anxiety, depression, anger, stress, life transitions, relationship issues.

You are experiencing a lot of burnout, you’re tired, and you can feel the effects on your body. It feels difficult to have the energy to get through the day. You are so focused on work - you put in long hours, you are getting promoted but you’re wondering whether you even have the energy to show up for all this. For a relationship or all of the other things in life outside of work. You’ve done all of the right things to get ahead but you can feel that something feels missing. Even though you are burned out, you know that stopping work feels difficult. You know you need to prioritize your health and relationships.

In my private practice I offer individual and couples therapy, as well as family work. My approach is holistic, and integrates body centered psychotherapy, neuroscience, mindfulness, early childhood development theories, and early relational and collective trauma. I work with a broad range of issues including relationships, intimacy, anxiety, stress, emotional overwhelm, low self-esteem, depression, effects of early childhood trauma, body image, shame, complex changes in family, and dealing with life threatening illnesses.

If you find yourself in pain, depressed, anxious, grieving a loss, or going through a life transition, you might be feeling confused and overwhelmed. Often our thoughts and feelings can get tangled with our expectations leaving us unsure about how to move forward. In our sessions together we will explore what is working for you and what parts of your self are being challenged by the new circumstances. By developing greater self-awareness and practicing self-acceptance, you will begin to discover new ways to grow and strengthen as a person. When you know yourself well you can intercept unhealthy patterns of living as they emerge.

The day-to-day can feel like it’s too much sometimes. If you find yourself feeling constantly overstimulated, agitated, overwhelmed and unfocused- you are not alone. Shame may be speaking loudly and telling you that you’re the only one struggling in this way, that you are not enough. Together we can begin shifting your relationship with yourself, the inner critic, and the world around you. We can work towards finding your voice, your creativity and your authenticity even in the most challenging of spaces. It is possible to move to a place of fulfillment and purpose where you are empowered to be a compassionate ally for yourself.

I work with clients to provide support in bolstering coping skills and increasing resilience. I am here to listen and respond with acceptance, compassion, and empathy, and to provide safety for you to explore and address what is troubling you, and to find a meaningful solution. My view of therapy is informed by my belief in the intrinsic strength and value of each human being. I believe we are capable of making significant changes, especially when we have the support of being truly understood and validated.

I work with clients to identify concerns relating to histories of trauma, symptoms related to mental health concerns, relationship issues, self-esteem, stress and anxiety, depression, concerns related to sexuality, gender, and sexual orientation.

Seeking help and finding the right therapist can be overwhelming especially if you are feeling out of balance, facing changes in relationships, managing symptoms of anxiety or depression, or if life has lost meaning for you. I work with clients to create strategies, develop tools, and uncover personal strengths that bring the healthy balance back into their lives. I bring a depth of experience from years of work in a tertiary mental health and addiction hospital in Toronto, Ontario. I am privileged to be a therapist. My clients describe me as "easy to connect, open, warm, genuine, real, and effective."

Do you feel lonely, empty, overwhelmed or stuck? Does it seem like bad things are always happening to you while everyone else is living a happy life? Do you and your partner have the same fights over and over again? I can help you resolve these issues. I am a warm, down-to-earth, authentic, honest, and empathic person who genuinely cares about your well-being. I help individuals work through a wide variety of issues including those related to anxiety, depression, obsessionality, trauma, dissociation, guilt, shame, insomnia, relationships, sexual orientation, eating, and identity and self-esteem. I embrace and celebrate diversity.

Taking the first step to find help in working through life’s challenges takes self-awareness and courage. Congratulations for taking that first step. As your therapist, I promise you the following: I will work with you, at your pace, to help you feel confident and energized about who you are. I will help support you in facing life’s difficulties and in building strong and healthy relationships. I will value the nuances and uniqueness of your life journey and I will motivate you to meet your therapy goals with care and compassion.

There are times in life when events or experiences overwhelm our ability to cope, and it is a courageous act to seek out help and support. I believe therapy should be a collaborative and creative process between client and therapist that involves all aspects of oneself, so that wellness can be experienced in an integrated and sustainable way. Working in the field of holistic wellness for the past seven years, with a specific emphasis on mental health and trauma-informed practices, I am committed to creating supportive spaces for individuals to deepen their relationship with themselves and expand their capacity to engage with life.