Trauma Focused Therapists in Downtown, Toronto, ON

The impacts of trauma rewire the brain and nervous system to experience the world as a threatening place. This adaptation alters how we relate to ourselves and others, and it leads us away from authentic identity. Trauma, whether big or small, includes events like past childhood abuse, emotional neglect, violence, grief, rejection, chronic pain and illness, to name a few. You may become stressed, anxious, experience intrusive thoughts, fear, and rage. You may feel alone, easily triggered, trapped, and like there’s a void within—like you just can’t be yourself again. Yet, you have no clue that it all stems from unprocessed trauma.

My focus when working with clients is to make sure the client is in the drivers seat, because you are the expert on your own life. My clientele face a wide array of challenges including but not limited to: depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and parenting challenges. Some clients I meet with are seeking to build better relationships, with themselves and/or with others. Some clients have specific goals related to past trauma, relationships, anxiety, and/or depression, while some clients are seeking to generally feel better about their lives.

Problems are inevitable and normal in life, some can be small and some bigger than one can handle. At that time an extra set of hands surely help. I can be that extra set of hands to pick you up when you are down by listening to you without judging, guiding you to get back to the rhythm of life, and cheering you from side lines, using some time tested techniques that have helped many to overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, anger issues, addictions and grief, to name a few. I have helped many people in my 25 years of professional life in USA and Canada. I invite you to join me to explore your unending possibilities in life.

While the experience of pain is universal, each one of us has a relationship to it that is specific and unique. I believe that every one of us has the ability to alchemize that personal experience into growth, awareness and ultimately, positive change. My passion is working with people in that process, and helping them discover their inner resilience and strength, while offering a variety of tools that can last a lifetime. I take a collaborative, compassionate, and non-judgmental approach to therapy services for individuals, couples and families.

The reality of living in the modern world is disconnection on many levels: from the natural world, our bodies, our emotional experience, sense of community, our authentic Self. This is further impacted by trauma or painful life experiences. It is my belief that this disconnection is at the root of much of our suffering. I bring a grounded presence and compassionate curiosity to the therapeutic relationship. My role is to guide and walk alongside you in the process of reconnecting to your own inner wisdom, taking action in alignment with your values, while meeting all parts of yourself with curiosity and compassion.

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.

I admire the strength and resolve it takes to move towards a more connected, authentic, and rewarding life. Through my practice, I provide a safe space for individuals to cultivate the insights and skills needed to create positive change. I am a Registered Psychotherapist with a Masters in Counselling Psychology and certified in Trauma-Focused Therapy. I am providing services to teens and adults in the areas of trauma, anxiety, depression, anger, stress and life transitions.

I am a RSW and a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). I help individuals, adults, youth and older aged adults with a focus on trauma, self-esteem, mood disorders and self-care/ coping. I use an integrative approach to therapy as I believe there is no “one size fits all”! I am person centered and focus on modalities including mindfulness, CBT, Trauma focused and processing through brain spotting, solution focused, and strengths based approaches. Of interest,I am currently learning IFS (parts work to explore internal conflicts), somatic connection (mind and body) and emotion focused.

I know sharing the challenges that have brought you here can be daunting and make you feel vulnerable. Welcome to a warm, compassionate, calm and non-judgmental space. I work with both individuals & couples. My specialties include trauma and abuse, chronic illness, chronic pain, women’s health issues (including fertility issues and reproductive conditions), anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, relationship issues, unhealthy family patterns and setting healthy boundaries. I operate from a trauma-focused lens, looking at all the systems that impact you while honouring your personal identity, beliefs, challenges and values.

It's ok not to feel ok. If you grew up in a damaging environment, you had to develop ingenious ways of surviving. Enduring your childhood is proof of your strength and ability to cope. However, you're no longer that child and feel just surviving isn't enough. The problem is that the past won't let you move on—your suffering is not your fault. What helped you survive may now be preventing growth. It is time to rewrite your narrative. Join me, and together we will give voice to the parts of you that have been shamed, hidden and denied. We can't undo the grave injustices you had to endure, but we can take away their power.

I am a strong believer that when we change the way we think, we change the way we feel, and we can improve our mental and emotional health and well-being. I am passionate about helping people uncover their resilience, strengthen their self-confidence and self-worth, and become more assertive. You are the expert of your life, and together we will work collaboratively to uncover unhelpful thinking patterns and create new ways of looking at your concerns to create positive change.

Trauma and some life experiences are often out of our control. My hope is to be able to help you and support you through the challenges that you have encountered, the emotions and feelings that you can't seem to control or manage and to help you gain back some control of your own life. Whether you have diagnosed or undiagnosed anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, experienced traumatic or difficult events in childhood or have ongoing exposure to high risks/ trauma in the workplace, you may be looking for some relief and a way to overcome some barriers in your life

Life can feel challenging at times, leaving you feeling overwhelmed or stuck. You may be experiencing feelings of sadness, worry, anger, shame, fear, grief or despair. Struggling with difficult emotions can take away from living in the present moment. Instead you may find yourself dealing with anxiety, self-criticism, over-thinking, reliving painful memories and stuck in patterns that no longer serve you. Together we will slow things down so we can explore your experiences and the parts of you that may be hard to understand.

I support individuals experiencing challenges with relationship/attachment patterns, low self-esteem, anxiety, school/career stress, depression, grief/loss, trauma, and life transitions. My approach begins with building a therapeutic rapport to provide space for exploring, curiosity, and healing. I practice from a framework that recognizes your individual strengths, is informed by attachment, considers neuroscience research, and is cognizant of any past trauma/circumstances that brought you here. Collaboratively, we will use a combination of evidence-based strategies to manage your current concerns and foster hope and resilience.

Jackie specializes in working with individuals, couples, and families dealing with challenges related to major life transitions, depression and anxiety, faith and spirituality, and cross-cultural/inter-generational experiences.

Accepting new clients online and in-person. Taking the first step is often the hardest, so I congratulate you for seeking a therapist! Using a trauma informed, strengths-based approach we can work together on your journey toward living a fulfilling life. I am passionate about helping my clients work through their trauma, anxiety, and depression, and learn new techniques that allow them to thrive despite their experiences.

I believe that all people have the capacity to find healing and wisdom in themselves. I approach therapy through a multicultural, trauma-informed, and queer-affirming lens where you are supported to be the expert in your own life and empowered in the work we do. We will explore together, in a collaborative way, where you feel understood and in charge of the process. I value autonomy in my own life and I want other people to learn to cultivate their autonomy and experience how powerful and intentional they can be.