Existential Therapists in Toronto, ON

I am a clinical and health psychologist with experience in a wide range of presenting concerns, including depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, and difficulty coping with stress. I have a particular focus on the intersection of physical and mental health, and support those dealing with chronic or life-threatening illness and grief, as well as those impacted by mood changes and difficulty coping around the time of pregnancy and early parenting. I aim to be a warm, dynamic, and engaging therapist, and use an integrative approach which draws on cognitive behavioural (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), existential, and relational approaches.

As you search to create change in your life, remember that transformations can sometimes come with only a few small steps. With 28 years of experience I would be happy to walk with you through it. As a Registered Psychotherapist and a Registered Art Therapist I offer a unique advantage of providing talk therapy which can also incorporate Art expression to further enhance the therapeutic process. Experience working in the community, hospitals and privately has allowed me to work with a broad range of issues including; depression, anxiety, trauma, abuse, family and relationship difficulties, stress, grief and infertility.

I have been helping clients suffering from anxiety, depression, relational problems, existential issues, assist in goal setting and child rearing among other things. I offer confidential, non-judgmental environment and my warm, understanding and empathetic personality so that we can work creatively together at solving your problems. Please see my website for more info about my approach and me: www.katyatherapy.com. My clients are ready to bring the necessary changes into their lives, as well as more awareness of their issues and sources of discontent. I use various modalities, such as CBT, and a lot of experience and common sense.

Are you afraid of feeling judged or misunderstood? My lived experience with addiction and mental health disorders brings a sense of allyship within the therapeutic setting. I believe that addiction is not the problem, instead, the problem is the problem. We will work together to understand the deeper challenges causing situational distress which can often result in maladaptive behaviours. Addiction can be in the form of substance use; or addiction to people, places or things. In addition to working privately, I provide psychotherapy for Addiction Rehab Toronto.

At Prevailing Minds, we bring together clinical skill and lived experience with mental health challenges. I’ve worked with individuals with mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, substance use issues, and many, many other challenges. I help people discover and maintain their motivation to change. My work is very goal-oriented so you can tell if you are making progress in our work together. I encourage taking learning out of the clinic and into the community and home. Sliding scale pricing is available depending on financial need. Please inquire!

We're all in this together. We all need someone to talk to, to confide in. We are social beings and connection is a vital element of healthy living. We can talk. Perhaps the big questions in life ("Why am I here?", "What's the point?", "What now?") might be keeping you up at night, or perhaps stress with relationships, work, or family feels overwhelming. The world can be a lot sometimes, it can all feel overwhelming, but you are resilient. Together, we can grow, adapt and learn to navigate all of this. I offer both in-person and online-therapy and have some spots left!

Design the life you want. Address your limited beliefs/ trauma & develop a newer, freer & empowered you. Specializing in 1) supporting individuals coping with narcissistic abuse, emotional immaturity & dysfunctional family dynamics, including scapegoating, 2) enhancing relationships using the evidence-based Gottman Method, and 3) guiding high-functioning professionals towards a more optimal and efficient lifestyle. As a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers, I am committed to helping you develop deeper insights into your challenges & equipping you with effective tools to navigate them.

Welcome. I’m happy you’re here because it means you believe things can get better, and that means you have hope. Hope is a great starting point. All of us woke up in this place called life, and none of us got a manual, let me help you make the most of it. I strive to create a warm, collaborative, and welcoming atmosphere where your bravery and vulnerability are met with a non-judgmental and curious attitude that allows for new insights and self-awareness to surface. I love walking alongside my client’s on their journey to build resilience, tenacity and self-leadership.

I am an experienced Clinical Psychologist, helping adolescents, adults and couples cope with distressing life events and mental health disorders. My passion is to help clients regain balance and move forward with their lives. I can address the following issues with you: depression and anxiety, poor sleep, grief/loss, alcohol or drug abuse, stress, workplace issues, relationship problems, life transitions (e.g., job loss, moving, retirement), chronic health problems, traumatic events, low self-esteem, procrastination, aging, marital difficulties, parenting, affairs. Although you may be currently struggling, it takes courage to seek help.

Emphatic listening to help you delve deeply into your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Overcome emotional suffering through self exploration and towards inner harmony. The experience of inner disruption or disturbance, emptiness or disquietude, is familiar to almost all individuals seeking psychotherapy. Yet, the search for meaning and transcendence in such suffering allows the patient to attain a harmonious, wholesome existence. The psychoanalytical approach will allow you to discover the origins and meaning of suffering in order to build, re-establish, and reinforce the balance of being-in-the-world.

Throughout life we necessarily craft intricate maps for moving through the systems that shape our world, expertly guiding ourselves through the ups and downs of ambiguity, trauma, unpredictability, and change. But what happens when our comprehensive structures stop serving us? And how do we move forward when they stop suppressing our pain? Feeling at odds with our trusted narratives and methods is an unfamiliar and exhausting experience, and my goal is to help you move towards the parts of yourself that feel dark and untouchable—a process that, over time, softens feelings of fear and shame.

I believe it's always possible to reconnect with our strengths, joys, values, and desires, even in times when we feel stuck: when it's particularly hard to see the meaning in our lives, when feelings of regret outweigh feelings of acceptance, when shame and anxiety hold us back from engaging with ourselves and our loved ones. In my work with you, I want to point out those sacred parts of yourself that might have been forgotten. I want to help you see the different paths you can take, and be alongside you as you choose and move forward.

I have 27 years of experience working in the field of mental health in various roles. As a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist my focus areas are working with grief and loss, shame, anxiety, and self esteem. My approach is informed by the Existential/Humanistic perspective, compassionate inquiry, and mindfulness approaches.

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.

I'm here to support anyone struggling with life's various challenges. Coming from a highly mobile education industry and music-focused background, I endeavour to provide reflection through various lenses - with a combination of self-exploration and creativity. If you are looking for someone who is open and eclectic in their approach, while maintaining a focus on your development, we could be a wonderful fit!

Each of us has a unique story to tell. It captures the who, what, where, when, and why of our formative experiences and begins early on, when we are the most vulnerable. Many of us have learned to bottle it up. This “bottleneck” hardly leaves us feeling secure within ourselves or recognized by others. At some juncture, you may have rightfully tried speaking your truth to someone “safe.” But, instead of receiving empathy and compassion, you were ignored, belittled, berated. Ultimately, the feeling of being heard, understood and accepted is crucial for overall wellbeing. It paves the way for a life full of meaning and purpose.

Whether you are struggling with specific issues or seeking deeper meaning in your life, I am here to listen and guide you to connect with your inner wisdom and resources to help you navigate through life challenges and improve the quality of your life. Drawing upon my training and experience in a variety of approaches, particularly somatic based approaches such as Sensorimotor (Level 2), TIST and Mindfulness, our work together will enable you to pay attention to the body mind in a caring and non judgmental way. Such skills can support you in regulating your emotions effectively and shift habit patterns that no longer serve you.

Suffering is an inherent part of the human experience. In the course of a lifetime, crises happen, unpredictable challenges arise, and in response we develop habit patterns that are often protective but also inhibit our growth and freedom. Therapy will help clear the path so that you can see a way forward. I walk that path with you and provide a container for self-exploration and inquiry. I work with mood disturbances, trauma, attachment issues, self-esteem, and spiritual emergence. Depth therapy is a journey that will take you into yourself and lead you back to yourself while being witnessed by a safe, compassionate presence.

Relational psychotherapy can be an effective tool when grappling with: anxiety, care taking/giving tendencies, narcissistic and neglectful parenting, attachment, self-sufficiency, hypervigilance, isolation, authenticity, masculinity, meaninglessness, depression, shame, complex emotional and intergenerational trauma, identity, and existential angst. My practice is informed by an attachment, trauma, and neurobiological perspective and grounded in mindfulness and empathy. Additionally, my approach considers the wider social, political and economic context of your relational world.