Psychoanalytic Therapists in Whitby, ON

Is your child or teenager struggling socially or struggling in school? As a Counsellor with a focus on play therapy, I create a warm, nonjudgmental space where children can freely express themselves and engage in play that is meaningful to them. Play therapy can be effective in helping children with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, behavioral challenges, social skills development, and more. It allows children to develop coping skills, build resilience, and gain insight into their thoughts and feelings, empowering them to navigate life's challenges with confidence and resilience.

With over 15 years of experience in family and children’s mental health, and another 10 beyond that in child development/care, I realize that life happens in many forms, with everyone experiencing and perceiving it differently. I see everyone as an individual, whose shoes I can never walk in, but hopefully I can support and walk beside for a time. All people are challenged in their lifetime, but for individuals and their families who have special needs, this is an on-going quest.

Looking for the right therapist can be challenging and stressful. When I sit across from a client, I value and respect that I am being invited into important, personal situations, thoughts, and vulnerabilities. My philosophy to clinical work comes from my belief that you are trying to do the best you can and want support to do better. I will both accept you for where you are at, while helping you pushing toward the change you are looking for. I collaborate with my clients to then tailor the therapy I provide to the individual-pulling on my experience, trainings, and the understanding that we all are human.

Namaste! I provide individual, relationship and marriage counselling, in a nonjudgmental, relaxed environment. Over the last 35 years I have worked with individuals and couples guiding, teaching and helping them by using an eclectic approach, and a variety of different types of modalities depending on the particular needs of my clients. I also provide family mediation and relationship counselling for couples who have split. I am a sex therapist, working with all couples and individuals. I specialize in many areas, as I believe all issues are connected, so to treat problems in isolation is unrealistic and can be short lived.

I work with clients who are dealing with issues such as grief, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, motor vehicle accidents (MVA's), trauma, communication, relationships as well as career and life transitions. My clients are ready to engage and challenge themselves while being vulnerable in a safe and nonjudgmental space, where together we will help you to be the truest version of yourself in the hope of fostering mental wellness.

Look for clients who demonstrate a willingness to engage in the therapeutic process with openness and honesty, allowing for the exploration of their emotions through music psychotherapy. This client possesses a strong commitment to self-reflection and a genuine desire to understand and navigate their internal struggles through a creative modality. Through our collaborative work, we embark on a journey that honors the uniqueness of their challenges and develop coping strategies for these.

I believe that you have the ability to live your best and most fulfilling life with some support and guidance. Mental health is one of the most feared topics to discuss because of all the stigma and shame associated with struggling with mental and psychological wellness. My hope is that we can work together to identify, acknowledge and work through any of the struggles you are experiencing. My practice has a few therapists outside of myself, so if for any reason we are not able to make our schedules align or we are not the best fit together, we can definitely offer some other options to support you.

Are you or your teenager struggling with anxiety, depression, or borderline personality disorder? Have you been drinking or abusing drugs in an effort to self-medicate? Do you need help managing stress, chronic pain, or the effects of trauma? You can identify the emotions that are holding you back and learn to cope successfully. If you need help recovering from difficult childhood experiences, sexual abuse, or other forms of trauma, contact me to get the help that you or your child need. Together, we will work on building your strengths, gaining insights, and building the coping skills that help you build a better life.

We are an online counselling agency so do not provide services in person. Strength Counselling Services has licensed, experienced therapists who use evidence-based practices, prioritize client needs, and maintain ethical standards. We offer culturally sensitive, affordable services in a supportive environment. We offer a comprehensive goals assessment, regularly assess progress, and collaborate with other professionals. We provide transparency in our fees and for thirteen years now have held a positive reputation of trust, and client success. Lastly, ensuring our clients' privacy and confidentiality are of utmost importance to us.

I am passionate about treating children, youth, and their families using approaches that are tailored to best meeting client’s unique needs and challenges. I am dedicated to meeting clients where they are at, and working with clients to create opportunity for them to be the person they want to be in life. I practice from a psychodynamic lens while including expressive arts and play therapy. It is a pleasure to be welcomed into a clients life, and be trusted with their experience, relationships and emotions. I take pride in offering a safe space for clients to explore these emotions freely, honestly and without judgment.

Compassionate support is here! I have been of service to the community for over 20 years including working at a women's shelter, rape crisis centre, high schools, and hospices. I work with clients in the areas of couples, divorce/separation, policing/first responders, stress management, anxiety, depression, bereavement, blended/step-families, cross-cultural issues, and healthy relationships. I use solution focused techniques, somatic experiencing and mindfulness strategies to guide my clients to build their own "tool box" with skills to assist them through difficult emotions, situations and life events.

I am open to working with anyone who is interested in doing the hard work of improving relationships to self, others, and the world through self-examination, relationship development, spiritual reflection, and creative experimentation with meaning-making and purpose-building.

In our life journeys, we often face challenges that keep us stuck in unhelpful thoughts, emotions, or behaviours. Past experiences and beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world can hinder our enjoyment of the present and our ability to envision a better future. Although we desire change, knowing how to achieve it can be uncertain. As a psychotherapist, my role is to facilitate your journey, providing guidance to overcome emotional and psychological roadblocks and empowering you to reach your personal goals.

As a counsellor, I am here to walk beside you on your journey to self-discovery and wellness. I strive to provide clients with an opportunity for personal growth through empathy, a non-judgmental collaboration and the therapeutic approaches most suitable for the client’s needs. The client’s biological, psychological, social and spiritual aspects are assessed to determine how these may contribute to the client’s growth and detriment. With my lived experience and eclectic education, I hope to bring understanding to the client’s needs to enable them to reach their wellness goals.

There are many factors in life that contribute to each individual experiencing some level of stress. This is the result of any number of unique diverse variables. When that stress becomes unmanageable it can lead to a multitude of mental health issues and distress. I can support and help individuals, couples, or families implement and learn effective skills to cope with these.

Therapy is a revolving door that you can walk through at different times in your life and for different reasons. You may need support navigating challenges in relationships, managing feelings of anxiety, depression or processing trauma. Therapy looks different for everyone but generally entails meaningful discussion, opportunities for self-exploration, the potential for insight, and accompanying skills to support personal growth. I will work with you by building on your strengths, resources and resiliency, as these are essential for healing.

Laura is a Therapist, Intuitive Guide, Spiritual Director, Hypnotist and Mediator. She uses various methods which assist anyone who is pursuing either personal healing or an awakened sense of their spiritual path. Trauma and emotional pain are a regular part of the human experience, and there are times when having an objective navigator may accelerate one's understanding, acceptance and personal expansion. Laura offers her services to all those who resonate with her words and energy. She is a perceptive observer, a wisdom teacher and a natural uplifter. A phone call can discern if working together will be a match.

Let me help you sort through your relationship tools and improve your ability to cope with the pressures of daily life, its transitions and challenges. My formal training in counselling theories and techniques, as well as psychology, sociology, human development, physiology and communication will help me to assist you and your loved ones to achieve your interpersonal goals. We will tailor your therapy to fit the specific area of growth and healing that is best suited for you. This may include Cognitive Behavioural, Narrative, Emotion Focused Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Family Systems Theory.

Welcome! I am already so proud of you for making the decision to look into therapy. Deciding you need help can be one of the hardest challenges to overcome. As a Black therapist, I can understand the negative stigma that comes with discussing or wanting to seek therapy. Let me ease your mind...you made the right decision! I provide trauma-informed and solution-focused counselling to individuals and couples. As well as parenting support for a variety of age groups. I specialize in the areas of: Stress Management, Anger Management, Depression and Anxiety, Relationship Conflict, Racial Identity, Domestic Violence and more..