Therapists in Central Toronto, Toronto, ON

As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), I work with adults and teens who come to me with a variety of challenges. They may be struggling to cope with grief and loss, or are feeling confused about a relationship, or are finding anxiety increasingly hard to manage. I work with folks to bring patterns to light while building new ways of being in relationship to others and feelings together. I love working with feelings - and the people who have them. Whether your feelings are big, bold, and out loud, or you're struggling to articulate or find them, I am glad to sit with you and explore them together.

Your conversations with a therapist should help you to explore your situation, look for alternative perspectives and find solutions or new strategies. Whether you are discussing sexuality issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, or life transitions, you should feel supported, understood and challenged to explore all the different aspects of the situation. My goals for therapy are to help you increase coping strategies, increase boundary-setting, communication and negotiation skills, increase self-esteem, increase your awareness of your strengths and to process difficult situations like loss or the experience of a traumatic event.

Many people hold the belief that challenges with emotional and mental well-being are a result of difficulty in coping, functioning, or adaptability. We may attempt to use willpower, intellect, and behavioural changes to tackle these issues; if these attempts fail to bring us inner peace or lasting change, we can begin to feel ashamed, alone, and stagnant. It is my belief that challenges with mental health, emotion, and relationships do not exist in a vacuum. These are more than personal failings at coping and functioning. Once we settle into this understanding, we can begin to uncover the deeper questions of your healing work.

I believe that the path to transformational change begins with introspection and self-awareness. As we navigate the intricate dynamics of our interactions with others and the world around us, I deeply acknowledge the courage it takes to share your story – a process that can be both challenging and profoundly meaningful. I consider it an immense privilege to hold a safe and nurturing space for you to embrace your authentic self without judgement. In my practice, I deeply value the uniqueness of each individual, their potential for growth and transformation, and I am committed to cultivating a genuine and open connection with you.

I am a registered Social Worker, trauma therapist and clinical counselling supervisor. I have served in the Canadian Armed Forces recently retiring as a Captain - Social Work Officer. I have extensive knowledge and experience in treating clients who have experienced trauma or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition to this specialization, I am trained in cognitive behavioural therapy for treatment of anxiety, depression, struggling with shame, decreased self-esteem/confidence, trauma, couples conflict, LGBTQ+ (Affirming), family issues and substance use concerns. Populations I've supported: pilots, teachers, police, engineers, lawyers, government, health care, transgender, students, baristas,

Sexual health and well-being, relationships, substance use, recovery from addiction, communication skills, finding community, family problems, anxiety, mood (depression), trauma (PTSD), body image, building self-esteem, stress reduction, managing a diagnosis, grief and loss; these are some of the things people have come to work with me on. I will work with you to uncover, recover and discover what you are awesome at, and use your innate aptitudes and unique ways of being to create tailor-made resolution to what brings you to therapy.

I have been committed to supporting the development of individuals, couples, and families since 2001. My work has focused on the areas of mood, anxiety, traumatic stress, personality, attachment, and relationships/family systems. In addition, I work regularly in the area of family-building, including fertility stress, perinatal and postpartum issues, third-party reproduction, fostering, and adoption as well as parenting. I am a clinical supervisor for psychologists, psychotherapists, residents,​ and graduate students from various Universities, teaching integrative and trauma-focused therapy, as well as psychological assessment.

We are a diverse group of psychotherapists and social workers dedicated to anti-oppressive practice, community care and specialized support. We work with individual adults and children as well as relationships of all kinds. We know that life is challenging and in today’s fast paced, high pressure, and sometimes unforgiving society, burnout, fatigue, and lack of motivation can feel all too familiar. We know that sometimes the past can dictate the present and prevent us from taking steps toward meaningful change. No matter your challenge, our intake team can support you in finding the therapist that feels right to you.

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.

Kristie Brassard & Associates is a virtual psychotherapy practice serving children, teens, and adults all over Ontario, Canada. Our psychotherapists work with a variety of issues, and help guide individuals, families and couples along their wellness journey using various therapeutic modalities and supportive interventions.

I work from an anti-oppressive, trauma informed, client centered perspective. In other words I respect the perspectives, goals and needs of my clients who are seeking support to understand themselves and others. As a therapist I become your ally in search of your truth and understanding of yourself, the world and others around you. I believe that working with a therapist can be helpful in sorting out your feeling and thoughts to face your challenges in life and become the best version of yourself. I aim to offer a non-judgmental and open conversation so you can find the way to build awareness and making changes in your life.

Are you a mom returning to work and feeling overwhelmed? Are you a couple struggling to communicate and often end up arguing. Do you find yourself experiencing anxiety and stress due to the emotional strain in your life. Are you just not happy with your life? If you're struggling to overcome these challenges, seeking support from a therapist is a great first step. Let's work together on a plan to foster healing and growth. With over 16 years experience in mental health from working with children to adults, from parents to couples, I can help.

I support you to feel safer and healthier in your environment, relationships and body. Rooted in an anti-oppressive framework, I help understand how past experiences, may be impacting in the present, and explore the mind-body connection. By building trust and deeply listening, I try and support you to meet your goals for therapy. I work extensively with folks who have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety, issues of self-worth, self-harm, dissociation and integrating psychedelic or transpersonal experiences. I also frequently work with couples and parents. I am a certified psychedelic assisted therapist and IFS therapist.

I am Shawna - a passionate and innovative therapist who believes strong mental health is rooted in resilience and connection. Having worked exclusively with young cancer patients and their families over the past decade helped me realize that emotional pain and resilience are not mutually exclusive experiences - they live together. Through the process of recognizing and experiencing our deepest pain, fear and longing we can become better versions of ourselves. My style is empathic, intuitive, and interactive, and I uncover and guide my clients to use their untapped strengths, resilience, and potential for connection in their lives.

Assessment and Psychotherapy Services: During our appointments, we will work together to understand what is happening for you in its larger context, including your past experiences and your social world. Using this holistic, collaborative and relational approach will ensure the work we do is helpful and meaningful for you. My therapeutic approach is neurodiverse-, queer-, trauma-informed, using a combination of CBT, IPT, IFS, IPT, DBT, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-based therapies. These approaches provide an effective perspective from which to understand factors that may contribute to and maintain mental health difficulties.

With over 35 years in mental health and addiction services, I bring a strong mix of approaches to help you find your way forward. Integrating CBT, mindfulness, coaching, insight and body-based therapies, together we will build ways that work for you. Our therapeutic work can help you climb out of whatever difficult emotional spot you're in and build the life you're dreaming of. I believe “fit” is essential and offer a free phone consultation to help determine who is the right fit for you. We work with individuals (14 yr+), couples and poly relationships, and families.

When we strive to be independent “high achievers”, it can feel natural to diminish and intellectualize emotions. We become skilled in managing the feelings of others, while minimizing our own needs. We might understand what is causing us pain, but feel stuck or overwhelmed about taking action. I offer non-judgemental space for individuals and couples to explore their experiences with nuance and compassion. My areas of focus are ADHD, relationships, perfectionism, anxiety, career concerns, racial identity, grief. Together, we'll cultivate resilience and self-awareness, moving you towards where you want to be.

How you connect with your therapist will be the most important factor in determining how you make progress in therapy. This bond and comfort to share personal information should start to build from the first meeting. With that in mind, I will provide a supportive, non-judgemental environment from which you can explore what is important to you. I have extensive training and experience (12 years counsellor; 9 years social worker, in hospitals, community settings and private practice) providing effective treatment for adult individuals, couples, groups, and supervising other therapists.

With over a decade of experience in the field of psychotherapy, I have witnessed the transformative power of healing first-hand. My extensive training in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) allows me to employ evidence-based techniques tailored to your unique needs. Throughout my career, I have successfully supported clients dealing with a wide range of challenges, including trauma, PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), developmental trauma, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).