CLINICAL + COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY

Assessment; counselling; individual and group psychotherapy.

Assessment

The initial assessment process is intended to inform treatment and consists of a comprehensive clinical interview. It may also include the completion of self-report questionnaires. The initial assessment appointment is 1.5 hours in length and enables me to get a sense of who you are as a person and where you are at in your story, and to formulate my clinical impressions and a treatment plan. It also enables you to get a sense of me and how I work. 

Through the initial assessment process, we are able to determine whether or not we are a good fit and whether or not it makes sense to proceed with working together in a course of treatment. Determining client-therapist fit is essential for effective treatment, as research has shown the therapeutic relationship to be the foundation of therapy. If for some reason, we determine that we are not a good fit, I would have a good enough understanding of what type of therapist style or treatment approach would be better suited to meet your needs, and could make recommendations and facilitate a referral, if desired. 

 

Treatment

Treatment involves engaging in some form of talk therapy, be it counselling (help with distress and life challenges), or psychotherapy (treatment of psychological disorders).

As a therapist, I help people get unstuck from whatever part(s) of their life story they feel stalled in. I am passionate about helping people invest in their emotional health and seeing them reap the rewards from their investment. For me, this means helping clients find relief from pain and suffering while also facilitating them in gaining a deeper understanding of themselves in the process, and with that, the power to make meaningful and lasting changes in their lives. Individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes in length, and usually follow a weekly or biweekly rhythm. 

I provide assessment and treatment for a range of psychological difficulties, including:

  • Anxiety

  • Trauma

  • Narcissistic abuse / emotional abuse

  • Maladaptive perfectionism

  • Grief / loss

  • Stress / burnout

  • Assertiveness problems

  • Life transitions

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Depression

  • Eating Disorders

 

Therapeutic Approach

My therapeutic approach is best described as integrative, drawing on my experience practicing different models of therapy, including:

  • Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)  

  • Psychodynamic Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)

  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)                               

I tailor my therapeutic approach to the needs of each client, incorporating elements of these different models as appropriate.

Special Interests: I have special interests in working with survivors of narcissistic abuse, parents of medically-ill children, and first responders. Find out more here.

 

Virtual appointments
(assessment + treatment)

Please note that the initial assessment, as well as individual counselling and psychotherapy sessions, are currently being offered virtually only (via videoconference or phone session) while I work on transitioning to a new office space; however, occasional in-person appointments can be arranged as needed until then.

Fees

My fees are consistent with the rates charged by psychologists in the GTA, which are informed by the Ontario Psychological Association’s fee guideline for psychologists across the province. The assessment and treatment services I offer are covered by most extended healthcare benefits, either in full or in part, usually up to a maximum amount per year, depending on the benefits provider. Please note that I do not bill insurance companies. Clients are asked to make payment by e-transfer at the end of each appointment. A receipt will be issued to you once payment has been received, and may be submitted to your insurer in order to claim a reimbursement. Receipts may also be used to claim psychological services as a healthcare expense deduction on your income tax return.

Survivors of narcissistic abuse are people who have suffered emotional abuse via some form of relationship (e.g., romantic, family, friend, work) with a person who either has narcissistic traits (e.g., lack of empathy, grandiose sense of self-importance) or who meets diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. There are different types of narcissism and oftentimes, people are not aware that they are in a relationship with someone whose personality is narcissistic, especially if they are involved with someone with covert narcissistic traits. Instead they tend to feel confused, question and doubt themselves, feel that something is off in the relationship but can’t quite put their finger on it, and feel that the other person doesn’t love, value or need them. If they have children with the narcissistic person, they may fall victim to parental alienation.

While I am NOT able to diagnose someone who is not my client, if you think you have experienced or are experiencing narcissistic abuse, I can help you understand what this looks like, how it may have impacted you, and help you heal.

 

Parents of medically-ill children have often suffered multiple traumas, including the trauma of receiving their child’s diagnosis, of having their world taken over by their child’s medical needs, and the trauma of associated losses, such as loss of job, relationships and social connection. These parents may also suffer immense guilt about not being able to be as available to their other children who do not have medical needs. Many of these parents have grown accustomed to neglecting their own needs and mental health, often due to difficulty accessing emotional support. Because of this they are also at high risk of burnout. Helping these parents access emotional support is essential, both for their own well-being and that of their child/family, who rely on them.

I seek to provide a supportive space for these parents, where they feel seen, heard, nurtured, and cared for - where they can take a break from being caregivers and engage in self-care. 

 

First responders are regularly exposed to traumatic incidents that most of us will never have to experience, hear about, or even imagine. It is their job to put themselves in harm’s way in order to help others. Such regular exposure to crisis takes a toll on the nervous system over time and can contribute to anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship breakdown and other problems. First responders often feel alone with their distress - they may try to protect others from being exposed to what they have experienced, or they may feel stigmatized if they speak up about how they are struggling. It is also part of their job to keep their emotions in-check while at work.

I strive to help first responders understand the emotional impact of their job and how this might be unique to their specific service. I help them to regulate their nervous system, and to access and clear out the toxic emotional build-up that they have often accumulated, and I teach them tools that they can use to protect their psychological safety on the job.