Psychodynamic Therapists in Toronto, ON

My name is Gauhar Shariff, and I am a Registered Psychotherapist. I have over 13 years of experience helping individuals and couples overcome life’s challenges. Each individual coming to therapy is unique and has their own set of issues, needs and goals. My aim is to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals can freely express themselves , share concerns and work towards self-discovery, growth and their goals. I provide a non-judgmental space where one can explore thoughts and feelings, gain insight into behaviors and develop new strategies for coping and growing.

Are you looking to resolve personal or relational issues; looking to make changes in different areas of your life; facing difficult life choices; or simply seeking support or guidance at a stressful time in your life? If so, you have come to the right place. Collaboratively, we can work on the areas you are looking to strive in: personal development, relational growth (romantic, family, or peer relationships), and/or work-life balance.

I am Kevin; an action-oriented approach to counselling and life coaching will help you take decisive and transformational steps that create positive, healthy, balanced, and rewarding lives. I am passionate about supporting clients to recover from emotional and mental health issues. I bring tools from Cognitive, Narrative, Solution-Focused, Trauma-Informed, and Person-Centre approaches to my work with clients. I specialized in depth therapy or depth work applying psychodynamic , object relations, and trauma-informed therapies.

I see people with a wide array of concerns, who may be experiencing symptoms related to a mental health concern, have history of childhood or adulthood trauma, experiencing relationship issues, low self-esteem, feeling overwhelmed or stressed in their lives, experiencing grief & loss, infertility, and concerns related to sexuality, gender and sexual orientation. I work from a relational-cultural approach, also incorporating elements of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (body-oriented), Emotion-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and EMDR.

Are you feeling anxious that it's impacting your ability to function everyday? Are you feeling a sense of loss that has impacted your self-esteem, sense of self-worth and confidence? Are you suffering from depression? Perhaps you are having trouble maintaining a healthy work-life balance? I am here to support and guide you as you embark on you healing journey towards self- discovery, while gaining insight into the factors that have influenced your current experience. Together, we will explore and collaborate on your healing goals to help you feel your best everyday. I take an anti-oppressive and anti-racism approach to therapy.

Do you re-experience painful memories, or find it difficult to function in certain settings because of fears of failing, being called out or that you are incapable? My great passion is bringing healing to people who have been through a traumatic/stressful experience. I help my clients, adults and families, to find healthy perceptions of themselves and strengthen their relationships so they can know themselves complete, whole and safe. I help you to connect the underlying dots, gain better understanding of yourself so that these unhealthy thoughts or difficult memories do not keep you from doing what you want to do.

I provide couples therapy and individual psychotherapy for adults and adolescents. Connecting with you, understanding your needs and holding a safe space is my priority. I take being confided in very seriously and will protect your privacy and best interests. I work within my clinical skills and competencies to ensure you are met with professional guidance and standards. My goal is to empower you to develop insight, acceptance, confidence, and to help you to cultivate positive and lasting change.

Are you overwhelmed by the mental loads of care-giving, sexism or motherhood? Feeling burnt-out and emotionally drained? Maybe you’re struggling with identity, body image, self-esteem, boundaries, anger, depression, or anxiety. You want to feel and do things differently, yet find yourself stuck in the same patterns. Together we can deepen your understanding of yourself and where your pain comes from. I will work with you to examine what is going on now in light of past experiences, trauma, and social injustice. Then you can break patterns, heal wounds, and learn how to listen & show up for yourself with vulnerability and resilience.

I use the art and science of psychological therapy to support the personal growth, well-being, and happiness of my clients. My approach is in-depth therapy and it involves us understanding you holistically as a unique individual. In your therapy, we aim to go beyond psychological symptoms and to pay close attention to the specific internal and external factors that drive your symptoms (or areas of personal concern).

I am passionate about helping people navigate their issues and concerns, to find healthier coping strategies and a greater quality of life. My approach is gentle, non-judgemental, supportive and empowering. I work with children, adolescents, and adults in individual, couple, and family therapy sessions. Depending on the needs and goals of each client, I offer talk therapy, art therapy, and writing as ways to communicate and express oneself in the session. I provide a safe space to discuss and work through issues that may be difficult or challenging, and requires someone who can be objective, compassionate and understanding.

Sometimes life can become overwhelming because of our emotions, thoughts, behaviours or difficulties within our relationships. While we try to cope with life’s challenges as best as possible, sometimes we need extra help to feel better. Seeking professional support is a courageous and admirable decision, and I can’t wait to meet with you and help you through your journey of facing your difficulties and healing! In therapy, I work with adults who are experiencing difficulties related to anxiety, stress, depression, negative emotions, emotion regulation, trauma, personality disorders, relationship difficulties, and self-growth.

While suffering is an inherent part of the human experience, conditions of systemic oppression distribute it unevenly. To survive the difficult realities of life, we develop habitual patterns to manage psychological pain, often at the expense of our values and creativity. Psychotherapy can help raise our awareness, transform protective mechanisms, and release difficult emotions.

You deserve to be happy...and you don't need to struggle alone. Stress, worry, sadness, restlessness, frustration, anger, loss, or loneliness can all feel overwhelming at times...but care, connection, treatment, healing, and empowerment are all within reach. Within psychotherapy... insight, understanding, self-awareness, tools for coping, better functioning, and new ways of relating or behaving are all part of the process of change that you may be hoping for. Whether it be unresolved issues from the past or present circumstances and challenges, a safe, respectful, accepting, patient, and encouraging therapeutic space can be surprisingly rewarding, and make more of a difference than expected.

It takes a lot of courage to face parts of ourselves that have felt alone, silenced, ashamed, or misunderstood. As a trauma-informed, holistic, and relational therapist I aim to foster an affirmative space where all thoughts, feelings, and experiences can be deeply understood with acceptance and kindness by compassionately bearing witness to what has brought you to therapy. Together, we will become curious about ways of tending to and expressing core emotions and (unmet) needs that have felt neglected or hidden by deepening your connection with your inner-most self and others with greater fulfillment.

Since 2013, I have supported clients seeking help with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, self-esteem, overwhelming emotions, trauma, disordered eating, body image concerns, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and exploring sexuality and gender identity.

I have a formidable passion for helping you build and energize a joyful, loving & creative life. My clients are high functioning, gifted, and imaginative individuals, plus HSPs. I am naturally engaged, authentic & direct. Unlike therapists who are silent and write on a pad, aloof & distant, I listen with curiosity & empathy to provide ample feed-back when you request it. You will feel at ease. I will provide you with personalized therapy, using the best technique that can help you with imagination, intuition, warmth, & effectiveness from Narrative, image-based, Psychodynamic , CBT, DBT therapies, & Mindfulness modalities.

I am a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). I am also a member in good standing of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals (OAMHP) and the Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy (CAPT). As a therapist, I believe that every person has the potential to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, and I work collaboratively with my clients to develop tailored treatment plans that meet their unique needs and goals.

Andrika is Shift’s top pain specialist. She supports people who are living with chronic pain, high performers who are navigating major life changes, and athletes who are managing chronic pain. Andrika will meet you where you’re at and, with humour and wisdom, help you become the best version of yourself. Andrika specializes in helping people manage pain and injury, especially athletes and people with chronic conditions. She understands that injury and illness often come hand-in-hand with anxiety, depression, and stress.